cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automatic program inversion using symbolic transducers

We propose a fully-automated technique for inverting functional programs that operate over lists such as string encoders and decoders. We consider programs that can be modeled using symbolic extended finite transducers (), an expressive model that can describe complex list-manipulating programs while retaining several decidable properties. Concretely, given a program P expressed as an , we propose techniques for: (1) checking whether P is injective and, if that is the case, (2) building an P-1 describing its inverse. We first show that it is undecidable to check whether an is injective and propose an algorithm for checking injectivity for a restricted, but a practical class of . We then propose an algorithm for inverting based on the following idea: if an is injective, inverting it amounts to inverting all its individual transitions. We leverage recent advances program synthesis and show that the transition inversion problem can be expressed as an instance of the syntax-guided synthesis framework. Finally, we implement the proposed techniques in a tool called and show that can invert 13 out 14 real complex string encoders and decoders, producing inverse programs that are substantially identical to manually written ones.
An integrative review of in-class activities that enable active learning in college science classroom settings

Engaging students in active learning is linked to positive learning outcomes. This study aims to synthesise the peer-reviewed literature about ‘active learning’ in college science classroom setting...
Regulation of mRNA Translation in Neurons—A Matter of Life and Death

Dynamic regulation of mRNA translation initiation and elongation is essential for the survival and function of neural cells. Global reductions in translation initiation resulting from mutations in the translational machinery or inappropriate activation of the integrated stress response may contribute to pathogenesis in a subset of neurodegenerative disorders. Aberrant proteins generated by non-canonical translation initiation may be a factor in the neuron death observed in the nucleotide repeat expansion diseases. Dysfunction of central components of the elongation machinery, such as the tRNAs and their associated enzymes, can cause translational infidelity and ribosome stalling, resulting in neurodegeneration. Taken together, dysregulation of mRNA translation is emerging as a unifying mechanism underlying the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative disorders.
The impact of a Firm’s Abandoned Patent on Subsequent Cumulative Invention

This paper explores the impact of a focal firm’s patent abandonment decision on subsequent cumulative inventions derived from this abandoned patent. In the United States, a firm needs to renew its ...
Abstract 377: A Systematic Review of Medication Adherence Among African American Heart Failure Patients

Background: Heart failure is a leading cause of death in the United States and a condition of particular concern for the African American population. Although effective treatments are available for the disease, medication adherence is a key determinant of survival. Objective: This systematic review examines articles from the last 15 years that research medication adherence and African American heart failure patients. Methods: A systematic review of the published literature was conducted to identify articles examining predictors and outcomes of medication adherence among African Americans and then using Sister Callista Roy’s Health Adaptation conceptual framework - physiological, self-concept, role function and interdependence. Results: This review identified 14 articles that met inclusion criteria, most of which focused on physiological predictors, noting that age and comorbid conditions such as dialysis status may play a role in medication adherence. Psychological, cultural and social determinants were also found to impact adherence behaviors. Conclusions: More research is needed to examine other components of the Health Adaptation model, especially socioeconomic and healthcare system level predictors.
Comparison of the in- and across-plane ionic conductivity of highly oriented neodymium doped ceria thin films

Abstract To determine the effect of grain boundaries and grain orientation on the electrical properties of solid oxide fuel cell electrolytes, a comparison of the in-plane and across-plane ionic conductivity of both strongly and poorly textured, columnar-grained doped ceria thin films was performed within equivalent temperature ranges (150–300 °C). Additionally, the in-plane conductivity of partially amorphous films, polycrystalline films with randomly oriented grains, and single crystal, epitaxial films with no grain boundaries was determined. Pulsed laser deposition permitted the growth of all these types of films and the ability to grow columnar-grained doped ceria on both conducting and insulating surfaces enabled testing of the films both in-plane and across-plane. Compared to the columnar-grained samples, partially amorphous films exhibited a lower conductivity, while epitaxial doped ceria exhibited an enhancement in conductivity of 2 orders of magnitude. Between 300 and 400 °C, the in-plane conductivity of the strongly textured film was higher than the poorly textured one. The conductivity and activation energy in-plane and across-plane for the strongly textured film was similar (2.75 × 10−5 S/cm, 0.70 eV vs. 5.50 × 10−5 S/cm, 0.68 eV at 250 °C). In contrast, for the poorly textured films, the in-plane and across-plane conductivity values differed by almost an order of magnitude (2.86 × 10−5 S/cm, 0.55 eV vs. 1.99 × 10−4 S/cm, 0.78 eV at 250 °C) suggesting that the boundaries between oriented grains were less resistive. These results further strengthen the argument that grain orientation affects ionic transport through grain boundaries.
Hexachromatic imager for near-infrared fluorescence image-guided surgery (Conference Presentation)

Image-guided surgery (IGS) can improve the patient’s outcome by providing meaningful real-time information about the location of cancerous tumors and surrounding tissue, aiding in the elimination of positive tumor margins and reducing iatrogenic damage. However, the clinical need for imaging systems that can provide real-time feedback under real operating room settings remains unmet. State-of-the-art imaging systems for near-infrared fluorescence IGS rely on a series of complex optics and several imaging sensors. As a result, these systems are bulky and expensive, and their architecture lacks the versatility to simultaneously image multiple fluorophores, effectively making them cumbersome when merged into the current surgical workflow. To address these shortcomings, we have designed a multi-spectral imager capable of spatially co-registered hexachromatic vision: three spectral channels in the visible spectrum for the identification of anatomical features in color and three spectral channels in the near-infrared spectrum for the simultaneous identification of multiple near-infrared fluorescence dyes used in IGS. Our single-chip imaging sensor combines the vertically stacked photodetectors technology with pixelated interference filters to create a multi-spectral imager that can help surgeons make clinically relevant decisions in real time, with an effective resolution of 1280x720x3 photodiodes and a frame rate of 24 FPS. Our imager has the ability to identify different shades of near-infrared fluorescent light, allowing the surgeon to use and differentiate multiple fluorophores as molecular probes with high sensitivity. Pre-clinical data is shown where simultaneous imaging of anatomical features in color, and identification of nerves and cancerous tumors, are achieved using multiple near-infrared fluorescent agents.
Structural identification of ZnxZryOz catalysts for Cascade aldolization and self-deoxygenation reactions

Abstract Complementary characterizations, such as nitrogen sorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), visible Raman, scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM) coupled with elemental mapping, NH3/CO2 temperature programmed desorption (NH3/CO2-TPD), infrared spectroscopic analysis of adsorbed pyridine (Py-IR), and CO2-IR, have been employed to identify the structure and surface chemistry (i.e., acid-base) of mixed ZnxZryOz oxide catalysts of varied ratios of Zn/Zr. Atomically dispersed Zn2+ species are present in the framework within a thin surface shell (1.5–2.0 nm) of ZrO2 particles when the Zn/Zr ratio is smaller than 1/10; when the ratio is above this, both atomically dispersed Zn2+ and ZnO clusters coexist in mixed ZnxZryOz oxide catalysts. The presence of ZnO clusters shows no significant side effect but only a slight increase of selectivity to CO2, caused by steam reforming. The incorporation of atomic Zn2+ into the ZrO2 framework was found to not only passivate strong Lewis acid sites (i.e., Zr-O-Zr) on ZrO2, but to also generate new Lewis acid-base site pairs with enhanced Lewis basicity on the bridged O (i.e., ). In the mixed ketone (i.e., acetone and methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)) reactions, while the passivation of strong acid sites can be correlated to the inhibition of side reactions, such as ketone decomposition and coking, the new Lewis acid-base pairs introduced enhance the cascade aldolization and self-deoxygenation reactions involved in olefin (C3=-C6=) production. More importantly, the surface acid-base properties change with varying Zn/Zr ratios, which in turn affect the cross- and self-condensation reactivity and subsequent distribution of olefins. Download : Download high-res image (68KB) Download : Download full-size image
The Dog as a Model for Aging Research

Abstract The domestic dog, Canis familiaris , meets criteria for the ultimate biogerontology model. The model includes (1) natural life span differences within a single species; (2) advanced medical care and procedures previously established and in place; (3) an accessible, well-annotated genome; and (4) a natural habitat, sustained during investigation. Demonstrated many times over, the dog has been a model of human medical conditions, including cancer, narcolepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and numerous others. The medical devices, laboratory tests, professionals, and facilities exist so that the dog receives medical care in the United States second only to the human. Advantageously, the dog can remain in its natural environment while longevity investigations are ongoing, therefore, offering yet another prime quality for this animal model of human aging. This review explores the potential role for oxidative damage and mitochondrial dysfunction and other mechanisms on aging in dogs.
Computer Programming for Traffic Problems and Flow Characteristics

Programming may be defined as the preparation of a set or sets of instructions to be performed in a sequence which may vary under different conditions. The concept of programming for traffic engineers is not new. The setting of pins for timing phases on the dial of a fixed timed controller or the setting of a time clock to select a cycle length are examples of simple programs which vary with time.
Designing controllable computer systems

Adaptive control theory is emerging as a viable approach for the design of self-managed computer systems. This paper argues that the systems community should not be concerned with the design of adaptive controllers--there are off-the-shelf controllers that can be used to tune any system that abides by certain properties. Systems research should instead be focusing on the open problem of designing and configuring systems that are amenable to dynamic, feedback-based control. Currently, there is no systematic approach for doing this. To that aim, this paper introduces a set of properties derived from control theory that controllable computer systems should satisfy. We discuss the intuition behind these properties and the challenges to be addressed by system designers trying to enforce them. For the discussion, we use two examples of management problems: 1) a dynamically controlled scheduler that enforces performance goals in a 3-tier system; 2) a system where we control the number of blades assigned to a workload to meet performance goals within power budgets.
The Basics: From Concepts to Models

This chapter presents some of the basics of the analysis and intervention that is clinical sociology—the concepts, ideas about intervention, theory, diagrams, and models. Concepts (important terms), diagrams (simple visual representations), and models (explanations or visualizations of how practitioners should function) help us define our field and can serve as a baseline for discussions regarding intervention. Topics that are covered include: rights-based intervention, structurally-conducive settings, creativity, inclusion, socioeconomic development, levels of intervention, approaches to intervention, research, ethical principles and client systems.
Cytokine Regulation in Autism

Autism is a biological disorder of unknown cause and etiology. The disorder impacts the functioning of the central nervous system (CNS), manifesting devastating psychiatric as well as neurological problems in the affected person. Autism is commonly described as a neurodevelopmental disorder, which implies that the structure and function of the developing brain is impaired. Today, autism is known to affect more than one-half million American people, by and large children but a significant number of adults also. The diagnosis is made during early childhood before the age of 34 months but the affliction continues well into the adulthood, becoming a life-long disability.
Cytokines and Sleep Regulation

There is substantial evidence implicating the brain cytokine network in sleep regulation; this network seems to be intimately involved in the regulation of daily physiological sleep as well as sleep responses to perturbations such as sleep loss and infectious challenge. Two cytokines are extensively studied for their involvement in sleep regulation; they are tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-1β (IL1β) and we will focus on their involvement in non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREMS) regulation. In addition, many other cytokines are expressed in brain and affect NREMS and these will be summarized. We will mention some likely downstream biochemical mechanisms by which pro-somnogenic cytokines affect sleep; these include nitric oxide (NO), adenosine and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). We will also provide an overview of the brain circuitry known to be involved in NREMS regulation and summarize the relatively limited data germane to cytokine influences on these circuits. Finally, we will provide a short summary of the implications of these findings for sleep function, which remains one of the most important enigmas in all of neurobiology.
Formation of Toxic Oligomeric Assemblies of RNA-binding Protein: Musashi in Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder associated with structural and functional alterations of brain cells causing progressive deterioration of memory and other cognitive functions. Recent studies demonstrate that several neurodegenerative diseases, including AD exhibit RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) pathologies, including TAR DNA -binding protein (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and T-interacting antigen-1 (TIA-1), highlighting the role of RBPs in neurodegeneration. One such group of RBPs, Musashi proteins comprised of MSI1 and MSI2, has been long studied in neurogenesis and cancer biology. Herein, we have investigated the aggregation properties of MSI1 and MSI2 by in vitro assays, their expression and accumulation as well as their possible interactions with other cellular proteins, such as tau in AD pathology. We have performed atomic force microscopy, Western blot, and immunoprecipitation to demonstrate the aggregation properties of recombinant Musashi proteins. Furthermore, we have studied cortical brain sections from AD (N = 4) and age-matched non-demented subjects (N = 4) by Western blot and immunofluorescence microscopy to investigate MSI1 and MSI2 levels and their localization in human brain tissues. Musashi proteins showed in vitro aggregation properties by forming oligomers. We have observed an increase in Musashi proteins levels in AD brain tissues as compared with age-matched non-demented subjects. Moreover, Musashi proteins are observed to form oligomers in the diseased brain tissues. Interestingly, the co-immunofluorescence study has revealed a change in fluorescence pattern of oligomeric Musashi proteins and tau with a high association in the perinuclear area of the cells suggesting changes in function of Musashi proteins. Our data have demonstrated for the first time that MSI1 and MSI2 are present in an oligomeric state in AD brains compared to the age-matched non-demented subjects and that these large assemblies co-localize with tau contributing to the neurodegenerative pathogenesis.
The Purposive Emptiness of Elizabeth Bentley

ABSTRACTThis essay analyzes the development of Elizabeth Bentley's poetic trope of the author as a shell as well as the ways in which Bentley relied upon a persona of simplicity and passivity in or...
New literacies in participatory cultures: The assumption of trust

New literacies research and theory touts the advantages of participatory cultures where youth collaborate, connect, and share knowledge. However, these practices assume a certain level of trust. Wi...
MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS AND RELATED MATTERS

This chapter discusses multiple regression analysis and related matters. If X and Y are two jointly distributed random variables with finite positive variances, the correlation of X and Y is called the correlation coefficient ( ρ ). The chapter presents three facts about the correlation coefficient: (1) –1 ≤ ρ ≤ 1 follows from the Cauchy–Schwarz inequality, (2) If X and Y are independent, then ρ = 0, and (3) If ρ = 0 and X and Y are bivariate normal, then X and Y are independent. An interpretation of ρ is obtained from standardizing the random variables X and Y to have mean as zero and variance as one. The correlation coefficient ρ is the slope of the least-squares line between the standardized variables. The chapter further discusses a theory associated with the multivariate normal distribution.
A Tale of Two Nicaraguas: 8 de marzo’s Ser como el aire quisiera and Lapta Yula’s La vida sigue Dramatizing Nicaragua’s Cultural Schizophrenia

An examination of two Nicaraguan dramatic texts exemplifies the tension between first world white feminism and a feminism that rejects the hierarchies often replicated in the first waves of feminism. Women’s collective 8 de marzo’s Ser como el aire quisiera rejects the hegemonic femininity that often oppresses transgendered women and neglects to embrace the multiplicity of sexual expressions. Lapta Yula’s La vida sigue enfatizes solidarity, not just amongst women, but all those vying for a more equitable, just society whose mission is to promote the greater good of all. While both texts indirectly problematize the traditional concept of feminism, La vida sigue’s dramatic stance against hegemonic performativities is a step further from Ser como el aire quisiera’s primary dramatic thrust.
Doing Safety … and then Security: Mixing Operational Challenges—Preparing to Be Surprised

Demands for organizational safety and security continue to increase. With incommensurable, legitimate operational requirements, tensions are to be expected. Variations in the sources of tensions are explored along with potential informal modes of accommodation. Analytical thought experiments are proposed. Prepare for surprise.
Online Adversarial Purification based on Self-Supervision.

Deep neural networks are known to be vulnerable to adversarial examples, where a perturbation in the input space leads to an amplified shift in the latent network representation. In this paper, we combine canonical supervised learning with self-supervised representation learning, and present Self-supervised Online Adversarial Purification (SOAP), a novel defense strategy that uses a self-supervised loss to purify adversarial examples at test-time. Our approach leverages the label-independent nature of self-supervised signals and counters the adversarial perturbation with respect to the self-supervised tasks. SOAP yields competitive robust accuracy against state-of-the-art adversarial training and purification methods, with considerably less training complexity. In addition, our approach is robust even when adversaries are given knowledge of the purification defense strategy. To the best of our knowledge, our paper is the first that generalizes the idea of using self-supervised signals to perform online test-time purification.
pre-piRNA trimming and 2'-O-methylation protect piRNAs from 3' tailing and degradation in C. elegans.

The Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) pathway suppresses transposable elements and promotes fertility in diverse organisms. Maturation of piRNAs involves pre-piRNA trimming followed by 2'-O-methylation at their 3' termini. Here, we report that the 3' termini of Caenorhabditis elegans piRNAs are subject to nontemplated nucleotide addition, and piRNAs with 3' addition exhibit extensive base-pairing interaction with their target RNAs. Animals deficient for PARN-1 (pre-piRNA trimmer) and HENN-1 (2'-O-methyltransferase) accumulate piRNAs with 3' nontemplated nucleotides. In henn-1 mutants, piRNAs are shortened prior to 3' addition, whereas long isoforms of untrimmed piRNAs are preferentially modified in parn-1 mutant animals. Loss of either PARN-1 or HENN-1 results in modest reduction in steady-state levels of piRNAs. Deletion of both enzymes leads to depletion of piRNAs, desilenced piRNA targets, and impaired fecundity. Together, our findings suggest that pre-piRNA trimming and 2'-O-methylation act collaboratively to protect piRNAs from tailing and degradation.
Casting Light on the Shadow of Doubt

The Science of Conjecture Evidence and Probability before Pascal. James Franklin. Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore, 2001. 511 pp. $55, £36.95. ISBN 0-8018-6569-7. Franklin offers a comprehensive survey of the literature of rational methods of dealing with uncertainty from ancient Egypt to Pascal and Fermat's development of the mathematics of probability in the mid-17th century.
Anti-tumour and anti-angiogenetic effects of zoledronic acid on human non-small-cell lung cancer cell line.

Objectives: Although emerging data suggest that zoledronic acid (Zol) may have different anti-tumour activities against a broad range of cancers, its effects on lung cancer remain largely unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the anti-tumoural and anti-angiogenetic effect of zoledronic acid in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells. Material and methods: We treated A549 NSCLC cells with zoledronic acid to investigate survival, cell cycle activity, anti-angiogenic activity and apoptotic responses to it. Results: We observed that highest Zol concentration (100 μm) caused arrest in G1 phase of the cell cycle and also induced different percentages of apoptosis in presence (0.9% versus 4.4%) or absence (2.4% versus 28.5%) of serum (P = 0.0001). Zol concentration from 5 to 100 μm for 2 days induced significant concentration-dependent cell death in adherent cells. Furthermore, Zol (10–100 μm) induced dose-dependent reduction both of mRNA and protein expression of VEGF associated with parallel decrease in VEGF secretion in the culture medium. Conclusion: Taken together, these results support a possible anti-cancer and anti-angiogenetic activity of Zol. Our data may not only provide a basis for the clinical use of this drug as preventive agent of bone metastases but also suggest that Zol deserves attention as an anti-cancer agent in non-small-cell lung cancer.
Ion‐Beam‐Assisted Deposition of Magnesium Oxide Films for Coated Conductors

The development of high critical-temperature thin-film superconductors and coated conducting wires is important for electric power applications. To achieve high transport current density, template films are necessary for the successful deposition of biaxially aligned YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} (YBCO) on flexible metal substrates. We grew biaxially aligned magnesium oxide (MgO) template films by ion-beam-assisted deposition with electron-beam evaporation. MgO films of {approx}100 {angstrom} thickness were deposited on Si{sub 3}N{sub 4}-coated Si substrates at a deposition rate of {approx}1.5 {angstrom}/sec with an ion flux of {approx}110 {micro}A/cm{sup 2} bombarding the substrate at a 45{sup o} angle. To study crystalline structure by X-ray diffraction, we deposited an additional layer of MgO. Good in- and out-of-plane alignment was observed, with (111) {phi}-scan full-width half-maximum (FWHM) of 6.2{sup o} and (002) {omega}-scan FWHM of 2.2{sup o}.
Dwarf Shrub Ecology in Kenya's Arid Zone: Indigofera Spinosa as a Key Forage Resource

Dwarf shrubs are a very important forage resource in Northwest Kenya and probably contribute to the stability of pastoral systems in that area. In an effort to learn more about the ecology of these species we measured their density, size, morphometric traits and relations, and responses to defoliation. These studies indicate that while dwarf shrub foliage is less abundant than grass, these plants can produce a significant quantity of palatable forage (8 g/m 2 /year) for the pastoral system, and the forage is available at critical times. The most abundant species, I. spinosa was patchily distributed, but production rates within patches were high (220 g/m 2 /year). A defoliation experiment indicated that I. spinosa was tolerant of herbivory. Defoliation also had little net effect on plant size because tissue mortality during a dry period resulted in greater tissue losses from larger undefoliated plants. Tolerance of herbivory and drought, ability to respond to little rainfall and preference for sandy soils indicated substantial value as a forage species in arid tropical regions.
Two and a Half Hurdles Between Eurozone Debts and U.S. Courts: How Recent Distressed Foreign Deals Could Soon Be Unwound Domestically

The recent financial unrest in Europe has created significant distressed opportunities for buyers with free capital. In typical arms-length transactions, these buyers would leave with little concern with the viability of their counterparties. But sudden rebounds in values after economic recovery create incentives for counterparties to reclaim once-distressed, but now-valuable, assets through fraudulent transfer litigation. Recent shifts in U.S. jurisprudence may create an opportunity for U.S. bankruptcy courts to unwind these transactions.This article discusses the link between the debt crisis in the Eurozone and a potential flood of future litigation to unwind foreign transactions in U.S. courts. Specifically, this article will address the two and a half hurdles litigants must overcome to reach foreign transactions with U.S. bankruptcy law — namely, Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the presumption against extraterritoriality, and the U.S. Supreme Court’s watershed decision in Stern v. Marshall, 131 S. Ct. 2594 (2011).
Nuclear phosphoproteins: III. Increase in phosphorylation during histone-phosphoprotein interaction

SUMMARY The effects of histones on the enzymatic phosphorylation of nuclear phosphoproteins have been extensively studied in vitro. Histones cause a 5- to Io-fold increase in the rate and extent of phosphorylation of nuclear phosphoprotein, with the lysinerich histones being the most effective at stimulation. Evidence suggests that the histones are not being phosphorylated themselves, but rather act to make more sites available for phosphorylation in the phosphoprotein itself. The possible physiological significance of histone-phosphoprotein interactions is discussed.
Intramuscular administration of 15(S)-15-methyl-prostaglandin E2-methyl ester for induction of abortion

Abstract To test the practicability of administering 15(S)-15-methyl-prostaglandin E 2 -methyl ester [15(S)-ME-PGE 2 ] intramuscularly for the induction of midtrimester abortion, 20 subjects were treated with 5 μg of 15(S)-ME-PGE 2 every 4 hours. Sixty-five per cent aborted within 24 hours, and 85 per cent aborted within 48 hours with a mean induction-to-abortion time of 21.0 hours. No serious complications occurred. The most disturbing side effect was transient shivering. Shivering was usually followed by fever (>100° F.) that occurred in 65 per cent of the subjects. These rates of abortion appear similar to those reported with intra-amniotic administration of hypertonic saline or urea augmented with intravenous oxytocin or prostaglandin F 2α without augmentation. It was concluded that while this intramuscular dose schedule appeared to be a practicable method of midtrimester abortion larger studies will be necessary to define the rates of complications and the most effective and convenient dose schedule.
HABITAT PREFERENCES OF PINYON-JUNIPER SPECIALISTS NEAR THE LIMIT OF THEIR GEOGRAPHIC RANGE

Abstract We investigated habitat preferences for five pinyon-juniper specialists during the 1998 and 1999 breeding seasons in Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) woodlands of southwestern Wyoming. We compared avian use and availability of vegetation features using univariate and multivariate analysis to detect selection for vegetative features of pinyon-juniper specialists near the northeastern range boundary of pinyon-juniper habitat on the Colorado Plateau. Gray Flycatchers (Empidonax wrightii), Juniper Titmice (Baeolophus griseus), and Bewick's Wrens (Thryomanes bewickii) preferred woodlands with high overstory juniper cover. The Juniper Titmouse was associated with senescent trees, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) with rock outcrops and shrubs in the family Rosaceae, and Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) with pinyon pine (Pinus edulis). We suggest the geographic distribution of four of five pinyon-juniper specialists is limited by the occurrence of pinyon pine in semiarid ...
Evaluation of the SAS Legionella Test, a new immunochromatographic assay for the detection of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine

This study evaluated a new immunochromatographic assay (SAS Legionella Test) for its ability to detect Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 antigen in urine. Results were compared with those obtained using the Binax Now urinary antigen test. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated as 82.9% and 99.0%, respectively, for the SAS Legionella Test, and 91.4% and 100%, respectively, for the Binax Now urinary antigen test. The sensitivity of both tests increased to 97.1% (p 0.009) and 94.2% (p 0.7), respectively, if the tests were examined after 1 h.
Predictors of sleep-disordered breathing in obese adults who are chronic short sleepers

Abstract Background Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is common in obese adults, but not all obese adults have SDB. The aim of these analyses was to determine what predicted SDB in a sample of obese adults. Methods We conducted cross-sectional analysis of 139 obese men and women aged 18–50years who are chronic short sleepers. Habitual sleep duration and sleep efficiency were estimated using two weeks of wrist actigraphy. Respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was assessed by a portable screening device. SDB was defined as RDI⩾15 eventsh −1 . Subjective sleep quality, sleepiness, and sociodemographic characteristics were evaluated by questionnaires. Results Increased sleep duration from actigraphy was associated with reduced odds of SDB (OR 0.44 per hour, p =0.043). Neither subjective sleep quality nor sleepiness was associated with SDB. Male sex, older age, and increased waist circumference were associated with increased odds of SDB. Conclusions In this sample of obese adults, subjective measures of sleep quality and sleepiness were not indicators of SDB. These results suggest that, in obese patients, physicians should not rely on subjective measures to determine who should be referred for a clinical sleep study. A wider use of portable apnea screening devices should be considered in nonsymptomatic, non-Hispanic white males.
SU-E-J-170: Beyond Single-Cycle 4DCT: Maximum a Posteriori (MAP) Reconstruction-Based Binning-Free Multicycle 4DCT for Lung Radiotherapy

Purpose: Thoracic motion changes from cycle-to-cycle and day-to-day. Conventional 4DCT does not capture these cycle to cycle variations. We present initial results of a novel 4DCT reconstruction technique based on maximum a posteriori (MAP) reconstruction. The technique uses the same acquisition process (and therefore dose) as a conventional 4DCT in order to create a high spatiotemporal resolution cine CT that captures several breathing cycles. Methods: Raw 4DCT data were acquired from a lung cancer patient. The continuous 4DCT was reconstructed using MAP algorithm which uses the raw, time-stamped CT data to reconstruct images while simultaneously estimating deformation in the subject's anatomy. This framework incorporates physical effects such as hysteresis and is robust to detector noise and irregular breathing patterns. The 4D image is described in terms of a 3D reference image defined at one end of the hysteresis loop, and two deformation vector fields (DVFs) corresponding to inhale motion and exhale motion respectively. The MAP method uses all of the CT projection data and maximizes the log posterior in order to iteratively estimate a timevariant deformation vector field that describes the entire moving and deforming volume. Results: The MAP 4DCT yielded CT-quality images for multiple cycles corresponding to the entire duration of CT acquisition, unlike the conventional 4DCT, which only yielded a single cycle. Variations such as amplitude and frequency changes and baseline shifts were clearly captured by the MAP 4DC Conclusion: We have developed a novel, binning-free, parameterized 4DCT reconstruction technique that can capture cycle-to-cycle variations of respiratory motion. This technique provides an invaluable tool for respiratory motion management research. This work was supported by funding from the National Institutes of Health and VisionRT Ltd. Amit Sawant receives research funding from Varian Medical Systems, Vision RT and Elekta
Drag on Nonspherical Objects

Stokes's law describes drag force on a sphere in creeping flow. This law can be extended to a nonspherical object by allocating the interaction of the fluid with the object into its interaction with two analogous spheres, one with the same projected area and one with the same surface area as the object. This approach was used to characterize dynamic shape factor for objects whose shape factors are reported in the literature. Agreement between data and the equation for shape factor based on this approach was excellent for prisms: R 2 = 0.998. This equation and empirical equations from the literature were used to predict shape factor for a sphere, cylinders, prisms, spheroids, and double conicals whose shape factors have been reported. The equation based on the Stokes's law extension predicted shape factors better than the empirical equations, as judged by a least-squares index of performance.
What Would Liz and Larry Say? Performing Critical Approaches to Choreographic Mentorship in American Higher Education.

This paper argues that Liz Lerman’s and Larry Lavender’s approaches to mentoring student choreographers denote a shift in the philosophy of choreographic mentorship in higher education, because they reflect current concerns in critical pedagogy. My particular interest is in the relationship established between student artist and educator when a philosophy of critical pedagogy is infused in the choreography classroom. Lerman’s and Lavender’s philosophies create space for students to explore a wide range of material, they allow for more agency, power, and risk taking in the students’ choreographic practice, and they also allow for a reciprocal student to mentor relationship. By enacting simulated conversation with these mentors in this essay, representing their voices and choreographic principles, I locate and analyze the elements of choreography craft and process that they value and those that they omit or reject. New insights into the philosophies of these important figures are gleaned as I play their par...
Psychological and physical stress induce differential effects on human colonic motility.

Abstract Objective: Stress modulates gut function, but whether the type of stressor influences colonic motor activity is unclear. The motor patterns and regional variations are also poorly understood. Our aim was to determine the effects of psychological and physical stress on colonic motility. Methods: Ambulatory colonic manometry was performed by placing a six-sensor probe up to the mid-transverse colon, without sedation, in 12 healthy subjects. Five hours later, a dichotomous listening test (psychological stress) was performed, which was preceded by listening to a narrative passage (control); recovery entailed listening to relaxing music (1 h each). Subsequently, intermittent hand immersion in cold (4°C) water (physical stress) was performed, preceded by hand immersion in warm (37°C) water ( 1 2 -h each). Colonic pressure activity and cardiovascular responses were measured throughout the study. Results: When compared with the control period, both stressors induced a greater number of pressure waves (p
Gender, added-worker effects, and the 2007–2009 recession: Looking within the household

The U.S. recession of 2007–2009 saw unemployment rates for men rise by significantly more than those for women, resulting in the downturn’s characterization as a ‘mancession’. This paper uses data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to reexamine gender-related dimensions of the 2007–2009 recession. Unlike most previous work, we analyze data that connects men’s and women’s employment status to that of their spouses. A difference-in-difference framework is used to characterize how labor-market outcomes for one spouse varied according to outcomes for the other. Results show that that employment rates of women whose husbands were non-employed rose significantly in the recession, while those for people in other situations held steady or fell—consistent with the view that women took on additional bread-winning responsibilities to make up for lost income. However, probabilities of non-participation did not rise by more for men with working wives than they did for other men, casting doubt on ideas that men in this situation made weaker efforts to return to work because they could count on their wives’ paychecks to support the household.
Return of the Maxim Gun? Technology and empire in an age of austerity

Contrary to arguments that the financial crisis of 2008 and the subsequent economic difficulties of the United States presage a decline in American power in general and American intervention in foreign societies in particular, this article suggests that technological advances may allow the United States to maintain or even increase its coercive capabilities over foreign societies.
Reproductive impairment in a fish inhabiting a contaminated coastal environment off Southern California

White croaker (Genyonemus lineatus), collected from a highly contaminated site in San Pedro Bay and from a reference site 80 km away (Dana Point), were induced to spawn in the laboratory. Forty-one per cent of San Pedro Bay females and 54% of Dana Point females spawned. Examination of the ovaries of non-spwaning females revealed that spawning was imminent in the remainder of Dana Point fish but only in 16% of the San Pedro Bay fish. The remainder of the San Pedro Bay fish (43%) contained only immature, yolky oocytes. No croakers containing more than 3.8 ppm ovarian total DDT could be induced to spawn whereas 36% of a contemporaneous San Pedro Bay sample had ovarian total DDT residues in excess of 4 ppm. This suggests that the inability to induce spawning in white croaker may be associated with an ovarian total DDT threshold of about 4 ppm. These data, coupled with observed decreases in fecundity (32%), fertility (14%), and early oocyte loss (30%) relative to reference fish, could partially explain the population declines observed for many southern California fishes since the 1940s.
Baseline Characteristics of Enrollees in the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Registry of α1-Antitrypsin Deficiency

Objective α 1 -Antitrypsin (α 1 -AT) deficiency is a hereditary disorder characterized by a high risk for the development of emphysema at an early age. In 1988, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, initiated a registry of individuals with α 1 -AT deficiency to help define the natural history and clinical course of this disorder. This article describes demographic and clinical characteristics of subjects enrolled in the Registry at baseline. Design Prospective longitudinal natural history study. Setting Thirty-seven clinical centers in the United States (36 centers) and Canada (one center). Patients There were 1,129 subjects 18 years of age or older with severe deficiency of α 1 -AT, defined as having serum α 1 -α? levels ≤11 µmol/L confirmed by a Central Phenotyping Laboratory, or a ZZ or ZNull genotype identified by genomic DNA analysis. Results Most enrollees were symptomatic white subjects in their fourth to sixth decade, with a ZZ phenotype, a history of having smoked cigarettes, and pulmonary function tests demonstrating a pattern consistent with emphysema. Interestingly, only a small percentage were current smokers on enrollment, suggesting that this population is amenable to smoking cessation. A subgroup of individuals in the Registry with relatively normal lung function were younger, more likely to have never smoked and more likely to have come to medical attention owing to a family history of α 1 -AT deficiency rather than symptomatic involvement. Conclusions These results emphasize the need for increased awareness and early detection of α 1 -AT deficiency. In this endeavor, dissemination of the information contained in the Registry to health-care professionals and the general population, along with initiation of appropriate preventative measures before significant lung damage has occurred, could have considerable benefits for individuals with this condition.
Southcentral foundation—Dena A Coy: A model program for the treatment of pregnant substance-abusing women

This article discusses the societal implications of substance abuse by pregnant women and women of child-bearing age and reviews their treatment needs as documented in the literature. It then provides a treatment model for pregnant women, using the Southcentral Foundation-Dena A Coy Residential Treatment Program as a model program. It outlines a number of components that are critical to successful substance abuse treatment of these women; specifically, medical interventions, social service provision, educational/vocational services, psychoeducational programs, psychotherapy, substance abuse interventions, and family preservation and involvement. These components are superimposed on a therapeutic community model that stresses gender and cultural relevance, as well as supportive structure and direction.
Use of ultrasonography in the evaluation of the infertile man

Transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS) is a modality that most urologists are familiar with in the interpretation of prostate anatomy and pathology. Understanding the anatomy and pathology of the genital ductal system will help in the diagnosis of disease entities related to male infertility. Familiarity with both scrotal and transrectal ultrasound is vital to the understanding and diagnosis of treatable causes of male infertility.
Void collapse in an elastic solid

Radial deformations of an infinite medium surrounding a traction-free spherical cavity are considered. The body is composed of an isotropic, incompressible elastic material and is subjected to a uniform pressure at infinity. The possibility of void collapse (i.e. the void radius becoming zero at a finite value of the applied stress) is examined. This does not occur in all materials. The class of materials that do exhibit this phenomenon is determined, and for such materials, an explicit expression for the value of the applied pressure at which collapse occurs is derived. The stability of the deformation and the influence of a finite outer radius are also considered. The results are illustrated for a particular class of power-law materials. In certain respects, the present results for void collapse are complementary to Ball (1982)'s results for cavitation in an incompressible elastic material.
Strontium isotopic evidence for extensive reworking in sediments spanning the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary at ODP Site 738

The Maastrichtian and Danian intervals of Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Hole 738C contain numerous microfossils above the level of their putative extinction, suggesting either (1) persistence of local communities long after species turnover occurred across the rest of the globe or (2) large-scale reworking. These interpretations have very different paleoenvironmental implications, but discriminating between them has proved difficult. To test the competing hypotheses, we measured the 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of taxon-specific separates from a number of samples and compared these values both to each other and to expected seawater values at the time of deposition. Our results indicate extensive and pervasive reworking throughout Maastrichtian and lower Danian strata in ODP Hole 738C. We estimate that up to 30% of the mass of foraminifers in any sample can be contributed by individuals that have been reworked.
Copepod colonization of natural and artificial substrates in a salt marsh pool

Pre-weighed packets of Spartina alterniflora and of plastic (polypropylene) twine were placed in a salt marsh pool and recovered on 40 dates spanning 14 months. New packets were placed out regularly to provide a contrast with ageing material. Twelve species of copepods were extracted, counted, and identified. Dry weight and Kjeldahl-nitrogen were determined for Spartina packets. Eight species of copepods, Amphiascus pallidus, Onychocamptus mohammed, Cletocamptus deitersei, Halicyclops sp., Harpacticus chelifer, Mesochra lilljeborgii, Metis jousseaumei and Nitocra sp. were found in higher densities on old grass or plastic packets than on new. The quantity of material was important in that the relative attractiveness of old grass was much lower early in the second year when 7–15% dw and 0·7% nitrogen remained than early in the first year when over 60% dw and 2·0% nitrogen remained. Old plastic polypropylene was equally or more attractive than old grass to 7 of 8 species, therefore, nitrogen decline in old grass was not the factor making it less attractive. Once aged, the quantity of substrate was more important than its quality. Apparently, this is due to colonization by microflora or settlement of detritus but these were not studied. The four clear exceptions to these trends were Darcythompsonia fairliensis and Eurytemora affinis which showed highest densities 72% and 50% of the time in new grass, Apocyclops spartinus with 70% in grass and equal numbers between old and new packets and Acartia tonsa a bay calanoid with 82% of highest densities in the water column and only two occurrences out of 40 dates in the packets.
The effect of hemin, adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate and phosphorylated sugars on Met-tRNAMetf deacylase activity in rabbit reticulocyte lysates

Abstract The effect of hemin, phosphorylated sugars, adenosine 3′,5′-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and a number of purines on a specific initiator tRNA deacylase activity in rabbit reticulocytes has been investigated. In the concentration range established to be optimal for maximal stimulation of translation (5.5–30.0 μM), hemin produces a 20–82% inhibition of Met-tRNA Met f deacylation. In contrast, all phosphorylated sugars tested, with the exception of fructose 1,6-diphosphate, are without effect. High concentrations of cyclic AMP (2–4 mM) also significantly inhibit the deacylase activity. The role of hemin and Met-tRNA Met f deacylase in the control of peptide initiation are discussed.