cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Probing the cognitive representation of musical time: structural constraints on the perception of timing perturbations.

Abstract To determine whether structural factors interact with the perception of musical time, musically literate listeners were presented repeatedly with eight-bar musical excerpts, realized with physically regular timing on an electronic piano. On each trial, one or two randomly chosen time intervals were lengthened by a small amount, and the listeners had to detect these “hesitations” and mark their positions in the score. The resulting detection accuracy profile across all positions in each musical excerpt showed pronounced dips in places where lenghtening would typically occur in an expressive (temporally modulated) performance. False alarm percentages indicated that certain tones seemed longer a priori , and these were among the ones whose actual lenghtening was easiest to detect. The detection accuracy and false alarm profiles were significantly correlated with each other and with the temporal microstructure of expert performances, as measured from sound recordings by famous artists. Thus the detection task apparently tapped into listeners' musical thought and revealed their expectations about the temporal microstructure of music performance. These expectations, like the timing patterns of actual performances, derive from the cognitive representation of musical structure, as cued by a variety of systemic factors (grouping, meter, harmonic progression) and their acoustic correlates. No simple psycho-acoustic explanation of the detection accuracy profiles was evident. The results suggest that the perception of musical time is not veridical but “warped” by the structural representation. This warping may provide a natural basis for performance evaluation: expected timing patterns sound more or less regular, unexpected ones irregular. Parallels to language performance and perception are noted.
Florida’s Plans to Finance New Nuclear Plants

U.S. utilities looking to finance new nuclear plants are running into formidable barriers. Florida’s regulating and cost recovery plans are an attempt to surmount them.
Serum prognostic biomarkers in head and neck cancer patients

Objectives/Hypothesis: A reliable estimate of survival is important as it may impact treatment choice. The objective of this study is to identify serum autoantibody biomarkers that can be used to improve prognostication for patients affected with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Study Design: Prospective cohort study. Methods: A panel of 130 serum biomarkers, previously selected for cancer detection using microarray-based serological profiling and specialized bioinformatics, were evaluated for their potential as prognostic biomarkers in a cohort of 119 HNSCC patients followed for up to 12.7 years. A biomarker was considered positive if its reactivity to the particular patient’s serum was greater than one standard deviation above the mean reactivity to sera from the other 118 patients, using a leaveone-out cross-validation model. Survival curves were estimated according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and statistically significant differences in survival were examined using the log rank test. Independent prognostic biomarkers were identified following analysis using multivariate Cox proportional hazards models. Results: Poor overall survival was associated with African Americans (hazard ratio [HR] for death 5 2.61; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.58-4.33; P 5.000), advanced stage (HR 5 2.79; 95% CI: 1.40-5.57; P 5.004), and recurrent disease (HR 5 6.66; 95% CI: 2.54-17.44; P 5.000). On multivariable Cox analysis adjusted for covariates (race and stage), six of the 130 markers evaluated were found to be independent prognosticators of overall survival. Conclusions: The results shown here are promising and demonstrate the potential use of serum biomarkers for prognostication in HNSCC patients. Further clinical trials to include larger samples of patients across multiple centers may be warranted.
2005 Job Lewis Smith Award acceptance address: passion beyond reason.

As a young kid growing up in Nebraska, I could never have imagined having the honor of following such a distinguished American as Marian Wright Endelman, nor, I might add, the pressure! In preparing to accept this prestigious award, I spent some time thinking about why I chose to become a pediatrician. Fresh from my residency at Bridgeport Hospital in Connecticut in 1976, I returned to Hastings, Nebraska, the mostly rural area where I grew up, to begin my career. At that time, I thought of my role as solely to provide good medicine to the children who came through my clinic. But as time passed, I began to understand that being a pediatrician involved much more than providing good care to patients and sound advice to their parents. I began to realize that, as a pediatrician in my community, my responsibilities went beyond those that I fulfilled in the clinic. There were children in my community who were, as the saying goes, falling through the cracks—children who, for whatever reason, were not receiving the medical care, physical protection, family nurturing, and education that would allow them to grow to their full potential as adults. I began to understand that to be a truly good pediatrician, I must be a good advocate for all children, not just those whose parents brought them to the clinic. There are many exemplary contemporary children’s advocates I admire, not the least of whom is Ms Edelman, but I would like to tell you today about 3 early pioneers of child welfare who continue to inspire me. They are a photographer named Lewis Wickes Hine, an early social worker named Grace Abbott, and a Catholic priest named Edward Flanagan. From disparate backgrounds, they all shared 3 things in common: their early lives were humble, without … Address correspondence to Thomas F. Tonniges, MD, Boys Town National Research Hospital, 555 N 30th St, Omaha, NE 68131. E-mail: tonnigest{at}boystown.org
North Carolina Medical Legacy

126 NCMJ vol. 76, no. 2 ncmedicaljournal.com To the Editor—The house pictured on the cover of the January 2015 issue of the NCMJ has a legacy in North Carolina medicine. It is the Caldwell home in Cataloochee, North Carolina. Cataloochee Valley was settled in 1814, with the first family being the Caldwells. The house was constructed in 1903–1906 by my great-great-uncle, Hiram Caldwell. His nephew Eston, my grandfather, spent much of his youth in this home after the death of his parents. Eston’s son, my father, was E.R. Caldwell Jr. He was the first in the family to go to college, finishing at Wake Forest College and Bowman Gray School of Medicine. He practiced in Statesville and served for many years on the North Carolina Board of Nursing. He had five children. Three sons are physicians, educated at Wake Forest and Bowman Gray: E.R. Caldwell III is a pediatrician practicing in Winchester, Virginia; Stephen Caldwell is a hepatologist at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville; and I am a rheumatologist at Duke University Medical Center. Two daughters, Susan Madison and Lynn Vessells, became nurses; they completed training at North Carolina Baptist Hospital and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, respectively. Perhaps this history was predestined. My great-grandfather’s given name was Doctor. The Caldwell home is now maintained by the National Park Service as part of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The stream in the foreground is Caldwell Fork. Descendants of the original settlers return there every August for a reunion.
CLASSROOM CONTEXTUAL DRAWINGS AS PREDICTORS OF PUPILS' ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT

Summary.-75 fourth grade children (29 boys, 46 girls) were asked to draw themselves in separate reading and math contexrs. Heights of drawing of self were significantly different for high and low achievers. Context and size of self-portrait in children's drawings are discussed as potential predictors of pupils' academic achievement. Children's art has a continuing fascination for researchers attempting to measure unobtrusively children's abilities and perceptions. Craddick has indicated in numerous studies that measurement of self-portraits can give insight into an individual's feelings and attitudes (3, 4, 6, 7, 8). Recent research further supports measurement of self-portrait as an alternative to holistic analysis. Analysis of children's drawings of psychologically salient contexts (pupil-teacher interactions) has indicated that children who exhibit a positive feeling about school draw themselves taller within a prescribed context than students who dislike school (1, 2). The use of context allows the researcher to focus on the exact aspects of school (or any other environment) to which the child may be reacting. Context provides a framework which is directly related to the child's creation of a product. The current investigation was designed to determine if interpretive procedures similar to those in the Craddick and Brooks studies could be applied to specific contexts of pupils' interaction with subject matter rather than a specific teacher. If American children who like school draw themselves as large, it was assumed that high achievers in reading and mathematics might also draw themselves larger than low achievers in each subject. METHOD The subjects were drawn from two schools located in a metropolitan area of the Southwest United States. They represented a lower-middle class economic distribution. The subjects were chosen at random from the fourth grade classes in each school. There were 75 subjects who ranged in age from 8 to 10 yr.; 29 were boys and 46 girls. Both schools had departmentalized reading and mathematics programs. All levels of ability were included in the random selection of subjects. The subjects were given one sheet of 12-in. X 14-in. manilla paper for each of the two contexts. The subjects also had six crayons (red, brown, blue, yellow, green, and black). These materials were used to respond to the following two requests: Draw a
Survival of Burkholderia pseudomallei on Environmental Surfaces

The survival of the biothreat agent Burkholderia pseudomallei on the surfaces of four materials was measured by culture and esterase activity analyses. The culture results demonstrated that this organism persisted for <24 h to <7 days depending on the material, bacterial isolate, and suspension medium. The persistence determined by analysis of esterase activity, as measured with a ScanRDI solid-phase cytometer, was always longer than the persistence determined by culture analysis.
Serotonin Immunoreactivity in the Central Nervous System of the Marine Molluscs Pleurobranchaea californica and Tritonia diomedea

The central nervous systems of the marine molluscs Pleurobranchaea californica (Opisthobranchia: Notaspidea) and Tritonia diomedea (Opisthobranchia: Nudibranchia) were examined for serotonin-immunoreactive (5-HT-IR) neurons and processes. Bilaterally paired clusters of 5-HT-IR neuron somata were distributed similarly in ganglia of the two species. In the cerebropleural ganglion complex, these were the metacerebral giant neurons (both species), a dorsal anterior cluster (Pleurobranchaea only), a dorsal medial cluster including identified neurons of the escape swimming network (both species), and a dorsal lateral cluster in the cerebropleural ganglion (Pleurobranchaea only). A ventral anterior cluster (both species) adjoined the metacerebral giant somata at the anterior ganglion edge. Pedal ganglia had the greatest number of 5-HT-IR somata, the majority located near the roots of the pedal commissure in both species. Most 5-HT-IR neurons were on the dorsal surface of the pedal ganglia in Pleurobranchaea and were ventral in Tritonia. Neither the buccal ganglion of both species nor the visceral ganglion of Pleurobranchaea had 5-HT-IR somata. A few asymmetrical 5-HT-IR somata were found in cerebropleural and pedal ganglia in both species, always on the left side. The clustering of 5-HT-IR neurons, their diverse axon pathways, and the known physiologic properties of their identified members are consistent with a loosely organized arousal system of serotonergic neurons whose components can be generally or differentially active in expression of diverse behaviors. J. Comp. Neurol. 395:466‐480, 1998. r 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Indexing terms: serotonin; immunohistochemistry; Mollusca; Aplysia; Lymnaea
Chronic intermittent hypoxia increases sympathetic responsiveness to hypoxia and hypercapnia

We sought to determine whether chronic exposure to intermittent hypoxia (CIH) increases sympathetic responsiveness to subsequent chemoreflex stimulation. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to 30 days of CIH: exposure chamber %O2 [fractional concentration of chamber O2 (FcO2)] nadir 6.5-7% with return to 21% each minute for 8 h/day during the diurnal sleep period (Exp group). Sham controls (SC group) were similarly handled but kept at 21% FcO2 and compared with unhandled controls (UC group). Rats were then anesthetized with urethan, and preganglionic cervical sympathetic activity (CSA), diaphragm electromyogram, arterial pressure, and electrocardiogram were recorded while the rats were spontaneously breathing 100% O2, room air, 10% O2, 12% CO2, and 10% O2-12% CO2. CSA and heart rate were also recorded during phenylephrine infusion to assess baroreceptor function. Mean arterial pressure was significantly greater in Exp than in SC and UC rats during all conditions (P < 0. 05). A vasopressor response to 10% O2-12% CO2 was observed only in Exp rats. CSA was greater in Exp than in SC and UC rats during 10% O2, 12% CO2, and 10% O2-12% CO2 but not during room-air exposure. A significant increase in CSA compared with room air was noted during 10% O2, 12% CO2, and 10% O2-12% CO2 in Exp but not in SC or UC rats. No differences in baroreceptor function were observed among groups. We conclude that CIH leads to increased sympathetic responsiveness to chemoreflex stimulation.
The mechanics of large-volume-change transformations in high-capacity battery materials

High-capacity next-generation materials for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries often undergo significant volume changes (up to ∼300%) during reaction with Li or Na. These large-volume-change transformations cause mechanical fracture and pulverization of active battery materials, which can have detrimental effects on battery cycle life. Recent years have seen significant efforts dedicated to understanding the mechanics of such large-volume-change transformations in alloying anode materials. This review paper introduces recent work focused on various aspects of the mechanics of alloying anode materials, including in situ characterization of real-time reaction mechanisms and mechanical degradation processes, measurements of mechanical properties, measurements and simulations of spatiotemporal stress generation and evolution in active battery materials and structures, and studies on the interplay between chemistry and mechanics during reaction. In addition, mechanical effects across length scales within battery electrode structures are discussed. As demonstrated herein, the improved understanding of the mechanics of large-volume-change transformations has been essential for the rational design of durable high-capacity electrodes for Li-ion and Na-ion batteries.
Universal Design for Learning: Are We Teaching It to Preservice General Education Teachers?

Students with disabilities are increasingly educated in inclusive settings. Despite this shift, general education teachers typically do not receive adequate preparation for meeting their learning needs. Such deficiencies in preparation have lasting negative postsecondary consequences for students with disabilities. Universal Design for Learning (UDL), a framework of principles for curriculum development that seeks to provide all students with an opportunity to learn, is commonly cited as an educational approach that facilitates inclusive settings. Research suggests that UDL-based instruction fosters improved learning outcomes for students with and without disabilities. The purpose of this study is to examine the incorporation of UDL into preservice general education teacher preparation programs. An online survey was administered to general education faculty members in programs participating in Teacher Quality Enhancement (TQP) grants. TQP participants are expected to prepare educators to understand teachi...
Self-Assembly of Janus Ellipsoids II: Janus Prolate Spheroids

In self-assembly, the anisotropy of the building blocks and their formation of complex structures have been the subject of considerable recent research. Extending recent research on Janus particles and completing the study of Janus spheroids, we conduct a systematic investigation on the self-assembly of Janus prolate spheroids based on a primitive model that we proposed. Janus prolate spheroids are particles that have a prolate spheroidal body and two hemi-surfaces along the major axis coded with different chemical properties. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate the effects of the aspect ratio on the self-assembly process. In contrast to the vesicle-like aggregates for Janus oblate spheroids, we obtain various ordered cluster structures for Janus prolate spheroids through self-assembly. With an increasing aspect ratio, we find a transition of cluster morphology, from vesicles to tubular micelles and micelles. In particular, a relatively small change in the aspect ratio leads to a rather significant change in morphology. We apply a cluster analysis to understand the mechanism associated with such a transition.
Ergonomics Evaluation of the Use of a Handled Shower-Cleaning Tool

Cleaning a bathroom presents several risk factors for acute and cumulative musculoskeletal injury. This study attempted to determine if using a handled tool while cleaning a typical North American bathtub/shower combination reduces the stress placed on the musculoskeletal system when compared to the use of a spray cleaner and sponge. Nineteen right-handed female subjects cleaned a systematically dirtied shower/bathtub combination using a sponge and a handled tool 21 inches long. The subjects' rated their perceived strain and effort both during and after cleaning. Videotape was obtained simultaneously from three cameras at different locations in the test bathroom and subsequently analyzed for postural data. Subjective responses indicated that subjects felt more comfortable while using the handled tool, and the majority of respondents said they preferred it to a typical sponge and spray cleaner. Postural analysis clearly indicated that the handled tool allowed users to remain in more neutral wrist, shoulder...
Carbon-Substituted Hematite and Magnetite Nanoparticles

Graphite-doped hematite and magnetite nanoparticles systems (~50 nm) were prepared by mechanochemical activation for milling times ranging from 2 to 12 hours. Their structural and magnetic properties were studied by 57Fe Mossbauer spectroscopy. The spectra corresponding to the hematite milled samples were analyzed by considering two sextets, corresponding to the incorporation of carbon atoms into the iron oxide structure. For ball milling time of 12 hours a quadrupole split doublet has been added, representing the contribution of ultrafine particles. The Mossbauer spectra of graphite-doped magnetite were resolved considering a sextet and a magnetic hyperfine field distribution, corresponding to the tetrahedral and octahedral sublattices of magnetite, respectively. A quadrupole split doublet was incorporated in the fitting of the 12-hour milled sample. The recoilless fraction for all samples was determined using our previously developed dual absorber method. It was found that the recoilless fraction of the graphite-doped hematite nanoparticles decreases as function of ball milling time. The f factor of graphite-containing magnetite nanoparticles for the tetrahedral sites stays constant, while that of the octahedral sublattice decreases as function of ball milling time. These findings reinforce the idea that carbon atoms exhibit preference for the octahedral sites of magnetite.
Global distribution of deep convection reaching tropopause in 1 year GPM observations

To characterize and quantify tropopause-reaching deep convection, 1 year of Global Precipitation Mission (GPM) Ku band radar echoes are surveyed in relation to several reference levels derived from the ERA-Interim reanalysis data set. Consistent with the observations of the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission over the tropics, the GPM has detected tropopause-reaching deep convection dominantly over tropical land, especially over Panama and Central Africa. At middle and high latitudes, tropopause-reaching convective storms are mainly found over land in the Northern Hemisphere during the summer. Compared to those in the tropics, convective cores at middle and high latitudes have relatively larger sizes at the tropopause, especially those over central North America. The zonal distributions of the occurrences of 15 dBZ and 20 dBZ radar echoes at the tropopause show two comparable maxima, one in the tropics and the other in northern middle-high latitudes. This implies that the convection penetrating the tropopause at northern middle-high latitudes is as frequent as those over the tropics. It is important to understand their role in the vertical transport of trace gases between the troposphere and the stratosphere.
Advances in Molecular Mapping of Resistance Genes to Brown Planthopper and Whitebacked Planthopper in Rice

Brown planthopper(BPH,Nilaparvata lugens)and whitebacked planthopper(WBPH,Sogatella furcifera)are two major pests of rice. The application of resistant cultivars have proven to be an effective way to control these two pests. To day,a great progress has been made in the field of exploitation and utilization of resistant resource to BPH and WBPH,and a number of resistance genes were identified or mapped in rice,which derived from cultival and wild relatives. The present paper reviews the recent advances in resistance genes mapping and QTL analysis to BPH and WBPH,and summarizes the utilization in rice breeding program by marker-assisted selection. The problems and prospects of gene mapping and its application are also discussed in this paper.
Chromosomal Aneusomies Detected by Fluorescent in Situ Hybridization Analysis in Clinically Localized ProstateCarcinoma

AbstractFluorescent in situ hybridization using 12 chromosome enumeration probes (for chromosomes 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, X and Y) was used to evaluate fresh tumor touch preparations from 40 randomly selected radical prostatectomy specimens. Of the tumors 16 (40%) contained chromosomal aneusomies. Chromosome 8 was aneusomic in 9 tumors (23%). Gain of chromosome 7 was observed in 8 tumors (20%). Chromosome 17 was aneusomic in 4 cases, and chromosomes 10, 11, 12, 18 and Y were each aneusomic twice. Loss of chromosome 9 was observed in 1 tumor. Chromosomes 4, 6, and X were never aneusomic. The percentage of monosomy 17 nuclei was 2 to 4 times the amount noted with the other autosomes for tumor and benign tissue. Computer analysis demonstrated that these signals contained twice the signal density and were significantly different (p <0.0001) than the single diploid chromosome 17 signals. This result is consistent with homologous pairing of chromosome 17 in benign and neoplastic prostate tissue.Anoma...
STABLE ISOTOPE ANALYSIS

Arguably the most important analytical approach in archaeology since radiocarbon dating, stable isotope analysis of recovered archaeological remains provides semi-quantitative evidence for past diets and ecology. Light stable isotopes of carbon (13C,12C), nitrogen (15N,14N), and oxygen (18O,16O) are routinely used in biological and geological investigations to interpret isotopic variability in natural ecosystems. Heavy stable isotopes of strontium (87Sr/86Sr) and lead (208Pb/204Pb, 207Pb/204Pb, 206Pb/204Pb) are used to characterize place of origin and source of biological/geological material. The application of stable isotope analysis using bone/tooth and other tissues in archaeology offers independent evidence to interpret individual and group patterns of subsistence, status, life history patterns, ecology, and provenience.
Hormone-Independent Prostate Cancer: Management of the Disease Continuum

Neoplastic diseases of the prostate, both benign and malignant, are the result of or are associated with a sequence of genetic changes. While the sequence of these molecular events is under study, recent evidence suggests that both benign prostatic hyperplasias and malignancies of the prostate may be part of similar pathways. Currently, it is unclear if benign lesions are precursors of malignant change. The malignant spectrum also represents a continuum of disease, ranging from a clinically silent or latent form to palpable local lesions and ultimately to metastases. It is postulated that additional genetic alterations are associated with or required for further progression. In most patients these changes evolve over many years. As a result, there are many competing causes of death in addition to the tumour, particularly in elderly patients with localised lesions, and many patients die “with” as opposed to “from” the disease. Thus, a key to selecting the appropriate treatment for an individual patient, is to refine our ability to define the biological and clinical potential of a tumour.
Association between Regimen Related Toxicity and Acute-Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

Tissue injury resulting from preparative therapy for transplantation is integral to the development of acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) according to current theory. If toxicity to normal tissues is a critical factor in the pathophysiology of GVHD, greater degrees of regimen related toxicities should be associated with a higher incidence and greater severity of GVHD. We analyzed 438 patients who underwent allogeneic transplantation from related (n=360) or unrelated (78) donors and who survived > 100 days following transplantation. Patients had received preparative regimens of BuCy (n=340) or BuCyVP16 (n=98). Median age was 36 (range 4–66). There were 263 males and 175 females. This cohort survived a median of 35 months (range 3 months to 20 years). Sixty-eight of these patients had developed (Bearman) grade 3-4 regimen related toxicities. These patients had a 50% incidence of acute GVHD > grade II and a 26% incidence of developing GVHD ≤ grade II, compared to significantly lower incidences of 33% (P=.01) and 14% (P=.02) respectively in the group experiencing This data suggest that patients who develop severe regimen related toxicity are significantly more likely to develop severe acute GVHD, supporting a potential pathophysiologic role for tissue injury in the development of acute GVHD.
All-Cause Health Care Resource Utilization in Individuals with Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract Introduction Clinical manifestations of Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) range from frequent fatigue and anemia to severe complications involving multiple organs. We estimated all cause health care resource utilization in individuals with SCD as compared to individuals without SCD. Methods Data from the Truven multi-state Medicaid claims database were used for all analyses. Sample inclusion criteria was being enrolled in covered health plan from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. A cohort of individuals with SCD was identified based on having at least one inpatient or two or more outpatient claims with ICD-9-CM codes for sickle-cell thalassemia without crisis (282.41), sickle-cell thalassemia with crisis (282.42), Sickle-cell disease, unspecified (282.60), Sickle-cell-S disease without crisis (282.61), Sickle-Cell-S disease with crisis (282.62), Sickle-cell-C disease without crisis (282.63), Sickle-cell-C disease with crisis (282.64), other sickle-cell disease without crisis (282.68), or other sickle-cell disease with crisis (282.69). From the continuously enrolled individuals, a cohort of individuals without SCD was identified by matching individuals with SCD one-to-one on age, gender, and ethnicity. Means and 95 percent confidence intervals were calculated for, number of hospitalizations, hospital days, long term care visits, long term care days, emergency room visits, and outpatient visits. Wilcoxon Mann-Whitney test was employed to assess differences in health care resource utilizations in individuals with and without SCD. Results Among 5,136,748 individuals covered in the study period, 8,652 individuals with SCD were identified and matched to 8,652 individuals without SCD. Majorities of the study sample were black (74%), female (54%), and under 24 years old (64%). Mean annual hospitalizations among individuals with SCD were 1.39 (95 percent C.I.: 1.3 to 1.4, Conclusions SCD was associated with higher annual hospitalizations, hospital days, outpatient visits and emergency room visits as compared to individuals without SCD. Disclosures Rajpura: Pfizer Inc.: Research Funding. Thomas: Pfizer Inc.: Research Funding.
Stereoselective β-mannosylation via anomeric O-alkylation: Formal synthesis of potent calcium signal modulator acremomannolipin A

Abstract Stereoselective β-mannosylation has been investigated via cesium carbonate-mediated anomeric O-alkylation of d -mannose-derived lactol with various electrophiles. It was found that electrophiles bearing trifluoromethanesulfonate (triflate) as the leaving group are most reactive. In addition, a highly efficient formal synthesis of potent calcium signal modulator acremomannolipin A has been achieved using this β-mannosylation method.
Optimal Circuits for Parallel Bit Reversal

In this paper, we develop novel parallel circuit designs for calculating the bit reversal. To perform bit reversal on 2n data words, the designs take 2k (k < n) words as input each cycle. The circuits consist of concatenated single-port buffers and 2-to-1 multiplexers and use minimum number of registers for control. The designs consume minimum number of single-port memory banks that are necessary for calculating continuous-flow bit reversal, as well as near optimal 2n memory words. The proposed parallel circuits can be built for any given fixed k and n , and achieve superior performance over state-of-the-art for calculating the bit reversal in parallel multi-path FFT architectures.
Women doing life: gender, punishment and the struggle for identity

Lempert uses 72 women lifers in her study from an all-women’s prison in Michigan. Respondents range in age from 16 to 51. She uses firsthand information including focus groups, life-course intervie...
The Impact of Enterprise Risk Management on the Audit Process: Evidence from Audit Fees and Audit Delay

SUMMARY Prior research examining enterprise risk management (ERM) focuses mainly on entity-level measures, relying heavily on the link between ERM and internal controls. We argue that auditors leverage the client's ERM system at the application level to create audit efficiencies beyond those created by strong internal controls. Using a Heckman two-stage analysis for our sample of insurance/reinsurance firms rated on ERM quality by Standard & Poor's, we find results consistent with our expectations that higher-quality ERM systems incrementally reduce audit fees, audit delay, and the likelihood of late filing. However, we find that this association is nonlinear and that much of the assurance benefit from ERM systems is captured when firms improve their ratings from Weak to Adequate. JEL Classifications: G22; M41. Data Availability: The Standard & Poor's data on ERM quality is available at: http://www.standardandpoors.com/ratingsdirect/.
A Pan/Tilt Surgical Camera With Parallel Structure and Elastic Platform

Minimally invasive surgery (MIS), including laparoscopy, endoscopy and colonoscopy, refers to performance of diagnostic or surgical intervention in the internal body cavity through small incisions (or no incisions) to reduce the recovery time and minimize scarring [1]. It has gained worldwide popularity since the first report of laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the mid-1980s due to lower complications, cosmetic benefits and quick recovery [2] and has grown to include robotic approaches. One of the main challenges for this type of surgery is to provide sufficient real-time visual feedback using cameras. To address issues of narrow visual field and limited workspace in surgical visual feedback, existing devices may use onboard motors to provide pan and tilt orientation for the camera [3, 4], which makes the system bulky and expensive. (Here we draw a distinction from wire-driven steerable laparoscopes and constrain the discussion to robotic devices.)In this paper, we present a novel camera system with a parallel structure and elastic platform which has three active degrees of freedom (DOFs) to increase the visual field and implement a mechanical zoom function. This camera head can be mounted on various surgical robots (e.g. [5]) or can be inserted as a standalone device. The novelty of this device lies in its elastic platform, and the authors are unaware of this type of design or its kinematic analysis being presented previously.Copyright © 2017 by ASME
THE SPECTACULAR ANTHROPOCENE

AbstractGeologists propose the term Anthropocene to reflect the dramatic changes that humans have made to the planet. While scientists pursue the reality of our current epoch, technology and media create an increasingly spectacular narrative surrounding environmental events. I look to critiques from Guy Debord and other media theorists as well as Patrick Modiano’s In the Cafe of Lost Youth to outline modes of detournement and resistance to an increasingly mediated world. Contemporary environmental aesthetics must face the challenge of critiquing technological immersion even while making use of these very same technologies to reveal material and affective connections between humans and the environment.
Bilateral J-Curve between Philippines and Trading Partners: Linear and Non-Linear Approach

With the advent of econometric modelling, evolutions of research on J-curve has progressed from linear approach (LA) to non-linear approach (NLA) especially in the case of utilizing Autoregressive Distributed Lags (ARDL). This paper applying both approaches examined the case of Philippines and 9 of its largest trading partners. In linear ARDL approach, there are two countries found to be significant. However, using NARDL, evidence shows that three countries to be asymmetric in the short run while in the long run asymmetry effect in the case of Indonesia, Japan and Singapore.
Selectivity of Synthesis Gas Conversion to C2+ Oxygenates on fcc(111) Transition-Metal Surfaces

Using a combined density functional theory and descriptor based microkinetic model approach, we predict production rate volcanos for higher oxygenate formation on (111) transition-metal surfaces. Despite their lower activity for CO conversion compared to stepped surfaces, (111) transition metal surfaces bring the potential for selectivity toward C2+ oxygenates. The volcano plots can be used to rationalize and predict activity and selectivity trends for transition-metal-based catalysts.
Method development for binding media analysis in painting cross-sections by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

RATIONALE Art conservation science is in need of a relatively nondestructive way of rapidly identifying the binding media within a painting cross-section and isolating binding media to specific layers within the cross-section. Knowledge of the stratigraphy of cross-sections can be helpful for removing possible unoriginal paint layers on the artistic work. METHODS Desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) was used in ambient mode to study cross-sections from mock-up layered paint samples and samples from a 17th century baroque painting. The DESI spray was raster scanned perpendicular to the cross-sectional layers to maximize lateral resolution then analyzed with a triple quadrupole mass analyzer in linear ion trap mode. From these scans, isobaric mass maps were created to map the locations of masses indicative of particular binding media onto the cross-sections. RESULTS Line paint-outs of pigments in different binding media showed specific and unique ions to distinguish between the modern acrylic media and the lipid-containing binding media. This included: OP (EO)9 surfactant in positive ESI mode for acrylic (m/z 621), and oleic (m/z 281), stearic (m/z 283), and azelaic (m/z 187) acids in negative ESI mode for oil and egg tempera. DESI-MS maps of mock-up cross-sections of layered pigmented binding media showed correlation between these ions and the layers with a spatial resolution of 100 μm. CONCLUSIONS DESI-MS is effective in monitoring binding media within an intact painting cross-section via mass spectrometric methods. This includes distinguishing between lipid-containing and modern binding materials present in a known mock-up cross-section matrix as well as identifying lipid-binding media in a 17th century baroque era painting.
Far Ultraviolet Photochemistry of Organic Compounds

This brief survey will be concerned with reviewing what is known about the fates—particularly the modes of decomposition — of organic molecules excited by absorption of photons having energies above about 8 eV. Since the dissociation energies of most chemical bonds in organic molecules lie in the energy range of 3– 5 eV, it is to be expected that for most compounds, the major mode of energy dissipation in the vacuum ultraviolet photolysis will be dissociation. With the notable exceptions of aromatic and acetylenic molecules, molecules excited to neutral states in this energy region usually have a quantum yield of fragmentation close to unity. Of course, other modes of energy dissipation such as fluorescence may have to be considered under conditions where molecules may have long dissociative lifetimes—such as high molecular weight molecules at high densities 1/.
Ab initio modeling of alloy phase equilibria

In this chapter we provide an overview of the methodologies underlying first-principles (or ab initio) calculations of alloy phase stability, and provide examples intended to illustrate their capabilities and accuracy. The calculations of the thermodynamic properties of elemental solids and ordered compounds, as well as alloy phases with dilute and concentrated compositional disorder are covered. The integration of first-principles methods with computational-thermodynamic methods is illustrated with an application to the development of multicomponent Nb-based alloy systems for potential high-temperature structural applications.
Circular Dichroism and Absorption Studies on Biomembranes

Application of circular dichroism and absorption to the study of the structure and function of biomembranes is a complex effort because of the multitude of interactions that require simultaneous consideration and the distorted spectra which result from the particulate nature of membranes. Justification of the effort derives from recognition that many processes fundamental to biological systems, for example, neuronal activity, mitochondrial energy transformation, active and passive transport, hormonal control of cellular activity, and muscle contraction, are membrane-associated phenomena. In contrast to the difficulties, however, a substantial advantage of these optical methods is that membranes in active, functional states may be observed.
Endocrine Therapy of Transsexualism and Potential Complications of Long-Term Treatment

Physiological principles of the interrelationship of sex hormones and their regulation are the foundation of understanding appropriate treatment of the transsexual patient. While both genetic males and females have estrogens and androgens, the quantitative sex hormone production is genetically predetermined by sex hormone production both in the gonads and via peripheral conversion of hormone precursors to sex steroids. Sex hormones exert a negative feedback on the hypothalamus and pituitary gland whereby gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) are regulated or suppressed by the endogenous levels of these hormones. Sexhormonal therapyinduces attenuated GnRH stimulation of LH and FSH causing a reduction of serum sexhormone levels. It is clear that estrogen as well as androgen therapy have a dual role: (i) induction of feminization or virilization and (ii) suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis leading to a reduction of endogenous estradiol or testosterone secretion. Cross-sex hormonal treatment may have substantial medical side effects. The smallest dosage of hormonal therapy compatible with the above clinical aims should be used.
Ohio's 1998 Lake Erie Charter Fishing Industry

Abstract Charter fishing provides important access to sport fishing. To monitor changes in Ohio's Lake Erie charter fishing industry, we surveyed a random sample of 319 licensed Ohio charter captains by mail in the spring of 1999 for data from the 1998 charter season. The Ohio charter industry grew rapidly in the 1980s, peaked at 1,211 captains in 1990, and stood at 958 in 1998 despite large declines in angling effort and fish harvest of sport species. It is a marginal economic enterprise for the individual charter firm; almost 40% of Ohio captains struggle with their cash flow. Only those captains making 41 or more trips (31%) had a substantial average net profit ($5,576). Almost 93% of responding captains have modified their fishing practices due to increased water clarity in Lake Erie and 27% have added nonfishing charters to their mix of services. In 1998, the top rated concerns of the responding captains were illegal fishing practices, poor weather conditions, and business cost factors. Our 1998 surv...
Reperfusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction

To compare the reperfusion potential of anisoylated plasminogen streptokinase activator complex (APSAC), administered intravenously, and intracoronary streptokinase (the accepted standard for comparison in the United States), a randomised multicentre reperfusion trial was undertaken in the United States. A preliminary evaluation of results was made, based on the first 93 patients. Patients with acute myocardial infarction were studied angiographically, and those with coronary occlusion grade 0 or 1 were randomised and treated within 6 hours from symptom onset (mean 3 hours 25 minutes) with intracoronary streptokinase (20,000U bolus, then 2000 U/minute), or APSAC (30U over 2 to 4 minutes). Reperfusion was defined by a blinded reader as grade 2 or 3 flow after 90 minutes. Entry characteristics of patients in the 2 groups were comparable. Reperfusion rates were similar [19/39 (49%) of evaluable streptokinase patients and 19/43 (44%) of APSAC patients] and were dependent on the initial occlusion grade [38% of patients with grade 0 (streptokinase = 10/27, APSAC = 13/34), but 71% of patients with grade 1 (9/12, 6/9, respectively); p < 0.02]. Grade 1 occlusion was present in 30% of patients treated within 4 hours, versus 16% treated at over 4 hours (p = 0.3). APSAC as a 2 to 4 minute infusion was well tolerated, and the change in mean blood pressure was minor (−6mm Hg). Thus, APSAC and streptokinase provide similar reperfusion results, but APSAC is easier to administer, and shows excellent haemodynamic tolerance.
Communication and Variance

According to standard assumptions in semantics, (a) ordinary users of a language have implicit beliefs about the truth-conditions of sentences in that language, and (b) they often agree on those beliefs. For example, it is assumed that if Anna and John are both competent users of English and the former utters ‘grass is green’ in conversation with the latter, they will both believe that that sentence is true if and only if grass is green. These assumptions play an important role in an intuitively compelling picture of communication, according to which successful communication through literal assertoric utterances is normally effected thanks to our shared beliefs about the truth-conditions of the sentences uttered in the course of the conversation. Against these standard assumptions, this paper argues that the participants in a conversation rarely have the same beliefs about the truth-conditions of the sentences involved in a linguistic interaction. More precisely, it argues for Variance, the thesis that nearly every utterance is such that there is no proposition which more than one language user believes to be that utterance’s truth-conditional content. If Variance is true, we must reject the standard picture of communication. Towards the end of the paper I identify three ways in which ordinary conversations can be communication-like despite the truth of Variance and argue that the most natural amendments to the standard picture fail to explain them.
Polyvinylchloride coated with silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanowires for antimicrobial applications

Abstract Catheter-associated urinary tract infection is among the most common types of infections in the United States. One of the potential solutions is to modify the catheter surface with antimicrobial agents to prevent bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. In this study, silver nanoparticles were covalently-bonded on polyvinylchloride (PVC) film, and zinc oxide nanowires with a radiating acicular structure were then self-assembled on the composite surface. The composite film reduced the attachment of Staphylococcus aureus by nearly two orders of magnitude in 24 h. The integration of silver nanoparticles and zinc oxide nanowires holds potential for antimicrobial applications.
Population genomics reveals complex patterns of immune gene evolution in monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus)

ABSTRACT Immune genes presumably rapidly evolve as pathogens exert strong selection pressures on host defense, but the evolution of immune genes is also constrained by trade-offs with other biological functions and shaped by the environmental context. Thus, immune genes may exhibit complex evolutionary patterns, particularly when organisms disperse to or live in variable environments. We examined the evolutionary patterns of the full set of known canonical immune genes within and among populations of monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus), and relative to a closely related species (D. gilippus). Monarchs represent a system with a known evolutionary history, in which North American monarchs dispersed to form novel populations across the world, providing an opportunity to explore the evolution of immunity in the light of population expansion into novel environments. By analyzing a whole-genome resequencing dataset across populations, we found that immune genes as a whole do not exhibit consistent patterns of selection, differentiation, or genetic variation, but that patterns are specific to functional classes. Species comparisons between D. plexippus and D. gilippus and analyses of monarch populations both revealed consistently low levels of genetic variation in signaling genes, suggesting conservation of these genes over evolutionary time. Modulation genes showed the opposite pattern, with signatures of relaxed selection across populations. In contrast, recognition and effector genes exhibited less consistent patterns. When focusing on genes with exceptionally strong signatures of selection or differentiation, we also found population-specific patterns, consistent with the hypothesis that monarch populations do not face uniform selection pressures with respect to immune function.
Chai, Samosa, and H1B Visa: Indian IT Workers in the United States

I cherish going to Bloomington, Illinois since in addition to having my family there, it gives me a sense of being in India. Even though Bloomington is a very small mid-western town in Illinois, it has a relatively large Asian Indian population, most of which comprises Information Technology (IT) professionals.
Adam Smith & the Place of Faction

We examine the nature and role of 'factions' in Smith, by asking how Smith moved from a recognition and appreciation of cooperative behavior, to the realization that cooperation might produce deleterious results, as in the case of the 'masters of men'. For Smith, cooperation is a natural outcome of the desire for approbation; deleterious outcomes are the result not so much of the actions or sentiments of men as the institutions that frame their actions. If the outcomes are deleterious, this is a sign that the institutions are in need of reform.