cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
AMP: adaptive multi-stream prefetching in a shared cache

Prefetching is a widely used technique in modern data storage systems. We study the most widely used class of prefetching algorithms known as sequential prefetching. There are two problems that plague the state-of-the-art sequential prefetching algorithms: (i) cache pollution, which occurs when prefetched data replaces more useful prefetched or demand-paged data, and (ii) prefetch wastage, which happens when prefetched data is evicted from the cache before it can be used. A sequential prefetching algorithm can have a fixed or adaptive degree of prefetch and can be either synchronous (when it can prefetch only on a miss), or asynchronous (when it can also prefetch on a hit). To capture these distinctions we define four classes of prefetching algorithms: Fixed Synchronous (FS), Fixed Asynchronous (FA), Adaptive Synchronous (AS), and Adaptive Asynchronous (AA). We find that the relatively unexplored class of AA algorithms is in fact the most promising for sequential prefetching. We provide a first formal analysis of the criteria necessary for optimal throughput when using an AA algorithm in a cache shared by multiple steady sequential streams. We then provide a simple implementation called AMP, which adapts accordingly leading to near optimal performance for any kind of sequential workload and cache size. Our experimental set-up consisted of an IBM xSeries 345 dual processor server running Linux using five SCSI disks. We observe that AMP convincingly outperforms all the contending members of the FA, FS, and AS classes for any number of streams, and over all cache sizes. As anecdotal evidence, in an experiment with 100 concurrent sequential streams and varying cache sizes, AMP beats the FA, FS, and AS algorithms by 29-172%, 12-24%, and 21-210% respectively while outperforming OBL by a factor of 8. Even for complex workloads like SPC1-Read, AMP is consistently the best performing algorithm. For the SPC2 Video-on-Demand workload, AMP can sustain at least 25% more streams than the next best algorithm. Finally, for a workload consisting of short sequences, where optimality is more elusive, AMP is able to outperform all the other contenders in overall performance.
Symposium Remarks: Plea for the Next Great Wave of Reform

I am truly delighted for this opportunity to address you as part of this important conference on “Judging Judges’ Ethics.” Not least of the reasons for my enthusiasm is that I have had the honor twice before in recent years to explore themes regarding some important issues of lawyers’ ethics with groups here at Hofstra. Two years ago, my subject was the need to get on with the unfinished task of reforming the lawyer regulatory system. My suggestion, captured in the title of those remarks, was that despite recent big debates such as MDP, Ethics 2000, and MJP, there was still much to be done in the area of lawyers’ ethics and that what was needed was “So Obvious, And Yet So Easily Done.” Last winter, on the occasion of the Howard Liechtenstein Legal Ethics lecture, I spoke on “The Limits of Morality (or Why Cabinets Need Locks).” My point there was that if we are truly serious about lawyer regulatory reform, in the future we will pay a lot more attention to regulating the structure of the environment in which lawyers practice— and devote a lot less time to efforts to decipher the psychological motivations of lawyers. At some point we must accept that even good people or those who know the rules and usually play by them will do bad things. If we put them in situations where the bad is advantageous and apparently unlikely to be detected, for far too many simply knowing the ethical thing to do will not be enough. Hence, cabinets have locks because by placing them there, we can largely succeed in structuring the environment in a manner that takes away the opportunity to do the wrong thing. For those first remarks, I chose food as the metaphor and urged that just as it is true that we are what we eat, we should also remember that
Stoichiometry, structure, and properties of La 2 NiO 4+δ and La 2-x Sr x NiO 4±δ

The oxygen content phase diagram of La2NiO4+δ has been studied in detail using x-ray and neutron diffraction data from well-characterized specimens. There are numerous phase separations and phase transitions which are observed with changes in temperature and composition. The complexity of the phase diagram arises primarily from oxygen defect interactions, however we have also obtained evidence for coupled charge and spin ordering at δ= 0.125 corresponding to organization of holes into ordered domain walls. These domain walls act as antiphase boundaries between stripes of antiferromagnetically ordered nickel moments. Neutron scattering data on Sr-substituted compositions with well-defined oxygen content indicate incommensurate charge and spin correlations closely related to those in the x = 0, δ= 0.125 composition. The incommensurability approaches 1/4 and the correlation length increases as the hole concentration approaches p = x + 2δ = 0.25.
An orally available tubulin inhibitor, VERU-111, to overcome paclitaxel resistance and to suppress breast cancer tumor growth and metastasis.

e13110Background: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly aggressive that has poor prognosis due to the development of drug resistance. In this study, we evaluated the preclinical efficacy o...
Methods for alerting clinicians to concerning symptom questionnaire responses during cancer care: Approaches from two randomized trials (STAR, AFT-39 PRO-TECT).

158Background: There is limited research on methods for alerting clinicians to concerning patient-reported outcome (PRO) responses and how often PROs trigger alerts to nurses during cancer care. Me...
Political translation: how social movement democracies survive

When Nicole Doerr encountered a surprising phenomenon – linguistic translators jumping out of their neutral roles to intervene on behalf of marginalized participants in a public forum – she used it...
Informal Learning of Older Adults in Using Mobile Devices: A Review of the Literature:

This review aims to understand everyday learning of older adults using mobile devices. Specifically, for both academic and practical implications, we wanted to know what theoretical perspectives re...
Satire vs Fake News: You Can Tell by the Way They Say It

In recent times, "fake news" has become an increasingly important concept. Primarily, because information is now able to more quickly and deeply propagate among users due to the pervasive nature of the Internet and digital media. For this reason, it has recently received a large amount of attention from computer science researchers. A large number of studies demonstrate methods for detecting misinformation in content shared on the Internet. On the other hand, satire and irony as a part of usual human communication have received less attention. Whereas, fake news means misinformation meant to deceive people, satire is misinformation meant to entertain or criticize. Thus, despite both satire and fake news being misinformation these two concepts have different objectives and impacts. Currently, few studies have focused on differentiating between satire and fake news. In this paper, we present the limitations of existing works for classifying satire and fake news; discuss the feasibility of using a subjective concept like storytelling as a way to classify satire and fake news; and present a supervised learning approach to classify satire and fake news.
Models of Staffing

The high-acuity, fast-paced environment of the intensive care unit (ICU) mandates that adequate staffing is available to provide care for critically ill patients. It is widely recognized that patient care in the ICU is best provided by an integrated multiprofessional team of dedicated experts directed by a trained physician credentialed in critical care medicine (an intensivist). However, the shortage of full-time intensivists has necessitated that alternate models of staffing be utilized including the use of nurse practitioners and physician assistants, hospitalist physicians, and residents and fellows in academic centers to assist in the management of ICU patients. The use of telemedicine has become more widespread to provide care to critically ill patients by intensivists remotely in ICUs that lack intensivists on site. Adequate nurse staffing is also a requisite. Finally, care provided by other ICU team members including pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and other healthcare professionals, along with involvement of patients and their families, can help to ensure that the needs of critically ill patients are met to promote best care outcomes.
Topical proparacaine eye drops to improve the experience of patients undergoing intravitreal injections: A randomized controlled trial:

Purpose:We sought to evaluate whether additional topical anesthetic, specifically proparacaine 0.5%, improved patient experience with intravitreal injections without hindering antisepsis.Methods:A ...
Distributed Outage Detection in Power Distribution Networks

Real time topology knowledge is essential for situational awareness of power distribution networks. Line outages change the topology of a distribution network. Hence, outage detection is an important task. Most of the existing outage detection algorithms are centralized, in which sensors communicate their data to a control center which performs outage detection using the received data. However, with the increasing size of the distribution network and with different areas of the network being monitored by different operators, communication is a bottleneck and scalability is a major concern. To address these issues, we propose a novel outage detection algorithm using a divide and conquer approach. First, we divide a distribution network into sub-networks, such that outage detection can be run in parallel in each sub-network independently ensuring scalability to large networks. Further, to reduce the latency, bandwidth and attenuation challenges associated with communications in a large network, we divide each sub-network into multiple control areas which communicate only with their neighbors. We employ a distributed iterative load estimation across the control areas of each sub-network and then use the load estimate for local outage detection in each control area. The performance of our algorithm is evaluated for multiple feeder models and compared against traditional centralized outage detection algorithms.
The Ethics of Writing for Algorithmic Audiences

Abstract This article discusses the ethics of considering algorithms as audiences by drawing on a class dedicated to examining algorithms. While ethical commentary about the use of algorithms has been offered by cultural critics, I argue we need to consider the inner workings of algorithms, which requires demystifying or “unboxing” these things. I draw on my experiences teaching an upper-level elective course, during which we identified ways in which algorithms are obfuscated. I advocate for including technical literacies and methods, such as descriptive statistics, in writing studies courses that focus on algorithms. For writing studies, technical literacies and methods provide us with ethical ways to examine algorithms.
Mentoring relationships between doctoral students and postdocs in the lab sciences

This study aims to examine how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics doctoral students interact with postdocs within the research laboratory, identifying the nature and potential impacts of student–postdoc mentoring relationships.,Using a sample of 53 doctoral students in the biological sciences, this study uses a sequential mixed-methods design. More specifically, a phenomenological approach enabled the authors to identify how doctoral students make meaning of their interactions with postdocs and other research staff. Descriptive statistics are used to examine how emergent themes might differ as a product of gender and race/ethnicity and the extent to which emergent themes may relate to key doctoral student socialization outcomes.,This study reveals six emergent themes, which primarily focus on how doctoral students receive instrumental and psychosocial support from postdocs in their labs. The most frequent emergent theme captures the unique ways in which postdocs provide ongoing, hands-on support and troubleshooting at the lab bench. When examining how this theme plays a role in socialization outcomes, the results suggest that doctoral students who described this type of support from postdocs had more positive mental health outcomes than those who did not describe this type of hands-on support.,Literature on graduate student mentorship has focused primarily on the impact of advisors, despite recent empirical evidence of a “cascading mentorship” model, in which senior students and staff also play a key mentoring role. This study provides new insights into the unique mentoring role of postdocs, focusing on the nature and potential impacts of student–postdoc interactions.
Scaling Gaius and Diotrephes: Socio-economic Stratification in 1 and 3 John:

The Johannine epistles offer a glimpse into the real-life struggles of early Jesus followers. And yet, for all the insight these letters provide into the goings-on of such communities, what they ma...
Atypical Bilateral Multifocal Congenital Toxoplasmosis Retinochoroiditis: Case Report With Literature Review.

BackgroundToxoplasmosis gondii is ubiquitously present on earth and infection, including congenital infection, is common. Neurological, developmental, and ocular effects can be devastating in the c...
Transformerless Active Isolation in Common-Ground Photovoltaic Microinverter Applications for Reduced Ground Leakage Currents

This paper presents two novel power converters that realize galvanic isolation by utilizing active transistor devices instead of conventional transformers. The power converters employ standard boost-buck and buck-boost topologies but isolate the ground connections on the source and load terminals using active semiconductor devices on the ground loop. These actively isolated converters are good candidates for common-ground photovoltaic (PV) applications where reduced common-mode (leakage) currents are required. A 350W boost-buck and 1kW buck-boost unipolar active isolated converter are built and experimental results show that active isolation can provide improved efficiency, higher power density, and lower cost compared to transformer-based solutions while maintaining the required low ground leakage currents specified in standards for these applications.
Catholic clerical responses to climate change and Pope Francis’s Laudato Si’:

The 2015 release of Pope Francis’s encyclical on the environment—Laudato Si’—was met with widespread praise by many who hoped this document would spur Catholics around the world to join movements s...
Special Session: Noninvasive Sensor-Spoofing Attacks on Embedded and Cyber-Physical Systems

Recent decades have observed the proliferation of sensors in embedded and cyber-physical systems (ECPSs). Sensors are an essential part of embedded and CPSs and serve as a bridge between physical quantities and connected systems. The tight coupling between sensors and systems enables many critical applications where decisions are taken by using the information from various sensors at different time-scales. This tight coupling opens the “Pandora's Box” of unknown threats that could come from very unconventional ways. An unconventional attack model could be to noninvasively attack sensors using forged spoofing signals and trigger unwanted behavior in connected systems. This paper introduces this type of new, strong, and unorthodox attack model and elaborates how important this will be in the near future when sensors will pervade our lives. Moreover, this paper presents a motivational example of a sensor-spoofing attack on Hall sensors in the context of smart grids to demonstrate the harmful consequences of this type of attack in ECPSs.
Factors Affecting Sexual Assault Case Processing: Charging Through Sentencing in a Large Southern County:

Factors affecting prosecutorial decision-making represent one of the most understudied parts of the criminal justice system. Documenting these influences in relation to sexual assault cases is even...
Potential association between public medical insurance, waitlist mortality, and utilization of living donor liver transplantation: An analysis of the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients

BACKGROUND The Affordable Care Act (ACA) and subsequent Medicaid expansion has increased utilization of public health insurance. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) increases access to transplant and is associated with improved survival but consistently represents < 5% of LT in the United States. STUDY DESIGN National registry data were analyzed to evaluate the impact of insurance payor on waitlist mortality and LDLT rates at LDLT centers since implementation of the ACA. RESULTS Public insurance [Medicare RR 1.18 (1.13-1.22) P < .001, Medicaid RR 1.22 (1.18-1.27) P < .001], Latino ethnicity (P < .001), and lower education level (P = .02) were associated with increased waitlist mortality at LDLT centers. LDLT recipients were more likely to have private insurance (70.4% vs. 59.4% DDLT, P < .001), be Caucasian (92.1% vs. 83% DDLT, P < .001), and have post-secondary education (66.8% vs. 54.1% DDLT, P < .001). Despite 78% of LDLT centers being located in states with Medicaid expansion, there was no change in LDLT utilization among recipients with Medicaid (P = .196) or Medicare (P = .273). CONCLUSION Despite Medicaid expansion, registry data suggests that patients with public medical insurance may experience higher waitlist mortality and underutilize LDLT at centers offering LDLT. It is possible that Medicaid expansion has not increased access to LDLT.
BRD4 Prevents R-Loop Formation and Transcription-Replication Conflicts by Ensuring Efficient Transcription Elongation

Effective spatio-temporal control of transcription and replication during S-phase is paramount to maintain genomic integrity and cell survival. Deregulation of these systems can lead to conflicts between the transcription and replication machinery leading to DNA damage. BRD4, a BET bromodomain protein and known transcriptional regulator, interacts with P-TEFb to ensure efficient transcriptional elongation by stimulating phosphorylation of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII). Here we report that disruption of BET bromodomain protein function causes DNA damage that correlates with RNAPII-dependent transcript elongation and occurs preferentially in S-phase cells. BET bromodomain inhibition also causes accumulation of RNA:DNA hybrids (R-loops), which are known to lead to transcription-replication conflicts, DNA damage, and cell death. Furthermore, we show that resolution of R-loops abrogates BET-bromodomain inhibitor-induced DNA damage, and that BET-bromodomain inhibition induces both R-loops and DNA damage at sites of BRD4 occupancy. Finally, we show that the BRD4 C-terminal domain, which interacts with P-TEFb, is required to prevent R-loop formation and DNA damage caused by BET bromodomain inhibition. Together, these findings demonstrate that BET bromodomain inhibitors can damage DNA via induction of R-loops in highly replicative cells.
Structural Basis for Enhancement of Carbapenemase Activity in the OXA-51 Family of Class D β-Lactamases.

Class D β-lactamases of Acinetobacter baumannii are enzymes of the utmost clinical importance, producing resistance to last resort carbapenem antibiotics. Although the OXA-51-like enzymes constitute the largest family of class D β-lactamases, they are poorly studied and their importance in conferring carbapenem resistance is controversial. We present the detailed microbiological, kinetic, and structural characterization of the eponymous OXA-51 β-lactamase. Kinetic studies show that OXA-51 has low catalytic efficiency for carbapenems, primarily due to the low affinity of the enzyme for these substrates. Structural studies demonstrate that this low affinity results from the obstruction of the enzyme active site by the side chain of Trp222, which presents a transient steric barrier to an incoming carbapenem substrate. The Trp222Met substitution relieves this steric hindrance and elevates the affinity of the mutant enzyme for carbapenems by 10-fold, significantly increasing the levels of resistance to these a...
The Source of Iron-Oxide Pigments Used in Pecos River Style Rock Paints

The likely sources of iron-oxide pigments used in prehistoric rock paintings in the Lower Pecos Archaeological Region were identified on the basis of chemical fingerprinting using LA–ICP–MS. The chemical signatures of 13 red rock paint samples collected from two south-west Texas sites were compared with three potential source materials (ochre, siltstone and rhyolite), and two pigment cakes (crayons) that were excavated near the sampling sites. The significant chemical similarities between the paint and siltstones suggest that siltstone was used as the source of the colour. The overlapping chemical signatures for one of the pigment cakes and siltstone further suggests that some of the prehistoric people inhabiting the area 3000–4000 years ago had acquired the skills to extract iron oxide from siltstone and process it into paint pigments.
EXPRESSION OF GELATINASE A, A MEDIATOR OF EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX REMODELING,BY TRACHEAL GLAND SEROUS CELLS IN CULTURE AND IN VIVO

Tracheal gland morphogenesis and gland hypertrophy in disease involve the penetration of epithelial cells into the submucosa, a process that requires digestion of the basal lamina and the surrounding extracellular matrix. We observed that bovine tracheal gland cells invaded collagen substrates and were inhibited from doing so in the presence of a metalloproteinase inhibitor GM6001. The gland cells, but not bovine tracheal surface epithelial cells, secreted a 72-kDa metalloproteinase. The purified enzyme could be activated with 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate and converted to an active 65-kDa form that was far more effective in degrading denatured collagen (gelatin) than nondenatured type I and IV collagens and was ineffective in degrading intact interstitial collagen fibers. At 25 degrees C, the initial rate of degradation of acid-solubilized type I collagen was approximately 50 mg of type I collagen cleaved per min per mg of enzyme, whereas acid-solubilized type IV collagen was degraded at approximately 250 mg cleaved per min per mg of enzyme. In contrast, at the same temperature, heat-denatured type I collagen was degraded 1000-fold more rapidly, while heat-denatured type IV collagen was cleaved 50-fold more rapidly. The activity of the enzyme was maximal at pH 7-8 and was completely abolished by the metalloproteinase inhibitors EDTA and 1,10-phenanthroline. In immunoblots, the enzyme was recognized by an antibody directed against human gelatinase A, the 72-kDa gelatinase. The purified enzyme disrupted the distribution pattern of type IV collagen in the gland basal lamina, as well as of interstitial collagen in the underlying stromal tissue, as shown in tissue sections by immunocytochemistry. Using an antibody directed against the purified enzyme, we also showed by immunocytochemistry that the gelatinase was present in tracheal tissue and was specifically located at the periphery of some tracheal gland acini. Northern blots showed higher concentrations of gelatinase A mRNA in glands than in epithelium microdissected from adult cow tracheas. These data indicate that gelatinase A is a specialized product of the tracheal gland epithelial cell, a cell type normally invasive as part of its developmental program; the enzyme may play an important role in normal gland development and disease-associated hypertrophy.
First-order Spatiotemporal Distortions of Gaussian Pulses and Beams

Ultrashort laser pulses are usually expressed in terms of the temporal and spectral dependencies of their electric field. In this way, it is implicitly assumed that the spatial dependencies of the pulses are completely separable from time/frequency dependencies. However, this assumption fails to be valid very easily as the generation and manipulation of ultrashort pulses require introduction of couplings between space and time and/or frequency (spatiotemporal couplings). Moreover, disregarding the spatial dependencies of ultrashort pulses also greatly limits the potential applications. For these reasons, the spatiotemporal couplings have received much attention from researchers in recent years [1]–[3]. However, most of this work focuses on a particular effect or two, disregarding possible relations between different effects. All of the subtleties encountered in the past and the broad range of possible applications suggest that ultrafast optics researchers will benefit extensively from a detailed study of spatiotemporal couplings. This study will also provide a much more intuitive understanding of the behavior of ultrashort pulses.
Recognition of Foreign Bankruptcies: An Analysis and Critique of The Inconsistent Approaches of United States Courts

One of the glaring omissions in private international law has been the failure of nations to reach accord about transnational insolvency. Historically, there has been little formal cooperation among bankruptcy courts worldwide. Most have long responded to the problem of what effect to give to foreign bankruptcies by protecting domestic interests and local creditors, and at times even discriminating against foreign creditors. This nationalistic approach to bankruptcy laws has often resulted in full liquidation proceedings in every country in which the assets of a debtor are located. It has also caused duplication of expenses and litigation, inequitable distributions to creditors worldwide, and instability in the climate for international trade. This article discusses US law regarding the recognition of foreign bankruptcy proceedings. The article provides an overview of the historical development of that law. It then examines the the statutory regime in the US Bankruptcy Code involving sections 303(b)(4), 304, and 305, with a focus on section 304. The article highlights the inconsistent approaches taken by the US courts in determining whether to recognize and assist foreign bankruptcies and proposes criteria to guide US courts in making those decisions.
Punctuated anytime learning for evolving multi-agent capture strategies

The evolution of a team of heterogeneous agents is challenging. To allow the greatest level of specialization team members must be evolved in separate populations, but finding acceptable partners for evaluation at trial time is difficult. Testing too few partners blinds the GA from recognizing fit solutions while testing too many partners makes the computation time unmanageable. We developed a system based on punctuated anytime learning that periodically tests a number of partner combinations to select a single individual from each population to be used at trial time. We previously tested our method with a two agent box-pushing task. In this work, we show the efficiency of our method by applying it to the predator-prey scenario.
Sectors expressing the homeobox gene liguleless3 implicate a time-dependent mechanism for cell fate acquisition along the proximal-distal axis of the maize leaf

The longitudinal axis of the maize leaf is composed of, in proximal to distal order, sheath, ligule, auricle and blade. The semidominant Liguleless3-O (Lg3-O) mutation disrupts leaf development at the ligular region of the leaf midrib by transforming blade to sheath. In a previous study, we showed that leaf sectors of Lg3 mutant activity are cell nonautonomous in the transverse dimension and can confer several alternative developmental fates (Fowler, Muehlbauer and Freeling (1996) Genetics 143, 489–503). In our present study we identify five Lg3 sector types in the leaf: sheath-like with displaced ligule (sheath-like), sheath-like with ectopic ligule (ectopic ligule), auricle-like, macro-hairless blade and wild-type blade. The acquisition of a specific sector fate depends on the timing of Lg3 expression. Early Lg3 expression results in adoption of the sheath-like phenotype at the ligule position (a proximal cell fate), whereas later Lg3 expression at the same position results in one of the more distal cell fates. Furthermore, sheath-like Lg3 sectors exhibit a graded continuum of phenotypes in the transformed blade region from the most proximal (sheath) to the most distal (wild-type blade), suggesting that cell fate acquisition is a gradual process. We propose a model for leaf cell fate acquisition based on a timing mechanism whereby cells of the leaf primordium progress through a maturation schedule of competency stages which eventually specify the cell types along the proximal to distal axis of the leaf. In addition, the lateral borders between Lg3 ‘on’ sectors and wild-type leaf sometimes provide evidence of no spreading of the transformed phenotype. In these cases, competency stages are inherited somatically.
E-031 070 Neuron conduit technique for intracranial delivery and deployment of 6 mm and 8 mm carotid stents in the setting of proximal vessel tortuosity

Introduction Endovascular stenting is a common treatment modality for intravascular stenosis. Current intracranial devices are relatively atraumatic and flexible to allow for navigation through tortuous anatomy such as the carotid siphon to reach its intended target. At times, large vessel diameters preclude the use of intracranial stents. Larger carotid or wall stents are limited in their ability to navigate tortuous anatomy due to their stiffness. We present two cases where vessel size demanded a larger stent but vascular tortuosity prevented primary navigation to the target lesion. Case presentation The first patient was found to have symptomatic sagittal sinus stenosis with venous outflow obstruction due to compression from a posterior interhemispheric fissure meningioma. She presented with blurred vision and papilledema. The second patient had symptomatic right internal carotid stenosis and stroke symptoms. Results In both cases, severe tortuosity was present proximal to the target location. In each case, a 070 Neuron (Alameda, California, USA) was able to navigate through the tortuosity and across the intended lesions. In the first patient, a 8 mm×40 mm Cordis Precise (Miami Lakes, Florida, USA) stent tracked through the Neuron, which was then withdrawn and the stent was successfully deployed in the superior sagittal sinus. The patient had the second stent placed using the same technique from the torcula to the right transverse sinus. In the other patient, attempts to primarily navigate through the tortuous carotid artery to reach the target location failed. The 070 Neuron was able to safely and successfully navigate through the tortuosity over an 038 glide wire and cross the target lesion. Two Cordis Precise stents (6 mm×20 mm and 5 mm×20 mm) were able to successfully navigate through the Neuron and deploy across the lesion in the internal carotid artery petrous segment. Control angiography did not demonstrate any evidence of vascular injury or stroke. Conclusion Severe tortuosity can preclude successful primary navigation of larger, non-intracranial stents due to stent inflexibility. Use of a flexible guide catheter can provide a conduit to deliver these devices to their intended targets successfully.
Low-frequency noise probe of interacting charge dynamics in variable-range hopping boron-doped silicon

Low-frequency voltage noise is used to probe stochastic charge dynamics in nonmetallic boron-doped silicon. A `` $1/f$'' noise spectrum is observed down to 0.1 Hz. The noise magnitude is suppressed and the frequency dependence strengthens at low temperature. The data are inconsistent with single-particle hopping fluctuations, but are compatible with thermally activated rearrangements of configurations involving many charges. Such configurational fluctuations indicate that many-electron excitations are important to charge dynamics in the interacting regime.
Computer-Aided Design of One-Dimensional MOSFET Impurity Profiles

A new numerical method for automated design of MOSFET impurity profiles is presented. For a discrete mesh, the method efficiently calculates the gradient of electrostatic potential at each point in the semiconductor with respect to changes in the impurity concentration at every other point in the semiconductor. The gradient information is then used to adjust the profile to achieve a desired conduction condition in the device. Profile templates may be used to control the shape of profiles used during the design of enhancement- and depletion-mode threshold voltages. Profiles may also be designed to give a specified depletion-mode MOSFET conduction level or can be optimized for minimum substrate sensitivity or temperature dependence.
A cloud-based synthetic seismogram generator implemented using Windows Azure

Synthetic seismograms generated by solving the seismic wave equation using numerical methods are being widely used in seismology. For fully three-dimensional seismic structure models, the generation of these synthetic seismograms may require large amount of computing resources. Conventional high-performance computer clusters may not provide a cost-effective solution to this type of applications. The newly emerging cloud-computing platform provides an alternative solution. In this paper, we describe our implementation of a synthetic seismogram generator based on the reciprocity principle using the Windows Azure cloud application framework. Our preliminary experiment shows that our cloud-based synthetic seismogram generator provides a cost-effective and numerically efficient approach for computing synthetic seismograms based on the reciprocity principle.
Palliative and postoperative radiotherapy in biliary tract cancer.

Abstract Local failure is the primary limitation for cure in patients with BTC. whether or not they have been resected. The use of radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy in the postoperative setting is controversial, but some studies have reported improvement in 5-year survival. In patients with unresectable BTC, EBRT offers effective palliation of symptomatic disease and has resulted in improved median and long-term survival in a small number of patients in most studies. Novel approaches, including neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy combined with OLT, and escalated conformal irradiation, seem to be promising and warrant further investigation.
Sourceless Abelian gauge string in an expanding universe.

A model consisting of a sourceless Abelian gauge string in an expanding spacetime background is examined. Exact solutions are found which describe a radial inflow of gauge field energy that can be associated with the creation or destruction of a sourceless gauge string. The time rate of change of the string flux depends upon the expansion rate of the universe.
The dynamics of electricity use in Scandinavian households

Abstract We compare changes in the structure of residential electricity use in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden since the early 1970s. A major distinguishing feature among these countries has been consistent differences in the average residential price of electricity. We reach three important conclusions: (1) when the saturation of household appliances reaches maturity, it is only changes in space and water heating uses of electricity which can cause significant change in the intensity of electricity use in the residential sector. (2) The efficiency of household electricity use is strongly influenced both by domestic technologies and policies (e.g., housing standards), as well as by international manufacturers (e.g., of lighting equipment, windows, and household appliances). (3) The behavior of household occupants plays a key role in determining the intensity of electricity use, both through their demand for the services electricity provides and through their choices of equipment. Relative electricity prices have strongly influenced the choices of policy makers, consumers and equipment manufacturers in this sector. These conclusions suggest that pricing policies and improved technology offer potential for reducing residential electricity use in Scandinavia through greater efficiency and fuel substitution.
A hierarchical approach to fisheries planning and modeling in the Columbia River Basin

The Columbia River Basin is the scene of a massive effort to restore populations of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.) and steelhead (O. mykiss). Efficient restoration is confounded by a high level of complexity, competing sociopolitical goals and values, and uncertainty about key system properties. Simulation models and other tools of systems analysis are important to development of a comprehensive, regionally acceptable strategy. Hierarchy theory provides a useful paradigm for organized complexity within the Columbia Basin and the basis for a trilevel hierarchical structure for organizing and integrating models. Life-stage models compose the most basic simulation units at the lowest level in the proposed hierarchical modeling structure. Each life-stage model simulates a distinct period in the life cycle of anadromous salmonids. Population models at the intermediate level simulate the complete life cycles of salmon and steelhead populations. At the highest level in the hierarchy, interpopulation models simulate extensive, long-term processes that affect multiple species and stocks. A hierarchical system of models is preferable to a single model or to a group of models lacking formal structure. A principal advantage is that models have the correct spatial and temporal resolution for analyzing questions at different scales. A hierarchical structure also facilitates the flow of information among models, and aids in understanding the impacts of uncertainty. Constructing a hierarchy of models should involve both bottom-up and top-down perspectives that maintain logical consistency among models, while allowing unique model structures appropriate for each level in the hierarchy.
Forskolin stimulation of acid and pepsinogen secretion by gastric glands.

Abstract Isolated gastric glands were used to investigate the action of forskolin, a novel diterpene extracted from the Indian plant Coleus forskohlii. Forskolin was found to stimulate both acid formation and pepsinogen secretion. The stimulation was rapid, reversible and dose dependent with an ED50 of approx. 1 μM. The efficacy of forskolin was similar to that of more commonly used secretagogues, e.g. histamine, carbachol, cyclic AMP derivatives. The responses to forskolin were not inhibited by any of the receptor-specific antagonists tested. Forskolin activated adenyl cyclase in gland homogenates over a dose range similar to that required for stimulation of secretory activity. Forskolin was found to be more effective in activating adenyl cyclase than histamine, isoproterenol of NaF. Treatment of gastric glands with forskolin resulted in a 100-fold increase in tissue cAMP levels, supporting the idea that forskolin activates adenyl cyclase in the intact cell. The results are interpreted to show that forskolin stimulation of gastric secretions is due to activation of adenyl-cyclase with a consequent increase in tissue in
Occupational Disease and Workers’ Compensation: Coverage, Costs, and Consequences

Most of the costs of occupational disease are not covered by workers' compensation. First, the authors estimated the deaths and costs for all occupational disease in 1999, using epidemiological studies. Among the greatest contributors were job-related cancer, chronic respiratory disease, and circulatory disease. Second, the authors estimated the number of workers' compensation cases, costs, and deaths for 1999, using data from up to 16 states representing all regions of the country. Unlike the epidemiological studies that emphasized fatal diseases, the workers' compensation estimates emphasized nonfatal diseases and conditions like tendonitis and hernia. Comparisons of the epidemiological and workers' compensation estimates suggest that in 1999, workers' compensation missed roughly 46,000 to 93,000 deaths and 8 billion US dollars to 23 billion US dollars in medical costs. These deaths and costs represented substantial cost shifting from workers' compensation systems to individual workers, their families, private medical insurance, and taxpayers (through Medicare and Medicaid). Designing policies to reduce the cost shifting and its associated inefficiency will be challenging.
Substrate analog competitive inhibitors of human renin.

Abstract Replacement with D-amino acids at the site of cleavage in the native sequence of tetradecapeptide renin substrate yields effective competitive inhibitors of renin. The present communication reports the solid phase synthesis and the kinetic parameters of analogs of des-Asp-tetradecapeptide renin substrate, in which L-Leu at position 10 and/or 11 has been replaced with D-Leu. The dissociation constant (Ki) for renin of the three inhibitors described here is about 10−6 M. These synthetic substrate analogs are not significantly hydrolyzed by renin.
Selective impairment of morphosyntactic production in a neurological patient.

In this paper we describe the impaired morphosyntactic production of a neurological patient (R.B.). The patient's production of almost all freestanding morphological material (e.g. subjects, verbs, and function words) is unimpaired, while production of bound inflectional morphology is impaired. We show that this impairment involves featural information on both verbs and nouns and discuss it in the context of the Distributed Morphology model of morphosyntactic processing. We conclude that her error pattern is consistent with impaired ability to convert featural information to morphological material after sentence formation is complete.
Short unit-memory byte-oriented binary convolutional codes having maximal free distance (Corresp.)

It is shown that (n_{o},k_{o}) convolutional codes with unit memory always achieve the largest free distance among all codes of the same rate k_{o}/n_{o} and same number 2^{Mk_{o} of encoder states, where M is the encoder memory. A unit-memory code with maximal free distance is given at each place where this free distance exceeds that of the best code with k_{o} and n_{o} relatively prime, for all Mk_{o} \leq 6 and for R = l/2, 1/3, 1/4, 2/3 . It is shown that the unit-memory codes are byte oriented in such a way as to be attractive for use in concatenated coding systems.
Robotic repair of rectovesical fistula resulting from open radical prostatectomy.

Objectives Rectovesical fistula (RVF) is a rare complication of radical prostatectomy. A 57-year-old man underwent open radical prostatectomy with recognized rectal injury, primary closure of the rectal wall, and loop colostomy. The patient developed urine leakage per rectum after colostomy closure. We diverted the fecal stream with end colostomy and placed a suprapubic tube. An open transsacral (Kraske) repair failed 1 month later. We have previously described the laparoscopic approach, and report the technique and results of our first robotic assisted operation. Methods The operative steps were as follows: (1) cystoscopy, (2) RVF catheterization (3) five-port transperitoneal laparoscopic initial dissection (4) mobilization of omental pedicle flap, (4) cystotomy extending toward the fistulous tract, (5) robot docking (6) dissection of the rectovesical plane, (7) interrupted rectal closure, (8) omental interposition, (9) bladder closure, and (10) drain placement. Results Operative time was 180 minutes. Hospital stay was 1 day. The suprapubic tube was removed at 2 months after normal cystography. Bowel continuity was restored at 4 months, with no fistula recurrence at 1-month follow-up. Conclusions We await longer follow-up and experience in larger series. For now, robotic repair of rectovesical fistula appears feasible and represents an attractive alternative to open and laparoscopic approaches.
Identification of hooded rats using photographs of emerging fur patterns

Longitudinal observations on multiple-birth animals usually begin only after individuals grow large enough for ear-punching or toe-clipping. The procedure described by Geller and Geller (1966) is one of the only techniques ideally suited for identification of individuals in recently born litters. Their technique involves the injection of a small amount of India ink under one or more soles and palms of the newborn animals. However, even this procedure may entail more pain than desirable in studies where early experience is a variable. Painting the skin of the newborn with various colored chemicals is certainly less aversive, but this technique is sometimes not as permanent as other procedures and may produce visual or odor cues which could modify the behavior of the mother toward her young. A permanent nonintrusive procedure is available for animals possessing unique fur markings, such as Dutchbelted rabbits and hooded rats. As exemplified in Figure 1, an individual rat's fur pattern is unique, unchanging, and discernible as early as 3 days postpartum.
Control problems during start-up of solid core nuclear rockets

Nomenclature AC = heat-transfer surface area per unit length of core B = buckling C/U = carbon to fuel atom ratio in core cp = heat capacity D = diffusion coefficient d = coolant channel diameter h = heat-transfer coefficient k — thermal conductivity L = core length Nu = Nusselt number evaluated at TH&, hd/k P = power density Pr = Prandtl number evaluated at T^ cpn/k Q — slowing-down density at lethargy u due to hydrogen only q — slowing-down density u due to carbon only Re = Reynolds number evaluated at TH&, dvp/k T = temperature t = time, sec Vc = volume of core per unit length X = axial position in core (f> = neutron flux u = unit lethargy v = gas velocity p = density w = hydrogen flow rate 2a = macroscopic absorption cross section ls = macroscopic scattering cross section fj, = viscosity f = average lethargy change per collision for scattering by carbon
CMV reactivation is associated with a lower incidence of relapse after allo-SCT for CML

Preemptive therapy at CMV reactivation has diminished post-transplant CMV mortality. Furthermore, recent studies suggest a favorable 'virus-versus-leukemia' effect from reactivating CMV, reducing relapse of AML after SCT. We studied the relationship of CMV reactivation with leukemic relapse in 110 patients with CML receiving HLA-identical sibling SCT between 1993 and 2008. Of these, 79 (72%) were in chronic phase, 5 in second chronic phase, 17 in accelerated phase and 9 in blast phase. A total of 97 patients (88%) received a myeloablative conditioning regimen, 97 received 4-log ex vivo T cell-depleted grafts and 13 received T-replete grafts. CMV reactivation before day 100 was observed in 72 patients (65.5%). At a median follow-up of 6.2 years, CMV reactivation < day 100 as a time-dependent covariate was an independent factor associated with decreased relapse. We conclude that CMV reactivation may contribute to a beneficial GVL effect in CML transplant recipients.
Determination of 14,15-Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid and 14,15-Dihydroxyeicosatrienoic Acid by Fluoroimmunoassay

Abstract A fluoroimmunoassay (FIA) for 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-EET) and 14,15-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (14,15-DHET), cytochrome P450 epoxygenase products of arachidonic acid, was developed using fluorescence polarization. 14,15-EET was hydrolyzed and analyzed as 14,15-DHET. 14,15-DHET was conjugated to thyroglobulin and a specific antibody was raised in rabbits. Both [3H8]14,15-DHET in radioimmunoassay or fluorescein-labeled 14,15-DHET (14, 15-DHET*) in FIA bound to this antibody and were competitively displaced by 14,15-DHET. The binding activity and cross-reactivity of 14,15-DHET antibody were also studied by RIA compared to FIA. The antibody cross-reacted ≤1% with 11,12-DHET and 14,15-EET and