cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Review of mathematical models for biofilms

Abstract In this paper, we briefly review the progress made in the mathematical modeling of biofilms over the last 30 years. Biofilms constitute a spectrum of dynamical microorganisms, whose interaction with the surrounding environment and thereby induced dynamics dictates the complex properties of the living organism. Modeling of biofilms began with a low dimensional continuum description first based on kinematics and translational diffusions; later, more sophisticated microscopic dynamical mechanisms are introduced leading to the anomalous diffusion and dissipation encountered by various components in biofilms. Recently, biofilm and bulk fluid (or solvent) coupling has been investigated using discrete-continuum, multifluid and single fluid multicomponent models to treat the entire biofilm-bulk-fluid system either as a system consisting of various components whose dynamics exhibits different time scale or as a whole. We classify the models into roughly four classes: low-dimensional continuum models, diffusion limited aggregation models, continuum-discrete models, and fully coupled biofilm-fluid models. We will address some hybrid models that combine the ideas from the above categories and new computational protocols combining the existing computational tools for cell dynamics coupled with the discrete-continuum biofilm model.
G206(P) Group B Streptococcus: Intrapartum antibiotic management and neonatal outcome

Objective We audited the use of intrapartum intravenous antibiotics in mothers who were Group B Streptococcus (GBS) positive in their current pregnancy, and compared the neonatal management and outcomes in those who received adequate, and inadequate antibiotic cover. Method All deliveries logged between 1st October–31st December 2012 were crosschecked with maternal microbiology results to identify those GBS positive in their current pregnancy. We then audited whether these women were given adequate antibiotic cover in labour (at least 1 dose 4 h before delivery) as per local guidelines. Subsequent neonatal outcomes and length of hospital stay was analysed. Results Total live births were 1185 babies from 1166 mothers, 131 (11%) women were GBS positive and 111 (9%) required intrapartum antibiotics as per protocol. Of which 43 (39%) received no antibiotics, 17 (15%) were inadequately covered and 51 (46%) had adequate intrapartum antibiotic cover. Most common reason for no/inadequate antibiotic cover was too quick delivery, followed by GBS microbiology results that were not acted upon, or not available in time. Other reasons included emergency caesarean section, home births, and maternal refusal. Of the total 135 babies born to mothers with GBS, 55 (41%) started IV antibiotic treatment, 41 (75%) of these because the mother was inadequately covered in labour. There was one GBS positive neonatal blood culture. Average length of stay for babies whose mothers received adequate antibiotics (and only required 12 h of observations) was 1.6 days. However, for babies who required IV antibiotics because of inadequate intrapartum antibiotics, the average length of stay was significantly longer at 4.2 days. Conclusion The results demonstrate that over half of women who require intrapartum antibiotics were receiving no, or inadequate antibiotic cover. This not only has implications for postnatal antibiotic use, but also for patient satisfaction, hospital bed availability and costs. Intrapartum antibiotic use in GBS needs to improve, and we suggest this can be achieved by reinforcing patient education so GBS positive women present to labour ward earlier. Also, we must ensure GBS positive swab results are not missed.
Overview of aura MLS data processing

The V0 data management and archive system was developed between 1992 and 1997 for use in the Goddard Space Flight Center?s Distributed Active Archive Center (GSFC DAAC). Although originally intended as a prototype system for short-term deployment, its success as a production tool motivated further development and it evolved into a full-fledged system for science processing, data archive and distribution. The software has since been reused successfully for multiple projects, each time paying substantial benefits in the areas of schedule, budget and quality. Currently, it is being adapted to serve as the processing framework for several science missions including the Earth Observing System (EOS) Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and Tropospheric Emissions Spectrometer (TES). This paper presents an overview of the system's design and describes its application as a data processing system for the Aura MLS mission.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Correlates of health-related quality of life among lower-income, urban adults with congestive heart failure.

Abstract Background Improving health-related quality of life (HRQL) is a primary goal in the treatment of patients with congestive heart failure (CHF), yet few studies have explored correlates of HRQL among CHF patients. Objectives We report on the association of demographic and pathophysiologic measures, social-cognitive measures, and environmental variables with HRQL as measured by the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), Chronic Heart Failure (CHQ), and a single question of perceived overall health (PH). Methods Cross-sectional data were obtained from the baseline interview and electronic medical records of 212 patients 50 years of age and older who were enrolled during the first 7 months of a medication adherence study. Results Mean age was 63; 32% were male; 53% were black; the mean Charlson comorbidity score was 3.7; and the mean New York Heart Association class was 2.1. Correlations between KCCQ and CHQ subscale scores and PH ranged from 0.16 to 0.37. Multivariate regression analyses showed that the pathophysiologic measures ejection fraction and comorbidity were not associated with any of the HRQL measures. Overall PH was associated with greater age and more positive health beliefs. Persons of greater age, males, and black respondents had higher CHF-specific HRQL scores, as did persons reporting more positive health beliefs, greater income, social support, and communication with their physician. Variance explained ranged from 14 to 33%. Conclusion These cross-sectional data highlight the potential significance of social and behavioral factors in CHF-specific HRQL.
Lactonase and lactonizing activities of human serum paraoxonase (PON1) and rabbit serum PON3.

Abstract Human paraoxonase (PON1) was previously shown to hydrolyze over 30 different lactones (cyclic esters). In the present study purified human PON1 was found to catalyze the reverse reaction (lactonization) of a broad range of hydroxy acids. Hydroxy acid lactonization or lactone hydrolysis is catalyzed until equilibrium between the open and closed forms is reached. Lactonization by PON1 was calcium-dependent, had a pH optimum of 5.5–6 and could be stimulated with dilauroylphosphatidylcholine. Rabbit serum PON3 and a serine esterase in mouse plasma, presumably a carboxylesterase, also catalyzed hydroxy acid lactonization. Two endogenous oxidized unsaturated fatty acids, (±)4-hydroxy-5E,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z,19Z-docosahexaenoic acid (4-HDoHE) and (±)5-hydroxy-6E,8Z,11Z,14Z-eicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE) lactone, were very efficiently lactonized and hydrolyzed, respectively, by PON1. Human and mouse plasma samples also catalyzed 4-HDoHE lactonization and 5-HETE lactone hydrolysis. Studies with the PON1 inhibitor EDTA and the serine esterase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonylfluoride suggest that about 80–95% of both activities can be attributed to PON1 in the human samples. In the mouse sample, PON1 accounted for about 30% of the 4-HDoHE lactonizing activity and 72% of the 5-HETE lactonase activity. Our results demonstrate that PON1 can lactonize the hydroxy acid form of its lactone substrates and that reversible hydrolysis of lactones may be a property of lactonases that is not generally considered. Also, the high activity of PON1 towards 4-HDoHE and 5-HETE lactone suggests that oxidized eicosanoids and docosanoids may be important physiological substrates for PON1.
Pulmonary lymphoma in cardiac transplant patients treated with OKT3 for rejection: diagnosis by fine-needle aspiration.

At Hines VA Hospital, three out of 38 cardiac transplant patients, who were 9, 10, and 14 mo post-surgery and treated with immunosuppressive drugs, including OKT3 prophylaxis for acute rejection, developed a solitary pulmonary nodule. Fine-needle aspiration biopsy of the nodules in these three patients revealed a hypercellular, monotonous population of large lymphoid cells. These abnormal cells were isolated, with small aggregates occasionally seen. the nuclear membranes were irregular, the chromatin was finely granular, nucleoli were prominent, and mitotic figures were frequently noted. The cells were immunoreactive to leukocyte common antigen and B-lymphocyte. Lambda light chain immunoglobulin was positive in one case, kappa in the second case, and neither light chains in the third patient. By electron microscopy in one case, the cells were large immature lymphoid cells with immunoblastic features. Subsequent tissue studies, complemented by frozen section immunostaining, flow cytometry, and phenotyping, reaffirmed the diagnosis of malignant lymphoma. It appears that OKT3 therapy increases several fold the risk of lymphoma's developing in cardiac transplant patients. Preliminary published reports have also recommended close surveillance of patients receiving OKT3 for early indications of lymphoproliferative disorder and a reevaluation of the risk vs. benefit for the prophylatic use of OKT3.
Import competition, employment and wage in US manufacturing: new evidence from multivariate panel cointegration analysis

This paper examines whether employment and wages in the US manufacturing sector exhibit any long-run relationship with import competition. The results based on a multivariate panel cointegration analysis of observations on 12 two-digit SIC manufacturing industries over the period from the third quarter of 1982 to the fourth quarter of 1992 indicate that US manufacturing employment does not bear a long-run relationship with import competition but manufacturing wage does. While the long-run correlation between import price and manufacturing wage is found to be sector sensitive panel estimation reveals a highly significant negative correlation between import price and manufacturing wage.
Characterization and evaluation of hydrophobically modified chitosan scaffolds: Towards design of enzyme immobilized flow-through electrodes

Abstract Chitosan scaffolds were fabricated by application of thermally induced phase separation from aqueous solutions of unmodified chitosan and hydrophobically modified chitosan polymer. The final pore structure, in terms of diameter and geometry, were correlated to freezing temperature and freezing time for both the unmodified and hydrophobically modified chitosan polymer. Results showed that the resulting pore structure is strongly dependent upon the freezing temperature and less dependant upon the freezing time. For scaffolds produced from unmodified chitosan, the pore size decreased as expected with decreasing freezing temperature from −5 °C to −10 °C. However, an inconsistency in this trend was observed as the freezing temperature was decreased to −20 °C. Combined analysis of pore size distribution and average pore diameter suggested that the freezing process was mainly mass transfer dominated at −5 °C and −10 °C, but principally heat transfer dominated at −20 °C. In comparison, the scaffolds produced from hydrophobically modified chitosan (butyl-chitosan) followed the expected trend of decreasing mean pore diameter with decreased freezing temperatures throughout the entire temperature range. The scaffolds produced from the unmodified chitosan were more stable and rigid, and possessed average pore diameters that were generally smaller than those fabricated from the hydrophobically modified chitosan. The generally larger pores in the butyl-modified chitosan scaffolds might be explained by increased phase separation rates due to the introduced hydrophobicity of the chitosan polymer. Among the scaffolds fabricated from the butyl-modified chitosan, those produced at −20 °C yielded the most uniform pore structure, the smallest average pore diameters, and the least temporal broadening of pore size distribution.
An interprofessional case conference on Alzheimer's disease: teaching students in the health professions to work together.

Today, healthcare practices require interprofessional communication, referral, and patient follow-up services. Future professionals need to recognize the skills and scopes of other providers to opt...
Operational fisheries in New England: Linking current fishing patterns to proposed ecological production units

The Northeast US continental shelf has a rich tradition of commercial fishing. These fisheries have been managed using single species/stock assessments. Recently, there has been a movement toward a more holistic ecosystem-based management approach. This ecosystem-based approach is a departure from traditional single species management in that both spatial and multispecies considerations are paramount. To facilitate the place-based aspect of ecosystem-based management, management units are being established that take account of oceanographic, biological, and socio-economic properties. Here, we define operational fisheries for this region on the basis of landings composition by gear type and the spatial and temporal dimensions associated with them. Using vessel trip catch reports of New England commercial fishing vessels operating during 2004–2008, we defined operational fisheries using k-means clustering. The landings data from these vessels were assembled by ten minute latitude/longitude rectangles and segregated by six major gear types: otter trawls, dredges, pots, longlines, gillnets, and seines. The seasonality of each fishery was examined, as was the vessel sizes and their species catch composition. Patterns of resource usage were detected that will be useful in identifying appropriate ecosystem-based management units.
Activity classification in users of ankle foot orthoses

A framework for activity classification using inertial sensors mounted on ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) is presented. A decision tree-nearest neighbor algorithm classifies activities using subject-specific training. Eight volunteer subjects wore modified bilateral AFOs with shank and foot mounted triaxial accelerometers and gyroscopes. The AFOs were fitted with hardware to induce different gait perturbations: free rotation of the ankle, plantarflexion or "equinus" gait, and locked ankle joint. For each condition, the subject performed eight gait activities at varied slopes and standing, sitting, and lying postures. Using video for ground truth, the algorithm had an overall mean sensitivity of 95% using 50% of the data (≈ 140 s) for training and demonstrated upwards of 90% sensitivity with 25% of the data (≈ 70 s) for training. High sensitivities (≥ 87%) and PPV (≥ 90%) were achieved for all annotated gait patterns for all perturbations, excluding stair climbing (63%, 77%) and descending (80%, 78%). Postures were classified with less sensitivity and PPV than gait activities: lying (98%, 93%), standing (80%, 84%) and sitting (64%, 75%). Non-annotated walking (68%) and standing (73%) were classified with less sensitivity than were corresponding annotated events. Our results indicate that AFOs are a suitable sensor platform for future research in activity classification and gait monitoring in AFO users with perturbed gait using limited training data.
TRANSMISSION OF MICROBIAL PATHOGENS BY CEDAR SHOE TREES

Cedar shoe trees are used to keep shoes from shrinking and losing their shape. When the same cedar shoe trees are used by different shoe wearers, there is a chance of transmission of disease-causing microorganisms between people. This study was conducted to determine whether or not transmission of disease-causing microorganisms via cedar shoe trees occurs, what kinds of microorganisms can be transmitted, and how many organisms can be transmitted. In this study, both bacteria and bacterial spores were transmitted, while fungi were not; however, only several hundred to several thousand pathogenic bacteria were transmitted between any two shoes.
NUMERICAL STUDY OF DWBA IN A THREE-BODY MODEL OF STRIPPING.

Abstract Spectator, adiabatic, and DWBA wave functions have been compared for a separable potential, three-body model of deuteron stripping. The spectator and adiabatic wave functions are shown to be identical in this model; their use in the stripping amplitude is exact. Detailed calculations are presented and analyzed for an incident energy of 6.7 MeV; these are similar to results obtained at energies of 1.78, 11.2, and 15.12 MeV. Although the resulting distributions are in good agreement, the adiabatic and DWBA wave functions and partial wave amplitudes do not agree too well, as in the many-body calculations of Harvey and Johnson.
Altered lipid content inhibits autophagic vesicular fusion

The autophagic/lysosomal system includes a variety of vesicular compartments that undergo dynamic fusion events. However, the characteristics and factors modulating these interactions remain, for the most part, unknown. To gain insights on the properties that govern lysosomal fusion events, we have established an in vitro fusion assay using different lysosomal/autophagic compartments isolated from mouse liver. We have found that autophagosome/lysosome fusion is a temperature-dependent process (fusion increment of 0.2+/-0.01%/degrees C), which requires ATP (1-3 mM), GTP (1-2 mM), Ca(2+) (0.2-2 mM), and an acidic lysosomal pH (pH 5.2). Furthermore, changes in membrane lipid composition, induced either in vitro, by treatment with 25 mM methyl-beta-cyclodextrin, or in vivo, by subjecting animals to a high-fat-diet challenge (60% kcal in fat) reduce autophagosome/lysosome fusion up to 70% of that observed in untreated fractions or from animals under a normal regular diet. These findings reveal a novel role for lipids in autophagic fusion and provide a mechanism for the reduced macroautophagic rates observed during exposure to a chronic lipid challenge. Changes in the intracellular lipid content (i.e., metabolic disorders) may thus have pronounced effects on the fusion step of macroautophagy and affect the overall activity of this intracellular proteolytic pathway.
Pupal colour dimorphism in California Battus philenor: pupation sites, environmental control, and diapause linkage

. 1 Natural pupation sites and corresponding pupal colour (green or brown) were determined for samples of Battus philenor (L.) from two Californian populations. 2 Larvae pupate off the ground on trees, shrubs and man-made objects. 3 The vertical distribution of pupation sites and relative frequencies of pupae formed on narrow twigs and broad substrates show interpopulation variability, and seem to be determined by habitat-specific and possibly behavioural differences among populations. 4 The percentage of‘mismatched’pupae in green leafy environments (brown) is greater than that on wide substrates (green). Heterogeneity in samples of the latter suggest strong but sporadic predation pressure on non-cryptic pupae in exposed areas. 5 Green and brown substrates generally promoted formation of cryptic green and brown pupae although rearing conditions modified pupal colour response to substrate colour and larval pupation site choice. 6 Warm temperatures and long days increased the production of brown pupae. Short photoperiods increased the tendency of larvae to pupate on narrow twig-like substrates and to form green pupae. 7 Green pupae show less tendency to diapause than brown pupae. The difference between percentage diapause in the two colour forms increases under conditions favouring progressively more continuous development.
Relationships between elevation, reproduction and the hematocrit level of brown-headed cowbirds.

1. 1. Hematocrit, furcular fat level and oviducal egg presence were determined for 267 brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) at eight sites ranging from 15 to 2390 m above sea level in California. 2. 2. Near the end of the breeding season males at a mid-elevation site (1250 m) possessed higher hematocrits than females, but there was no difference between yearling and adult males. 3. 3. Birds were bled during three 11-day periods beginning 1 May 1984 at one montane site (2075m). The percentage of females with oviducal eggs increased significantly from 0 to 10 to 67% and the mean female hematocrit increased from 0.54 to 0.56 and then decreased significantly to 0.52. The hematocrit of males increased significantly from 0.54 to 0.57 and then remained level during the final period. 4. 4. Correlations were calculated between mean hematocrit and elevation for males (r = 0.94, N = 8 sites, P < 0.001), females (r = 0.96, N = 7 sites, P < 0.001) and juveniles (r = 0.99, N = 4 sites, P < 0.01).
Role of transforming growth factor-β in chondrogenic pattern formation in the embryonic limb: Stimulation of mesenchymal condensation and fibronectin gene expression by exogenenous TGF-β and evidence for endogenous TGF-β-like activity

The possible role of TGF-beta-like molecules in skeletal pattern formation in the embryonic vertebrate limb was studied by analyzing the mechanism of enhancement of chondrogenesis in chick wing bud mesenchyme in vitro and testing for the presence and distribution of endogenous TGF-beta-like activity in this tissue. Transient exposure (3-6 hr) to TGF-beta 1 (1-2 ng/ml) on the day after plating resulted in a 1.5- to 2-fold enhancement of accumulation of Alcian blue (pH 1.0)-stainable extracellular matrix 5 days later. The enhancement of differentiation was preceded by an acceleration and an increase in the extent of precartilage condensation formation, visualized by Hoffman Modulation Contrast microscopy a day after TGF-beta treatment. In contrast, neither condensation nor subsequent chondrogenesis was stimulated by transient treatment with TGF-beta 1 on the day of plating. The effectiveness of a TGF-beta treatment regimen in enhancing chondrogenesis was correlated with its effectiveness in stimulating condensation formation. Exposures to the factor for 3-6 hr on the day after plating, which most consistently stimulated both condensation formation and chondrogenesis, also corresponded to a peak in the enhancement of the steady-state level of fibronectin mRNA (fourfold to eightfold over control levels) measured at the end of the treatment period. The elevation in fibronectin mRNA levels brought about by this treatment persisted throughout the period of condensation. Endogenous TGF-beta-like activity was detected in limb mesenchyme: extracts of freshly isolated and cultured limb tissues contained 6-25 pg TGF-beta-like activity per 1 x 10(6) cells by the Mv1Lu cell proliferation inhibition assay, and indirect immunofluorescence using a polyclonal antibody directed against a TGF-beta-related peptide indicated a patchy distribution of endogenous TGF-beta-like reactivity within a day after culture. These findings are discussed in relation to the "fibronectin prepattern" hypothesis for limb pattern formation.
FIFTY YEARS OF PALEOBOTANY, 1906–1956

ALTHOUGH FOSSIL PLANTS have been known and recognized as such since the days of antiquity, their scientific study began less than 150 years ago. This comparatively short span of time can be divided into three roughly equal periods. The first of these was the formative period during which the classic works of Sternberg, Schlotheim, Brongniart, Witham, Corda, Unger, and others appeared. The second period may be called the period of exploration-at least as far as the United States are concerned-during which Dawson, Lesquereux, Newberry, Macbride, and Ward did their pioneer work: The third period coincides approximately with the life of the Botanical Society of America. The outstanding events in paleobotany in 1906 were the publication of the first volume of American Fossil Cycads by Wieland and the establishment by the Federal Government of the Petrified Forest National Monument in Arizona. A few years before, at the turn of the century, the seedferns were recognized as such and described in great detail. Since then paleobotanical research has greatlv expanded in scope and now encompasses the whole world, ranging from studies on permafrost in Arctic North America to the petrified forests of Patagonia, and from the coal fields of Korea to the Karroo beds of South Africa, over the whole plant kingdom and all fossiliferous horizons of the geological column. New or improved techniques (providing 50-100 serial sections in place of a single thin section and enabling us to see the other side of the fence) , and new or revitalized interest in paleobotany in many countries outside of Europe have greatly aided this progress and expansion. In short, the last fifty years in paleobotany have been the most productive and influential, as definite outward signs attest. The first and oldest organization of paleobotanists is represented by the Paleobotanical Section of the Botanical Society of America. Membership in this Section does not depend upon membership in the parental society. During the Eighth International Botanical Congress in Paris in 1954 an international paleobotanical organization was formed and affiliated with the International Association for Plant Taxonomy. An institute devoted solely to paleobotanical research was founded by the late Professor Birbal Sahni in Lucknow, India. The Palynological Laboratories, Pennsylvania State University, will soon occupy a separate building. Two scientific journals carrying only paleobotanical contributions are currently being published, Palaeonto-
Angular momentum growth in protogalaxies

An analysis by Doroshkevich (1970) which shows that the angular momentum of galaxies grew to first order (in proportion to t) during the linear phases of protogalactic evolution is expanded. This result is confirmed in N-body simulations of the formation of structure. The well-known study of Peebles (1969) found growth at second order only (in proportion to t to the 5/3-power) because its analysis was restricted to spherical regions. In such regions growth occurs purely as a result of convective effects on the bounding surface; the material initially within a spherical volume gains no angular momentum in second-order perturbation theory. These considerations do not affect estimates of the total angular momentum acquired by a galaxy in the gravitational instability picture.
Similarities and Dissimilarities in the Measurement of Human and Robot Performances

This paper provides a review and evaluation of the Techniques currently used in the measurement of human and robot performances. Furthermore, a strategic model is presented which may assist job designers in the selection process between humans and robots.
Employment of a mobile infusion system for continuous ambulatory tube feeding.

A mobile infusion system originally designed for home parenteral nutrition has been applied to the outpatient care of a patient with radiation enteritis requiring continuous jejunostomy feeding. This treatment allowed for normal ambulation and may be useful for other patients requiring tube feeding at home.
Optical Fiber Microarrays for Chemical and Biological Measurements

We have used coherent imaging fiber arrays as a platform for preparing chemical sensors and biosensors. Sensors can be made with spatially-discrete sensing sites for multi-analyte determinations. Micrometer sized sensors have been fabricated by etching the cores of an optical imaging fiber to create microwells and loading them with microspheres. These arrays possess both high sensitivity and reproducibility and can be used for making thousands of measurements simultaneously such as for genetic analysis or for the analysis of complex biological fluids. Both optical and optoelectrochemical arrays have been used for multiplexed sensing. In another scheme, the arrays can be used for single molecule detection. In this format, individual molecules, such as enzymes, can be trapped in the microwells by sealing each microwell with a silicone gasket. The enzyme molecules catalyze the formation of a fluorescent product that can be detected readily. The kinetic properties of hundreds to thousands of single enzyme molecules can be monitored simultaneously using this format. By observing the stochastic nature of the single molecule responses, new mechanistic insights into the fundamental nature of the enzymes can be obtained.
Radiative transfer in a clumpy universe: The colors of high-redshift galaxies

We assess the effects of the stochastic attenuation produced by intervening QSO absorption systems on the broadband colors of galaxies at cosmological distances. We compute the H I opacity of a clumpy universe as a function of redshift, including scattering in resonant lines, such as Lyman alpha, Lyman beta, Lyman gamma, and higher order members, and Lyman-continuum absorption. Both the numerous, optically thin Lyman-alpha forest clouds and the rarer, optically thick Lyman limit systems are found to contribute to the obscuration of background sources. We study the mean properties of primeval galaxies at high redshift in four broad optical passbands, U(sub n), B, G, and R. Even if young galaxies radiated a significant amount of ionizing photons, the attenuation due to the accumulated photoelectric opacity along the path is so severe that sources beyond z approximately 3 will drop out of the U(sub n) image together. We also show that the observed B-R color of distant galaxies can be much redder than expected from a stellar population. At z approximately 3.5, the blanketing by discrete absorption lines in the Lyman series is so effective that background galaxies appear, on average, 1 mag fainter in B. By z approximately 4, the observed B magnitude increment due to intergalactic absorption exceeds 2 mag. By modeling the intrinsic UV spectral energy distribution of star-forming galaxies with a stellar population synthesis code, we show that the (B-R)(sub AB) approximately 0 criterion for identifying 'flat-spectrum,' metal-producing galaxies is biased against objects at z greater than 3. The continuum blanketing from the Lyman series produces a characteristic staircase profile in the transmitted power. We suggest that this cosmic Lyman decrement might be used as a tool to identify high-z galaxies.
Measurement Systems Analysis, Attribute†

Methods for assessing the capability of a quantitative or continuous measurement system are well documented and include the tabular method and the analysis of variance approach. When the measurement system involves attribute data, the standard quantitative methods are not appropriate. An attribute gauge measurement system is one where the parts or objects under study are placed into one of two or more possible categories. The classification of the part is the measurement of interest in an attribute measurement system. Several commonly used statistics for “appraiser agreement” and attribute gauge repeatability and reproducibility are presented. Keywords: analytic method; attribute; bias; intraclass correlation coefficient; kappa statistics; latent-class models; measurement systems analysis; repeatability; reproducibility
On the Completely Positive and Positive Semidefinite-Preserving Cones—Part III

This paper studies the extremals and other faces of the completely positive and positive semidefinite-preserving linear transformations.
Numerical Investigation of Turbidity Currents Flowing Through Minibasins on the Continental Slope

Abstract Numerical investigation of the dynamics of turbidity currents flowing through a series of minibasins is conducted. A two-dimensional vertical-structure-resolving finite-volume model is developed to solve the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations along with the sediment mass conservation equation in a non-orthogonal grid system. In addition, the Exner equation of bed sediment conservation is solved to study changes in the bed level. The model is verified against three laboratory experiments conducted by Lamb et al. (2004) and Lamb et al. (2006) to study the dynamics of continuous-feed turbidity currents and the depositional characteristics in a minibasin. Simulation results show that the sediment deposition pattern predicted by the model is in reasonably close agreement with the measurements. The model successfully captures draping of sediment over the initial bed irregularities. Vertical distributions of concentration profiles are also found to be in good agreement with the measured data. Field-scale investigation is carried out by considering two minibasins in a series. It is observed that the inflow condition of a continuous-feed turbidity current can strongly influence the bed morphology of the minibasin. For the same inflow velocity and suspended-sediment concentration, larger sediment particles in the inflow cause overall deposition while smaller sediment particles lead to erosion.
Performance Implications of Nonuniform Device Topologies in Scalable Heterogeneous Architectures

This article considers trends in heterogeneous system design, particularly for GPUs. Using the Keeneland Initial Delivery System, the authors examine the performance implications of increased parallelism and specialized hardware on parallel scientific applications. They examine how nonuniform data-transfer performance across the node-level topology can impact performance. Finally, they help users of GPU-based systems avoid performance problems related to this nonuniformity.
One-stage repair of extensive chronic aortic dissection using the arch-first technique and bilateral anterior thoracotomy.

Background We evaluated a one-stage technique for extensive replacement of the thoracic aorta in patients with chronic aortic dissection. Methods Fifty-one patients with chronic expanding thoracic aortic dissections (48 type A, 3 type B with proximal extension) were treated with a single procedure using a bilateral anterior thoracotomy, hypothermic circulatory arrest, and reperfusion of the arch vessels first to minimize brain ischemia. Forty-six patients had previous operations: for acute type A aortic dissection (n = 36), aortic valve disease (n = 6), or coronary artery disease (n = 4). The ascending aorta and entire arch were replaced in all patients combined with varying lengths of the descending aorta. Results Hospital mortality was 3.9% (2 patients). Five patients (10%) required reoperation for bleeding. Two patients were discharged on ventilatory support and 2 on dialysis. No patient sustained a stroke, and paraplegia developed in one. The 5- and 7-year survival rates were 79% and 68%. Freedom from reoperation on the thoracic or abdominal aorta was 92% at 5 and 7 years postoperatively. Serial tomograms have documented substantial enlargement of the residual dissected aorta in only 2 patients (reoperated). Conclusions The technique is a safe and suitable alternative to the two-stage (elephant trunk technique) and hybrid procedures for treatment of chronic dissection with aneurysm of the thoracic aorta. It eliminates the risk of rupture in the interval between staged procedures and the risks associated with a second thoracic aortic procedure, and is associated with a low rate of reoperation on the remaining aorta.
Accelerating Checkpoint Operation by Node-Level Write Aggregation on Multicore Systems

Clusters and applications continue to grow in size while their mean time between failure (MTBF) is getting smaller. Checkpoint/Restart is becoming increasingly important for large scale parallel jobs. However, the performance of the Checkpoint/Restart mechanism does not scale well with increasing job size due to constraints within the file system. Furthermore, with the advent of multi-core architecture, the situation is aggravated due to larger number of processes running on the same node, trying to checkpoint simultaneously. This results in increased number of file writes at the time of checkpointing which leads to performance degradation. As a result, deployment of Checkpoint/Restart mechanisms for large scale parallel applications is limited. In this work, we explore the Checkpoint/Restart mechanism in MVAPICH2, which uses BLCR as the checkpointing library. Our profiling of the checkpoints for the NAS parallel benchmarks revealed a large number of small file writes interspersed with large writes. Based on these observation we propose to optimize checkpoint creation by classifying checkpoint file writes into small writes, medium writes and large writes based on their size of data to write, and use write aggregation to optimize the small and medium writes. At the aggregation threshold of 512KB, the implementation of our design in BLCR shows improvements from 27% to 32% over the original BLCR in terms of time cost to checkpoint an MPI application.
Cross-layer optimization for end-to-end rate allocation in multi-radio wireless mesh networks

In this paper, we study rate allocation for a set of end-to-end communication sessions in multi-radio wireless mesh networks. We propose cross-layer schemes to solve the joint rate allocation, routing, scheduling, power control and channel assignment problems with the goals of maximizing network throughput and achieving certain fairness. Fairness is addressed using both a simplified max-min fairness model and the well-known proportional fairness model. Our schemes can also offer performance upper bounds such as an upper bound on the maximum throughput. Numerical results show that our proportional fair rate allocation scheme achieves a good tradeoff between throughput and fairness.
Realistic REDD: Improving the Forest Impacts of Domestic Policies in Different Settings

AbstractBoth theory and evidence regarding forest-relevant decisions by various agents suggest that there are significant constraints on the effectiveness of domestic policies for REDD (i.e., in fa...
Hierarchical grouping analysis and skeletal materials.

The technique of hierarchical grouping analysis is examined with respect to its use as a tool in grouping skeletal remains, utilizing both continuous and certain types of discontinuous anthropometric variables. The method is found to be useful when tested with Amerind skeletal materials at the micro-evolutionary level, and as a technique for sexual differentiation within human and non-human primate populations. The application of this form of cluster analysis to dental data is examined.
RCARM: Reaction classification using automated reaction mapping

Detailed chemical kinetic modeling of gas-phase reactions can result in automatically generated mechanisms that contain thousands of reactions. In this paper, we describe the development of a rule-based expert system tool that organizes these reactions into classes such as hydrogen abstraction and beta scission. We have developed 29 simple classification rules, 20 complex (well-skipping) classification rules, and four second-stage classification rules. This greatly simplifies the task of the chemical kineticist who wishes to verify, analyze, and gain insights into the reactions comprising the mechanism. This system, which is based on the automated identification of the bonds that break and form in a chemical reaction (the reaction mapping problem), is used to classify reactions in three different mechanisms. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 45: 125–139, 2013
The preparation of a soluble acetylcholinesterase from brain

Abstract 1. 1. Most of the acetylcholinesterase (acetylcholine acetyl-hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) in brain tissues is in a particulate form which has made purification of the enzyme from this source difficult. Conditions for solubilization of the enzyme were explored at different hydrogen ion concentrations and with the following groups of reagents: enzymes, detergents, organic solvents and salts. 2. 2. A stable acetone powder prepared from the caudate nuclei of calves brains had a specific activity of 17–26 μmoles of acetylcholine hydrolyzed per mg of protein per h. The powder was homogenized in 1 M glycine and was subjected to ultrasonic vibration and incubation with pork pancreatic lipase at pH 8.9. The treated material was fractionated with ammonium sulfate between 10 and 44% saturation and a soluble enzyme preparation was obtained which contained 45% of the original enzyme activity. No further purification by salt fractionation was possible. The best preparation had a specific activity of 93μmoles of acetylcholine hydrolyzed per mg of protein per h.
Inappropriate obstructions to access: the FDA's handling of plan B.

Political and ideological concerns inappropriately interfered with the FDA's process of approving emergency contraceptive Plan B for over-the-counter sale.
Influence of preharvest calcium application on storage quality of ‘Jonathan’ apples in Kansas

Abstract ‘Jonathan’ apple (Malus × domestica Borkh.) trees at three commercial orchards were sprayed one to eight times with calcium chloride (CaCl2) solution containing 3.2 g/L, starting when apple sizes were between 0.9 and 1.6 cm average diameters. Apples were stored for two and four months in regular atmosphere storage at 2°C (36°F). Fruit firmness, ratio of soluble solid concentrations to titratable acidity (SSC/TA), and fruit red skin color during the two storage periods and fruit weight after four-month storage were determined. Apples stored for two months had better quality than those stored for four months. Depending on the location, five to eight CaCl2 applications and two to seven applications were necessary to retain an average of 26% of fruit firmness and an average of 35% of the SSC/TA, respectively, in the two-month storage. At least seven applications were required to retain an average of 29% of fruit firmness of apples stored for four months. Six to seven applications of CaCl2 retained fr...
Come code with codester: an educational APP that teaches computer science to K-6 students

In this paper, we describe Codester, an original application developed during the summer of 2013, that teaches young students the principles of programming. The application was developed for the Android operating system, which allows for the use of tablets and smartphones as our teaching medium, instead of traditional laptops and desktops. Codester is a central part of a novel outreach program, known as the Computer Science Caravan (CSC). The CSC consists of members of the Siena College community, who travel to local K-6 schools equipped with tablets and other materials to reach out to students who do not usually have the opportunity to learn about programming or computer science.
‘Can you hear me now?' Phreaking the party line from operators to occupy

ABSTRACTContemporary networked social movements are characterized by their innovative use of mobile phones, the Internet, and social media to coordinate collective action. From 2011 to 2012, I conducted an ethnographic study of a group of Occupy protesters called InterOccupy, who scheduled and moderated 2000 movement-wide conference calls. Drawing on the history of telephones, I clarify why the Occupy movement utilized conference calls to organize mobilizations during an intense period of police repression. I locate InterOccupy within the history of conference calls to draw out the affordances of conference systems as tools for convening distributed groups in real time. Tethering InterOccupy to the history of telephone operators from the 1920s to 1960s, who used switchboards to manage shared party lines, with the phone phreaks of the 1960s–1980s, hackers who explored the telephone network, illustrates how each group used similar tools, techniques, and protocols to form communities across vast distances. U...
The Ventilatory Response in Diabetic Ketoacidosis

1. Previous studies of the ventilatory response to metabolic acidosis have usually considered only patients with arterial blood pH above 7·10. To define the response during more severe acidaemia, arterial CO 2 tension and pH were measured in fifty-three episodes of diabetic ketoacidosis, including twenty-four with pH below 7·10, and ten with pH below 7·00. 2. The relation between arterial CO 2 tension, and both blood pH and plasma bicarbonate concentration, in these cases with generally severe metabolic acidaemia (mean pH 7·12 ± SD 0·13), was very similar to the relations between those variables found by others in patients with less severe acidaemia, such as that due to renal failure. 3. As arterial blood hydrogen ion activity increased, arterial CO 2 tension decreased inversely, reflecting well-sustained hyperventilation, even during profound acidaemia. 4. The inverse relation between arterial CO 2 tension and hydrogen ion activity suggests that during metabolic acidosis, alveolar ventilation increases in direct proportion to the increased blood hydrogen ion activity.
Development and Variation in Flanges on the Proventriculus of Larvae of Aedes Aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae)

In lst-instar larvae of Aedes aegypti the proventriculus is covered by a thin undifferentiated cuticle. In the 2nd instar there is usually a sclerotized band of cuticle around the proventriculus. In the 3rd instar about 80% of the individuals develop 2 circumferential flanges at the band. In the 4th instar all individuals develop 2 flanges and the band of cuticle in this area becomes thickened. There is some variation in both structure and degree of sclerotization within instars and between strains. The bands and flanges are formed by 2 adjacent rings of 1.5 to 2 dozen cells each. These rings of cells first form a circumferential protrusion of cytoplasm the size of the future flange. This secretes an epicuticular mold for the flange. Secretion of procuticle fills this mold, and further secretion forms band under the flanges. The functional significance of this differentiation of the proventriculus is discussed.
Geriatrics: gait disorders in the elderly.

DISTURBANCES of gait are common in the elderly and can be disabling. In one population-based study, 15 percent of the subjects over 60 years of age had some abnormality of gait.1 The prevalence of gait disturbances may be considerably higher among very old persons, those in the ninth decade and beyond. In a study of the functional status of a cohort of 79-year-olds in Goteborg, Sweden, one in four was found to use mechanical aids for walking.2 None of the subjects could comfortably walk at 1.4 m per second, a pace considered by the Swedish government to be the norm . . .