cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Kinetic growth with surface diffusion: The scaling aspect.

We present computer simulations of kinetic growth models with a physically realistic surface diffusion process and without desorption. The results demonstrate that the asymptotic statistical scaling properties of the surface generated under these conditions are still correctly depicted by the Kardar-Parisi-Zhang (KPZ) theory. We show that surface diffusion nevertheless introduces a novel type of scaling at early times which will eventually crossover to the KPZ scaling. Furthermore, we make a clear connection between kinetic growth models and molecular-beam-epitaxy processes by illustrating the impact of surface diffusion on reducing the concentration of bulk defects.
Secure transmission over an existing public WDM lightwave network

We develop a spread-spectrum-based approach to security-enhanced transmission over an existing public wavelength-division-multiplexing (WDM) lightwave network. Secure transmission for a dedicated user is achieved by overlaying a covert channel onto a multichannel WDM network. The covert channel is spectrally encoded using the technique of frequency hopping and then temporally spread by a dispersive element, with the resulting average power below the noise floor in the fiber. The presence of the WDM channels provides an ad hoc security expansion and increases the difficulty for an eavesdropper to intercept and decode the secure signal
A novel approach to RF/microwave stimulus for legacy ATE

Problem to be solved: With the Department of Defense's concerted effort to consolidate test systems, and associated TPSs (Test Program Set) to a common platform; backward compatibility is an increasing difficult task due to advances (differences) in newer test equipment. When a TPS is being migrated, to a different test platform, there are a number challenges that will be encountered in both software and hardware. This paper will focus on the hardware aspect of the compatibility as there have been many advances in code translation for software compatibility. While making the TPS software backward compatible is one of the key issues, in protecting the investment of the TPS, little has been done to make the hardware compatible of this same TPS. There are a number of contributing reasons why hardware compatibility has been difficult including: advances in test equipment (newer equipment has a performance difference versus legacy test equipment), timing of response to software commands will change the TPS response expectations, RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) has forced older equipment to be redesigned with available components, newer equipment may have a different architecture than legacy equipment, features available in legacy equipment are no longer available in newer equipment, etc. Specifying newer equipment is fraught with potential problems. This paper will discuss how the industry has changed the architectures in signal stimulus products, why these changes were made and a look at where the industry might be going. Additionally, a discussion about each of the hardware compatibility issues will be described in detail with possible alternatives to resolving them in a TPS migration. One novel approach to compatibility is using an Oscilloscope and Spectrum Analyzer to capture the performance of the original stimulus used in the TPS and recreate that same stimulus (whether from COTS (Commercial of the Shelf) test equipment or a custom piece of special test equipment) using and AWG (Arbitrary Waveform Generator). This recreated waveform will have the performance, including the imperfections, of the original waveform. This new, recreated, waveform can then be used as a compatible substitute. Using an AWG based stimulus will have some consequences of its own. These will be described in detail including the issues implementing them in a larger ATE system.
Epidemiology of Drug Abuse: An Overview

Issues regarding the use of epidemiology in drug abuse research are discussed and systems for monitoring national trends and identifying risk factors are described. Data indicate a general decline in marijuana use among youth, a cohort aging effect among heroin and marijuana users, and increased prevalence and health consequences associated with cocaine use.
Biphasic Radiosensitization of Human Lymphocytes by Diethyldithiocarbamate: Possible Involvement of Superoxide Dismutase

SummaryA biphasic radiosensitization of human lymphocytes by diethyldithiocarbamate (DDC), a metal chelator, was observed. The first phase occurred at 10−5 M and the second at 10−3 M DDC. The biphasic radiosensitization coincided with the previously reported biphasic toxicity of DDC. Inhibition of superoxide dismutase (SOD) occurred only in the second phase, suggesting that it may be a contributing cause of this phase. The mechanism of the first radiosensitization phase is not known. The radiation survival curves indicated the presence of at least two lymphocyte populations differing in their radiosensitivity and representing 40 per cent and 60 per cent of the cells. Both cell populations were biphasically radiosensitized by DDC.
Preparation and crystal structure of La3Re2O10: An example of metal-metal bonding within Re2O10 units

Abstract Crystals of the new compound La3Re2O10 were obtained hydrothermally at 700 °C and a pressure of 3 kbar. La3Re2O10 crystallizes in the monoclinic system with unit cell dimensions a = 7.901(1), b = 7.866(1), c = 7.115(1) A and β = 115.44(1)° in space group C2/m with Z = 2. The structure consists of isolated Re2O10 groups that are interconnected by lanthanum atoms to form a three-dimensional framework. Each Re2O10 unit is composed of a pair of distorted edge-sharing ReO6 octahedra exhibiting a short Re-Re distance of 2.484(1) A indicative of a metal-metal bond. Semiconducting electrical behavior is observed for La3Re2O10 with ρ 298 = 24 Ω cm and Ea = 0.14 eV.
Bilateral seventh nerve palsy Analysis of 43 cases and review of the literature

Among inpatients with facial diplegia, one-half (22 patients) had benign, self-limited causes, including Bell's palsy (10), Guillain-Barre syndrome (5), multiple idiopathic cranial neuropathies (3), brainstem encephalitis (2), Miller Fisher syndrome (1), and association with benign intracranial hypertension (1). Nine patients had tumors: four meningeal, three prepontine, and two intrapontine. Syphilis (2 patients), Hansen's disease (1), cryptococcal meningitis with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (1), and tuberculous meningitis (1) constituted those with an infectious etiology, while miscellaneous causes included one patient each with diabetes, sarcoidosis, head trauma, pontine tegmental hemorrhage, undiagnosed Mobius syndrome in an adult, systemic lupus erythematosus with severe neuropathy, and slowly progressive degeneration--possibly bulbospinal neuronopathy. Bilaterality makes facial neuropathy a more ominous sign with widely varying causes that requires prompt investigation.
Atypical urine cytology and the Johns Hopkins Hospital template: the University of Chicago experience

Introduction The rate of atypical diagnoses in urine cytology can be high depending on the screening population. Unlike thyroid and cervical cytology, there is a lack of standardized criteria to stratify them into more clinically meaningful categories. Materials and methods A set of diagnostic criteria described by Johns Hopkins Hospital (JHH) provided a tool to divide atypical urine specimens into those that were low risk and those likely to be predictive of high-grade urothelial carcinoma (HGUC). In this study, the JHH template was applied to a cohort of atypical urine cytology specimens from the University of Chicago (U of C) to compare it to existing U of C terminology and determine whether it should be formally adopted. Results Sixty-eight percent of patients classified as atypical urothelial cells, favor high-grade lesion (AUC-H) were diagnosed with HGUC during the study. Correlation was noted between the JHH diagnostic categories and the U of C diagnostic categories, with 49% of patients reclassified as AUC-H being diagnosed with atypical urothelial cells, suspicious for neoplasia and 83% of cases of patients reclassified as atypical urothelial cells of unknown significance being diagnosed as atypical, urothelial cells. The JHH category of AUC-H had a higher positive predictive value for HGUC than the U of C category atypical urothelial cells, suspicious for neoplasm did (69% versus 58%, p = 0.0087). Unlike the JHH study, AUC-H showed higher correlation with HGUC in the hematuria group (90%) than in the surveillance group (66%). Conclusions JHH criteria demonstrated a higher rate of predicting HGUC than U of C diagnostic categories, supporting the adoption of these criteria at U of C.
The disease profile of Texas prison inmates.

Abstract PURPOSE: Whereas prison inmates are reported to exhibit poorer overall health status and higher rates of health care utilization than the general population, no current information exists on the overall disease profile of the U.S. prison population. The present study examined the prevalence of major acute and chronic conditions in one of the nation's largest prison populations. METHODS: The study population consisted of 170,215 Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) inmates who were incarcerated between August 1997 and July 1998. Information on medical conditions and sociodemographic factors was obtained from an institution-wide medical information system. RESULTS: Infectious diseases (29.6%) constituted the most prevalent major disease category among inmates. This was followed by diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (15.3%), diseases of the circulatory system (14.0%), mental disorders (10.8%), and diseases of the respiratory system (6.3%). Among the specific conditions examined, evidence of tuberculosis infection without active pulmonary disease (20.1%) was found to be the most prevalent condition, followed by hypertension (9.8%), asthma (5.2%), low back pain (5.1%), and viral hepatitis (5.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The present study shows that for a number of conditions, the prison population exhibited prevalence rates that were substantially higher than those reported for the general population. Moreover, estimates for a number of diseases varied substantially according to age, race, and gender. Understanding the disease profile in U.S. incarcerated populations will permit correctional administrators to develop more efficient health care delivery systems for prison inmates.
Candle Flames in Non-Buoyant Atmospheres

This paper addresses the behavior of a candle flame in a long-duration, quiescent microgravity environment both on the space Shuttle and the Mir Orbiting Station. On the Shuttle, the flames became dim blue after an initial transient where there was significant yellow (presumably soot) in the flame. The flame lifetimes were typically less than 60 seconds. The safety-mandated candlebox that contained the candle flame inhibited oxygen transport to the flame and thus limited the flame lifetime. The flames on the Mir were similar, except that the yellow luminosity persisted longer into the flame lifetime because of a higher initial oxygen concentration, The Mir flames burned for as long as 45 minutes. The difference in the flame lifetime between the Shuttle and Mir flames was primarily the redesigned candlebox that did not inhibit oxygen transport to the flame. In both environments, the flame intensity and the height-to-width ratio gradually decreased as the ambient oxygen content in the sealed chamber slowly decreased. Both sets of experiments showed spontaneous, axisymmetric flame oscillations just prior to extinction. The paper also presents a numerical model of a candle flame. The formulation is two-dimensional and time-dependent in the gas phase with constant specific heats, thermal conductivity and Lewis number (although different species can have different Lewis numbers), one-step finite-rate kinetics, and gas-phase radiative losses from CO2 and H2O. The treatment of the liquid/wick phase assumes that the, fuel evaporates from a constant diameter sphere connected to an inert cone. The model predicts a steady flame with a shape and size quantitatively similar to the Shuttle and Mir flames. The computation predicts that the flame size will increase slightly with increasing ambient oxygen mole fraction. The model also predicts pre-extinction flame oscillations if the rate of decrease in ambient oxygen is small enough, such as that which would occur for a flame burning in a sealed ambient.
Manakin display and visiting behaviour: a comparative test of sensory drive

The conspicuousness of bird plumages may vary with the ambient light. Therefore, two behavioural predictions of the sensory drive hypothesis are that males should prefer to display and that females should prefer to visit males under specific ambient light conditions that enhance communication efficiency. Here we investigate patterns of male display and female attendance at male display sites under different ambient light conditions in a clade of five closely related species of manakins (Pipridae). Continuous focal observations and video recordings showed that in four of five species, the frequency of male display in different ambient light conditions correlated with their availability at their display sites, and that males showed no preference for displaying under specific ambient light conditions. But in Corapipo gutturalis, males showed a strong preference for displaying in shade and sunny gap environments. Females showed no preference for visiting male display sites under specific ambient light conditions, nor did they prefer males with the strongest ambient light display preferences. Male display and female visiting patterns for most of the manakin species studied were inconsistent with behavioural predictions of sensory drive. However, male C. gutturalis have evolved a preference for displaying in specific light conditions that is a derived behaviour novelty within the clade. As predicted by sensory drive, this behavioural novelty is phylogenetically congruent with a change in sensory environment: a decrease in the frequency of cloudy conditions at display sites. Behavioural and environmental novelties in C. gutturalis are not phylogenetically congruent with the evolution of the glossy, blue-black and white plumage in the ancestor of all Corapipo. Further tests of the sensory drive hypotheses are recommended, such as whether display sites are nonrandom samples of the sensory environment or whether male plumage colours are adapted for efficient signalling in specific ambient light conditions.
Validity of perceived weight gain in women using long-acting reversible contraception and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate.

Objective The objective of the study was to evaluate perceived weight gain in women using contraception and determine the validity of self-reported weight gain. Study Design We analyzed data from new contraceptive method users who self-reported a weight change at 3, 6, and 12 months after enrollment. We examined a subgroup of participants with objective weight measurements at baseline and 12 months to test the validity of self-reported weight gain. Results Thirty-four percent of participants (1407 of 4133) perceived weight gain. Compared with copper intrauterine device users, implant users (relative risk, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.51) and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users (relative risk, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.14–1.64) were more likely to report perceived weight gain. Women who perceived weight gain experienced a mean weight gain of 10.3 pounds. The sensitivity and specificity of perceived weight gain were 74.6% and 84.4%, respectively. Conclusion In most women, perceived weight gain represents true weight gain. Implant and depot medroxyprogesterone acetate users are more likely to perceive weight gain among contraception users.
Web-based scholarship: annotating the digital library

The DL offers the possibility of collaborative scholarship, but the ap propriate tools must be integrated within the DL to serve this purpose. We propose a Web-based tool to guide controlled data annotations that link items in the DL to a domain-specific ontology and which provide an effective means to query a data collection in an abstract and uniform fashion.
Twin metric control ‐ CUSUM simplified in a Shewhart framework

“Twin metric” control preserves the simple, intuitive graphical features of Shewhart control charts, while incorporating the much improved performance of CUSUM. Two metrics are plotted on the twin metric control chart at each sample interval; the Shewhart value and a simplified CUSUM value. The action limits for the two metrics are numerically identical. The name twin metric emphasizes this identity. Twin metric responsiveness, measured in terms of the average run length (ARL) curve, is several times better than Shewhart control, with or without runs rules to supplement the Shewhart chart. Twin metric enables substantially better response to real process shifts and substantially fewer false alarms compared to Shewhart charts. Discusses the conceptual framework, the arithmetic formulas, and the operational aspects, including estimation of the process standard deviation, estimation of the current process average after a twin metric signal, and monitoring process variability using twin metric control. Provides a table of ARLs for six twin metric options. Gives quantitative performance comparisons comparing twin metric to Shewhart and to combined Shewhart‐CUSUM.
Mesoporous Tin Oxide as an Oxidation-Resistant Catalyst Support for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

Mesoporous catalyst support based on tin oxide (SnO 2 ) is synthesized with high surface area of 205 m 2 g ―1 and with narrow pore size distribution. Modified polyol method is used to deposit platinum on Sn0 2 . The physical properties of the support and the SnO 2 -supported Pt catalyst (Pt/SnO 2 ) are characterized by using the Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller method, X-ray diffraction, and transmission electron microscopy. The electrochemical stability and durability of the Pt/SnO 2 catalyst are investigated by the accelerated stress tests proposed by the U.S. Department of Energy. Pt/Sn0 2 catalyst exhibits electrochemical activity in fuel cells comparable to that of Pt/C. More importantly, the electrochemical stability of the Pt/SnO 2 catalyst significantly improves when compared with the commercial Pt/C catalyst at high potentials (∼1.2 V vs reversible hydrogen electrode).
Abortion education in the medical curriculum: a survey of student attitudes

Abstract Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate student attitudes toward the inclusion of abortion education in the preclinical and clinical medical school curriculum. Study Design All students completing the OB-GYN rotation from May 2004 through January 2005 ( n =118) were asked to complete a 21-item survey. Survey questions focused on students' attitudes about the appropriateness of abortion education, reasons for participation or nonparticipation in the abortion care experiences in the clinical curricula and the value of abortion education. Results One hundred students completed the survey for a response rate of 85%. Nearly all respondents indicated that abortion education was appropriate in the preclinical and clinical curricula (96%). Fifty-three percent of students participated in a clinical abortion care experience. The majority of these students rated it as valuable (84%) and would recommend it to a friend (73%). Most students who planned a career in Family Medicine and OB-GYN preferred the integration of abortion training into the residency curriculum (74%). Conclusions Abortion education is acceptable and valued by medical students and should be integrated into the curricula of all medical schools.
CONSCIOUSNESS AND THE MACHINE

. We consider only the relationship of consciousness to physical reality, whether physical reality is interpreted as the brain, artificial intelligence, or the universe as a whole. The difficulties with starting the analysis with physical reality on the one hand and with consciousness on the other are delineated. We consider how one may derive from the other. Concepts of universal or pure consciousness versus local or ego consciousness are explored with the possibility that consciousness may be physically creative. We examine whether artificial intelligence can possess consciousness as an extension of the interrelationship between consciousness and the brain or material reality.
A comparison of anticipatory and postprocedure pain perception in patients who undergo urodynamic procedures

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to compare anticipatory and postprocedure pain perception in female patients who undergo multichannel urodynamic evaluation in an office setting. Study design One hundred consecutive patients completed a visual analogue pain scale before and after urodynamic testing. Results The mean postprocedure pain score of 2.32 cm was significantly lower than the anticipatory pain rating of 4.35 cm ( P P =.027). Conclusion Patients who undergo urodynamic testing anticipate higher degrees of discomfort than they perceive during the procedure. Previous anti-incontinence surgery appears to lower the pain threshold.
Foot and Aristotle on Virtues and Flourishing

This article compares the views of Foot and Aristotle on virtues and flourishing. It is argued that the view put forward in Philippa Foot’s recent book, Natural Goodness, suffers from a certain sort of vagueness and it is open to other criticisms which the Aristotelian view can avoid. Foot’s views have been subjected to criticism in the recent literature by David Copp and David Sobel. These criticisms are given consideration in the article and it is argued that the more traditional Aristotelian view advocated by the author will have the means to answer some of these criticisms whereas Foot’s view will not.
Packing and self-assembly of truncated triangular bipyramids.

Motivated by breakthroughs in the synthesis of faceted nano- and colloidal particles, as well as theoretical and computational studies of their packings, we investigate a family of truncated triangular bipyramids. We report dense periodic packings with small unit cells that were obtained via numerical and analytical optimization. The maximal packing fraction ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{max}}$ changes continuously with the truncation parameter $t$. Eight distinct packings are identified based on discontinuities in the first and second derivatives of ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{max}}(t)$. These packings differ in the number of particles in the fundamental domain (unit cell) and the type of contacts between the particles. In particular, we report two packings with four particles in the unit cell for which both ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{max}}(t)$ and ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{\mathrm{max}}^{\ensuremath{'}}(t)$ are continuous and the discontinuity occurs in the second derivative only. In the self-assembly simulations that we perform for larger boxes with 2048 particles, only one out of eight packings is found to assemble. In addition, the degenerate quasicrystal reported previously for triangular bipyramids without truncation [Haji-Akbari et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 107, 215702 (2011)] assembles for truncations as high as $0.45$. The self-assembly propensities for the structures formed in the thermodynamic limit are explained using the isoperimetric quotient of the particles and the coordination number in the disordered fluid and in the assembled structure.
Effects of starvation in rats with elevated DDT and dieldrin tissue levels

Weanling, adult and old Osborne-Mendel strain rats were fed for 4 weeks diets supplemented with 50 ppm DDT, 7.5 ppm aldrin, or a combination of 50 ppm DDT plus 7.5 ppm aldrin. They were subsequently starved for 6 days, with free access to water. This period of starvation resulted in marked loss of body weight, marked loss of total body lipids, decreased liver-to-body-weight ratio, and a decreased total body-lipid-to-body-weight ratio.
Identifying early cardiovascular disease to target candidates for treatment

Most attempts to identify individuals at risk for cardiovascular morbid events have involved screening for risk factors. These traditional risk factors do not identify the underlying atherosclerotic disease nor assess the severity of disease in individual patients. The goal for identifying a marker or markers for early cardiovascular disease that could serve as a surrogate for disease progression and ultimate morbid events is to improve the precision for early detection and treatment. The authors utilize a variety of techniques, which consist of 7 vascular tests (large and small artery elasticity, resting blood pressure and exercise blood pressure response, optic fundus photography, carotid intimal-media thickness, and microalbuminuria) and 3 cardiac tests (electrocardiography, [N-terminal pro-] B-type natriuretic peptide, and left ventricular ultrasonography). Each test is individually scored, and the total disease score is the sum of all the test scores. A study is ongoing to compare the new disease score vs the classical Framingham risk estimate in the prediction of cardiovascular events.
Effect of helium irradiation on Ti3AlC2 at 500 °C

We report herein, for the first time, the effects of high-fluence (2 × 10 17 ions cm −2 ; 14 at.%) helium irradiation of polycrystalline Ti 3 AlC 2 samples at 500 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirmed that, despite swelling along the c -axis and shrinkage along the a -axis, the basic building blocks, viz. the Ti 3 C 2 layers, remained intact after irradiation. The XRD results also suggest that He implantation disorders the Al layers. Despite the high dose at 500 °C, He bubbles are present and are less than 1 nm in diameter. This is an important finding if this material is to be used in light water or other fission reactors in the future.
Oxidation of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine to N-butyl-N-(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine in rat liver and inhibition by disulfiram

The metabolism of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine, a presumptive intermediate metabolite of the urinary bladder carcinogen N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine, by rat liver has been examined. N-Butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine was metabolized by an NADH-dependent reduction to N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine and by an NAD+-dependent oxidation to N-butyl-N-(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine. The reduction of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine was inhibited by pyrazole. The oxidation of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine was studied further. The rate of oxidation in total rat liver was 3 mumol/min/g liver or 21 nmol/min/mg protein and was similar to that found for the oxidation of propionaldehyde, a model substrate for isozymes of rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase. The rate of oxidation of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine by isozymes in rat liver cytosol was 2-2.5 times that found for propionaldehyde. The apparent Km for the NAD+-dependent oxidation of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine was 20-30 microM, which is considerably lower than values reported for known substrates of aldehyde dehydrogenase. The NAD+-dependent oxidation of N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine was inhibited 40-50% by 50 microM disulfiram, 60-70% by 100 microM disulfiram, and 50% by 0.4 mM sodium arsenite. These studies show that N-butyl-N-(3-formylpropyl)nitrosamine is very rapidly oxidized to N-butyl-N-(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine in rat liver by aldehyde dehydrogenase and the results may help to explain why the 3-formylpropyl intermediate has not been directly identified as a metabolite of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine in urine or in isolated hepatocytes.
Hydralazine rescues PC12 cells from acrolein‐mediated death

Acrolein, a major lipid peroxidation product, has been associated with both CNS trauma and neurodegenerative diseases. Because of its long half-life, acrolein is a potent endogenous toxin capable of killing healthy cells during the secondary injury process. Traditionally, attempts to intervene in the process of progressive cell death after the primary injury have included scavenging reactive oxygen species (so-called free radicals). The animal data supporting such an approach have generally been positive, but all human clinical trials attempting a similar outcome in human CNS injury have failed. New drugs that might reduce toxicity by scavenging the products of lipid peroxidation present a promising, and little investigated, therapeutic approach. Hydralazine, a well-known treatment for hypertension, has been reported to react with acrolein, forming hydrazone in cell-free systems. In the companion paper, we have established an acrolein-mediated cell injury model using PC12 cells in vitro. Here we test the hypothesis that the formation of hydrazone adducts with acrolein is able to reduce acrolein toxicity and spare a significant percentage of the population of PC12 cells from death. Concentrations of approximately 1 mM of this aldehyde scavenger can rescue over 80% of the population of PC12 cells. This study provides a basis for a new pharmacological treatment to reduce the effects of secondary injury in the damaged and/or diseased nervous system. In particular, we describe the need for new drugs that possess aldehyde scavenging properties but do not interfere with the regulation of blood pressure.
Multipoint synchronization protocol

Distributed media synchronization is of ever increasing importance in the wake of an exponentially growing number of networked devices, media on demand, and user interactivity. Many protocols have been proposed to synchronize delivery of multimedia data among user groups spread over a packet network. These protocols typically focus on multimedia synchronization in small groups, may not support multimedia sessions with multiparty turn-taking patterns, are often application-specific, and do not perform well with varying network topologies. We describe the multipoint synchronization protocol (MSP) as a time coordinating mechanism that works well in a variety of group settings and for a variety of applications and network conditions, using multicast support if available. MSP is fully distributed and designed to scale to large user groups supporting turn-taking or concurrent sending and receiving. It has no central point of failure and can synchronize concurrent media streams over best-effort packet delivery networks in the absence of a global physical clock.
What Young African American Women Want in a Health Care Provider

The Institute of Medicine's report on racial and ethnic disparities in health care encourages enhancing patient-provider relationships by building trust. We explored factors important to 19- to 24-year-old African American women (N = 40) in choosing a health care provider. Eight focus groups were held in seven Ohio counties. Discussion was aided by photographs of client-provider interactions: two African American and two White providers (man or woman in each); in similar settings, attire, and pose; with a young African American woman client. Participants commented on what was happening in the photographs, how the woman felt, and their perceptions of each provider. Fongwa's Quality of Care model guided analysis. Women providers were favored; race was not of primary concern. Provider proximity, perceived interest, and understandability were persistent preferences. Trust, awareness of body language, interest in client, and conveying information clearly are critical for providers caring for young African American women.
CeNSE: A central nervous system for the earth

Moore's Law and the scaling of microelectronics is expected to extend to 11 nm and most probably beyond. Table 1 is an overview of the pitch requirement, as we step down the nodes:
Second trimester maternal serum screening using alpha fetoprotein, free beta human chorionic gonadotropin and maternal age specific risk: result of chromosomal abnormalities detected in screen positive for Down syndrome in an Asian population.

Background This study was to determine the incidence of chromosome abnormalities in Taiwanese women undergoing prenatal chromosome analysis after a second trimester Down syndrome screening by using maternal age and serum dual-marker testing (alpha-fetoprotein and free-beta unit human chorionic gonadotropin). Methods A total of 10,098 Taiwanese women with pregnancy between 15 and 23 weeks' gestation received second-trimester Down syndrome risk evaluation by dual-marker and maternal age specific risk testing in a single medical center. The study took 22 months. Ninety-seven percent of this study population was less than 34 years old. Ninety-six percent of our cases were screened between 15-20 weeks of gestation. This population was included only after a routine ultrasonography scan for correction of gestational age and exclusion of major structural anomalies. By using an algorithm to detect Down's syndrome, with a risk of 1:270 as a cut-off value, 816 patients were screen-positive for Down syndrome (screen-positive rate 8.0%). Karyotypes were reviewed for 670 (82.1%) mothers who received prenatal karyotype analysis. Results Twelve cases of Down syndrome were identified in the screen positive group with an estimated detection rate of 67% (false positive rate 8%). Three cases of Down syndrome were detected in late trimester among the screen-negative group. Seven other fetal chromosome abnormalities were also found among the screen-positive pregnancy. In addition, seven cases were screen-positive for trisomy 18; all of these patients received amniocentesis and only one case was confirmed. Conclusion These findings indicate that this screening program combining alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), free beta human chorionic gonadotropin (free-hCG) and maternal age-specific would achieve a screening efficiency in Taiwanese populations as comparable to those obtained in Caucasian populations. Our results also suggest that approximately 3% of pregnancies with a positive dual marker and maternal age-specific screen results will have a chromosome abnormality despite having a normal routine ultrasound scan. Mothers with positive screening results should be made aware of the implications of a positive result.
The advocate and the scientist: debating the commercial exploitation of endangered hawksbill turtles

B. W. BOWEN,* W. S . GRANT,† Z . HILLIS-STARR,‡ D. J . SHAVER,§ K. A. B JORNDAL,¶ A. B . BOLTEN¶ and A. L . BASS** *Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawaii, P.O. Box 1346, Kaneohe, HI 96744, USA, †Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA, ‡National Park Service, Buck Island Reef National Monument, 2100 Church St. # 100, Christiansted, St. Croix, USVI 00821-4611, USA, §National Park Service, Padre Island National Seashore, P.O. Box 181300, Corpus Christi, TX 78480-1300, USA, ¶Department of Zoology and Archie Carr Center for Sea Turtle Research, 223 Bartram Hall, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA, **Department of Biology, SCA 110, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620-5150, USA
The axisymmetric deformation of a red blood cell in uniaxial straining Stokes flow

The axisymmetric deformation of a red blood cell placed in a uniaxial straining Stokes flow is considered. The cell is modelled as a fluid capsule that contains a Newtonian fluid, and is bounded by an area-preserving membrane with negligible resistance to bending. First, it is theoretically demonstrated that spheroidal cells with isotropic membrane tension constitute stationary configurations. To compute transient cell deformations, a numerical procedure is developed based on the boundary-integral method for Stokes flow. Calculations show that initially prolate or oblate cells with isotropic membrane tension deform into stationary spheroids. Cells with a highly oblate initial shape may develop a persistent small pocket along their axis during the deformation. The shear elasticity of the membrane prevents folding, but may cause the formation of sharp corners and concave regions along the cell contour. A decrease in the membrane shear elasticity results in substantial increase in the magnitude of the transient and asymptotic membrane tensions. The maximum strain rate below which a red blood cell remains intact is estimated to be ex = 105 s−1.
Real‐time color flow MRI

A real-time interactive color flow MRI system capable of rapidly visualizing cardiac and vascular flow is described. Interleaved spiral phase contrast datasets are acquired continuously, while real-time gridding and phase differencing is used to compute density and velocity maps. These maps are then displayed using a color overlay similar to what is used by ultrasound. For cardiac applications, 6 independent images/sec are acquired with in-plane resolution of 2.4 mm over a 20 cm field of view (FOV). Sliding window reconstruction achieves display rates up to 18 images/sec. Appropriate tradeoffs are made for other applications. Flow phantom studies indicate this technique accurately measures velocities up to 2 m/sec, and accurately captures real-time velocity waveforms (comparable to continuous wave ultrasound). In vivo studies indicate this technique is useful for imaging cardiac and vascular flow, particularly valvular regurgitation. Arbitrary scan planes can be quickly localized, and flow measured in any direction. Magn Reson Med 43:251‐258, 2000. © 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Developer's Perspective

Systems development remains one of the most potentially rewarding professions, directly or indirectly relating to many of the top careers in Money/PayScale. As the economy continues to recover, recruiting top talent in technical corridors such as Silicon Valley, Boston, and Northern Virginia has become extremely competitive. Despite this apparent demand for engineering talent, interest in technical careers in the US has sharply declined in recent years. Many of the most promising young people are choosing medicine, law, finance-in fact, just about anything other than engineering or computer science. The paper discusses a compelling tech story that has five elements: people, projects, problems, products, and practices.
Neuromuscular Complications of Statins

Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methlglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are commonly prescribed for patients who have hyperlipidemia. Statins were first approved in 1987. Statin therapy is well documented to reduce serum low-density lipoprotein levels, incidence of cardiovascular events, and mortality. Although statin therapy is well tolerated, serious adverse affects have been reported, including neuromuscular and hepatic complications. Myopathy is particularly concerning because of the potential for rhabdomyolysis and death. Recently, peripheral neuropathy also has been identified as a possible complication. The incidence of neuromuscular complications is expected to increase with the increased number of people using statin therapy. Clinicians should be aware of the potential neuromuscular complications. This article reviews epidemiology, possible mechanisms, risk factors, and management of statin-associated neuromuscular complications.
The cost of flight: a role in the Polistes dominulus invasion

Polistes dominulus is a primitively eusocial paper wasp from Mediterranean Europe that is invasive to North America. In Eastern North America, P. dominulus is in competition with P. fuscatus. One reason for the success of P. dominulus is that their colonies produce more reproductive offspring than P. fuscatus colonies. A partial explanation for this difference is that P. dominulus foundresses make more foraging trips in the pre-worker period, which likely helps them to rear workers more quickly. In comparing the species, we found that P. dominulus had a lower absolute flight metabolic rate, but that P. fuscatus had a lower mass-specific flight metabolic rate. In addition, in P. fuscatus, wingloading correlated with flight metabolic rate, but that this was not the case in P. dominulus. This suggests that P. fuscatus is not able to transport large loads inexpensively. Therefore, the lower overall cost of transport of P. dominulus may provide an advantage by allowing the foundresses to make more relatively efficient foraging trips. In addition, we compared time in flight by P. dominulus and P. fuscatus over a range of temperatures and found that while P. fuscatus flew well over a broad range of temperatures, P. dominulus had a relatively narrow range of optimal temperatures for flight (30–33°C). These differences may help explain both the success and the limitations of the P. dominulus invasion.
A Complex Suite of Forces Drives Gene Traffic from Drosophila X Chromosomes

Theoretical studies predict X chromosomes and autosomes should be under different selection pressures, and there should therefore be differences in sex-specific and sexually antagonistic gene content between the X and the autosomes. Previous analyses have identified an excess of genes duplicated by retrotransposition from the X chromosome in Drosophila melanogaster. A number of hypotheses may explain this pattern, including mutational bias, escape from X-inactivation during spermatogenesis, and the movement of male-favored (sexually antagonistic) genes from a chromosome that is predominantly carried by females. To distinguish among these processes and to examine the generality of these patterns, we identified duplicated genes in nine sequenced Drosophila genomes. We find that, as in D. melanogaster, there is an excess of genes duplicated from the X chromosome across the genus Drosophila. This excess duplication is due almost completely to genes duplicated by retrotransposition, with little to no excess from the X among genes duplicated via DNA intermediates. The only exception to this pattern appears within the burst of duplication that followed the creation of the Drosophila pseudoobscura neo-X chromosome. Additionally, we examined genes relocated among chromosomal arms (i.e., genes duplicated to new locations coupled with the loss of the copy in the ancestral locus) and found an excess of genes relocated off the ancestral X and neo-X chromosomes. Interestingly, many of the same genes were duplicated or relocated from the independently derived neo-X chromosomes of D. pseudoobscura and Drosophila willistoni, suggesting that natural selection favors the traffic of genes from X chromosomes. Overall, we find that the forces driving gene duplication from X chromosomes are dependent on the lineage in question, the molecular mechanism of duplication considered, the preservation of the ancestral copy, and the age of the X chromosome.
A Supersonic Business-Jet Concept Designed for Low Sonic Boom

Ongoing human-response studies of sonic-boom noise indicated that a previous level of 1.0 psf might still be too annoying. This led to studies of a Supersonic Business Jet (SBJ), which might generate lower, more acceptable ground overpressures. To determine whether methods for designing a High Speed Civil Transport (HSCT) could be successfully applied, a SBJ concept was designed at the langley Research Center. It would cruise at Mach 2, carry 10 passengers for 4000 nautical miles, and generate a 0.50 psf or less on the ground under the flight path at start of cruise. Results indicated that a 10-passenger, low-boom SBJ design was just as technically demanding as a 300-passenger, low-boom HSCT design. In this report, the sources of these technical problems are identified, and ideas for addressing them are discussed.
Characteristics of on-body 802.15.4 networks

One would expect a body-area network to have consistently good connectivity, given the relatively short distances involved. However, early experimental results suggest otherwise. This poster examines the characteristics of the links in an on-body IEEE 802.15.4 network and the factors that influence link performance. We demonstrate that node location, as well as body position, significantly affects connectivity. For example, connectivity in the sitting position tends to be much worse than standing. We will present a comprehensive evaluation including various combinations of changes in node orientation, node placement, body position, and environmental factors. Preliminary results clearly demonstrate the need for researching different radios, topologies and protocol design to make body area networks viable.
Unpacking β: Within-Host Dynamics and the Evolutionary Ecology of Pathogen Transmission

Rather than being fixed, pathogen transmission varies and is thus an object of natural selection. I examine how opportunities for selection on pathogen transmission depend on (a) pathogen fitness, (b) genetic variability, and (c) forces acting at within- and between-host levels. The transmission rate, β, influences processes such as epidemic spread, postepidemic fade-outs, and low-level persistence. Complexity of infection processes within hosts leads to different transmission rates among hosts and between types of pathogens (viruses, bacteria, eukaryotic Protozoa). Generality emerges, however, by “unpacking” β into within- and between-host opportunities for selection. This is illustrated by evolutionary biology of the bacterium Yersinia pestis, which causes plague in mammals, remains highly virulent and is transmitted by multiple routes, including fleas and direct contacts with infected hosts. The strength of within-host selection is manifested through infectivity, replication, pathogenicity, and dissemi...
Age and duration of inflammatory environment differentially affect the neuroimmune response and catecholaminergic neurons in the midbrain and brainstem.

Neuroinflammation and degeneration of ascending catecholaminergic systems occur early in the neurodegenerative process. Age and the duration of a pro-inflammatory environment induced by continuous intraventricular lipopolysaccharide (LPS) differentially affect the expression profile of pro- and anti-inflammatory genes and proteins as well as the number of activated microglia (express major histocompatibility complex II; MHC II) and the integrity and density of ascending catecholaminergic neural systems originating from the locus coeruleus (LC) and substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in rats. LPS infusion increased gene expression and/or protein levels for both pro- and anti-inflammatory biomarkers. Although LPS infusion stimulated a robust increase in IL-1s gene and protein expression, this increase was blunted with age. LPS infusion also increased the density of activated microglia cells throughout the midbrain and brainstem. Corresponding to the development of a pro-inflammatory environment, LC and SNpc neurons immunopositive for tyrosine-hydroxylase (the rate-limiting synthetic enzyme for dopamine and norepinephrine) decreased in number, along with a decrease in tyrosine-hydroxylase gene expression in the midbrain and/or brainstem region. Our data support the concept that continuous exposure to a pro-inflammatory environment drives exaggerated changes in the production and release of inflammatory mediators that interact with age to impair functional capacity of the SNpc and LC.
Perspectives on Hearing Aids and Aural Rehabilitation

The author recently completed a 40-year career in audiology with a primary interest in hearing aids and adult aural rehabilitation. He describes how the field of audiology has changed over this per...