cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Integrated algorithmic logical and physical design of integer multiplier

This paper presents an integrated methodology for high-performance integer multiplier design, which combines algorithmic partial product generation, logic synthesis, and physical layout into a unified process. The interconnect delay, which dominates the performance of a multiplier, is thoroughly considered in this integration. The special structures in the multiplier are utilized to reduce the high complexity of the holistic approach. Compared with multipliers generated by a state-of-the-art tool, the timing improvements of our results are 11% for a 16-bit multiplier, and 7.5% for a 32-bit multiplier.
Unphosphorylated STAT1 prolongs the expression of interferon-induced immune regulatory genes

In normal human cells treated with interferons (IFNs), the concentration of tyrosine-phosphorylated STAT1 (YP-STAT1), which drives the expression of a large number of genes, increases quickly but then decreases over a period of several hours. Because the STAT1 gene is activated by YP-STAT1, IFNs stimulate a large increase in the concentration of unphosphorylated STAT1 (U-STAT1) that persists for several days. To test the significance of high U-STAT1 expression, we increased its concentration exogenously in the absence of IFN treatment. In response, the expression of many immune regulatory genes (e.g., IFI27, IFI44, OAS, and BST2) was increased. In human fibroblasts or mammary epithelial cells treated with low concentrations of IFN-β or IFN-γ, the expression of the same genes increased after 6 h and continued to increase after 48 or 72 h, long after the concentration of YP-STAT1 had returned to basal levels. Consistent with its activity as a transcription factor, most U-STAT1 was present in the nuclei of these cells before IFN treatment, and the fraction in nuclei increased 48 h after treatment with IFN. We conclude that the nuclear U-STAT1 that accumulates in response to IFNs maintains or increases the expression of a subset of IFN-induced genes independently of YP-STAT1, and that many of the induced proteins are involved in immune regulation.
Continuous and discrete Mexican hat wavelet transforms on manifolds

This paper systematically studies the well-known Mexican hat wavelet (MHW) on manifold geometry, including its derivation, properties, transforms, and applications. The MHW is rigorously derived from the heat kernel by taking the negative first-order derivative with respect to time. As a solution to the heat equation, it has a clear initial condition: the Laplace-Beltrami operator. Following a popular methodology in mathematics, we analyze the MHW and its transforms from a Fourier perspective. By formulating Fourier transforms of bivariate kernels and convolutions, we obtain its explicit expression in the Fourier domain, which is a scaled differential operator continuously dilated via heat diffusion. The MHW is localized in both space and frequency, which enables space-frequency analysis of input functions. We defined its continuous and discrete transforms as convolutions of bivariate kernels, and propose a fast method to compute convolutions by Fourier transform. To broaden its application scope, we apply the MHW to graphics problems of feature detection and geometry processing.
Impact strength of polymers: 1. The effect of thermal treatment and residual stress

The effect of thermal annealing and quenching on the notched Izod impact strength of several polymers has been studied. Primary emphasis was placed on polycarbonate, but ABS, PVC, polysulfone, and polymethylmethacrylate were also studied. It was determined that residual stresses created by thermal quenching from above the glass transition temperature can have a great effect on impact strength for the polycarbonate, PVC, and polysulfone polymers studied. In fact, it is shown that the thickness transition observed in impact strength for polycarbonates is governed by the residual stresses and not by thickness. In polycarbonates, quenched sheets up to 3/8 in. in thickness have shown impact strengths of 18 ft-lb/in. whereas sheets 1/8 in. in thickness can be embrittled by annealing, showing an impact strength of 2 ft-lb/in. However, it has been shown that this embrittlement results from the absence of residual stress. Residual stresses having maximum values up to 3000 psi (in Compression) have been determined at the polycarbonate sheet surface using birefringence measurement techniques. The existence of these compressive stresses is postulated to restrict the extent of craze growth at the notch tip, and the impact specimen can yield rather than fail in a brittle manner if the stress state is sufficient.
Bilateral middle cerebral artery occlusions in neurocysticercosis.

Bilateral hemispheric strokes in a young adult are very rare. We describe a case of neurocysticercosis in a young male with bilateral middle cerebral artery occlusions.Axial tomographic imaging revealed lesions compatible with cysticerci adjacent to each middle cerebral artery initial segment, and occlusion of both arteries at that level was demonstrated by angiography. Extensive medical workup disclosed no other risk factors for stroke.Neurocysticercosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of stroke in a young patient.
Dynamic Tree Bitmap for IP Lookup and Update

We propose a data structure-dynamic tree bitmap-for the representation of dynamic IP router tables that must support very high lookup and update rates. In fact, the dynamic tree bitmap is able to support updates at the same rate as lookups and is very competitive with other structures-tree bitmap and BaRT-proposed earlier for dynamic tables. Although the dynamic tree bitmap requires more memory than is required by the tree bitmap and BaRT structures, the required memory remains reasonable. The real value of our structure is its ability to support a very high update rate.
Gradual Translocation of Spatial Correlates of Neuronal Firing in the Hippocampus toward Prospective Reward Locations

In a continuous T-maze alternation task, CA1 complex-spike neurons in the hippocampus differentially fire as the rat traverses overlapping segments of the maze (i.e., the stem) repeatedly via alternate routes. The temporal dynamics of this phenomenon were further investigated in the current study. Rats learned the alternation task from the first day of acquisition and the differential firing pattern in the stem was observed accordingly. More importantly, we report a phenomenon in which spatial correlates of CA1 neuronal ensembles gradually changed from their original firing locations, shifting toward prospective goal locations in the continuous T-maze alternation task. The relative locations of simultaneously recorded firing fields, however, were preserved within the ensemble spatial representation during this shifting. The within-session shifts in preferred firing locations in the absence of any changes in the environment suggest that certain cognitive factors can significantly alter the location-bound coding scheme of hippocampal neurons.
Aging is associated with elevated muscle triglyceride content and increased insulin-stimulated fatty acid uptake.

The purpose of the present study was to examine the utilization of fatty acids (FA) and muscle substrates by skeletal muscle in young, middle-aged, and old adult rats under hyperglycemic and hyperi...
Allostatic load is associated with symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Objectives: To further explore the relationship between chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and allostatic load (AL), we conducted a computational analysis involving 43 patients with CFS and 60 nonfatigued, healthy controls (NF) enrolled in a population-based case–control study in Wichita (KS, USA). We used traditional biostatistical methods to measure the association of high AL to standardized measures of physical and mental functioning, disability, fatigue and general symptom severity. We also used nonlinear regression technology embedded in machine learning algorithms to learn equations predicting various CFS symptoms based on the individual components of the allostatic load index (ALI). Methods: An ALI was computed for all study participants using available laboratory and clinical data on metabolic, cardiovascular and hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis factors. Physical and mental functioning/impairment was measured using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36); current fatigue was measured using the 20-item multidimensional fatigue inventory (MFI); frequency and intensity of symptoms was measured using the 19-item symptom inventory (SI). Genetic programming, a nonlinear regression technique, was used to learn an ensemble of different predictive equations rather just than a single one. Statistical analysis was based on the calculation of the percentage of equations in the ensemble that utilized each input variable, producing a measure of the ‘utility’ of the variable for the predictive problem at hand. Traditional biostatistics methods include the median and Wilcoxon tests for comparing the median levels of subscale scores obtained on the SF-36, the MFI and the SI summary score. Results: Among CFS patients, but not controls, a high level of AL was significantly associated with lower median values (indicating worse health) of bodily pain, physical functioning and general symptom frequency/intensity. Using genetic programming, the ALI was determined to be a better predictor of these three health measures than any
Geographic Information System–Based Community-Level Method to Evaluate the Influence of Built Environment on Traffic Crashes

Most current research analyzing traffic crashes is done at either the spot level or the regional level. Less attention is placed at the community level. In addition, the effects of changes in land use, population growth, and transportation networks on community traffic safety have not been systematically studied. Although a number of studies have defined some variables to describe the influence of the built environment on traffic crashes, no research has looked at this problem through a comprehensive framework of relevant built-environment variables. This study explored a geographic information system-based community-level method to understand the effects of the built environment on traffic crashes. The census block group was selected as the analysis unit for the study. The framework of D transportation variables, including the dimensions of density, diversity, design, destination accessibility, and distance to transit, was used to characterize the built environment. The crash and built-environment data w...
Advances in satellite sea surface temperature measurement and oceanographic applications

Satellite techniques for measurement of sea surface temperature (SST) are reviewed briefly, and a discussion of satellite SST applications and recent research in oceanography is provided. These applications include the areas of climate, mesoscale oceanography, and fisheries. Examples given focus mainly on the Pacific and California Current regions. Satellite SST data are currently used operationally for fisheries applications and, in conjunction with in situ data, are providing new insights into mesoscale oceanographic phenomena. Requirements for sensor precision and calibration accuracy are more stringent in air-sea interaction studies and climate research, thus satellite data have gained only qualified acceptance for these applications. Improvements in future satellite instruments, more comprehensive in situ sensor deployments, and better data management procedures should eventually satisfy most oceanography and climate SST requirements.
Antagonistic Interactions among Marine Bacteria Impede the Proliferation of Vibrio cholerae

Changes in global climate have raised concerns about the emergence and resurgence of infectious diseases. Vibrio cholerae is a reemerging pathogen that proliferates and is transported on marine particles. Patterns of cholera outbreaks correlate with sea surface temperature increases, but the underlying mechanisms for rapid proliferation of V. cholerae during ocean warming events have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that autochthonous marine bacteria impede the spread of V. cholerae in the marine environment. It was found that some marine bacteria are capable of inhibiting the growth of V. cholerae on surfaces and that bacterial isolates derived from pelagic particles show a greater frequency of V. cholerae inhibition than free-living bacteria. Vibrio cholerae was less susceptible to antagonism at higher temperatures, such as those measured during El Nino-Southern Oscilliation and monsoonal events. Using a model system employing green fluorescent protein-labeled bacteria, we found that marine bacteria can directly inhibit V. cholerae colonization of particles. The mechanism of inhibition in our model system was linked to the biosynthesis of andrimid, an antibacterial agent. Antibiotic production by the model antagonistic strain decreased at higher temperatures, thereby explaining the increased competitiveness of V. cholerae under warmer conditions. These findings suggest that bacterium-bacterium antagonism is a contributing mechanism in regulating the proliferation of V. cholerae on marine particles.
Truncated-Newton training algorithm for neurocomputational viscoplastic model

We present an estimate approach to compute the viscoplastic behavior of a polymer matrix composite under different thermomechanical environments. This investigation incorporates computational neural network as the tool for determining the creep behavior of the composite. We propose a new second-order learning algorithm for training the multilayer networks. Training in the neural network is generally specified as the minimization of an appropriate error function with respect to parameters of the network (weights and learning rates) corresponding to excitory and inhibitory connections. We propose here a technique for error minimization based on the use of the truncated Newton (TN) large-scale unconstrained minimization technique with quadratic convergence rate. This technique offers a more sophisticated use of the gradient information compared to simple steepest descent or conjugate gradient methods. In this work we briefly specify the necessary details for implementing the TN method for training the neural networks that predicts the viscoplastic behavior of the polymeric composite. We provide comparative experimental results and explicit model results to verify the effectiveness of the neural networks-based model. These results verify the superiority of the present approach compared to the explicit modeling scheme. Moreover, the present study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of introducing the TN method, with quadratic convergence rate, to the field of neural networks.
First report of black rot of carrots caused by Alternaria radicina in Michigan.

In April 2005, an Alternaria sp. was isolated from carrot (Daucus carota) roots harvested in the fall of 2004 and held at 1 to 3°C in a storage facility in Newaygo County, MI. The pathogen was readily isolated on water agar from root tissue exhibiting grayish black, sunken lesions. Morphological characteristics were noted 5 to 7 days after single-conidium cultures were established on potato dextrose agar (3). Sixteen Alternaria sp. isolates were recovered. Cultures were dark olive brown, and conidia were pigmented, ellipsoidal, and produced singly or in chains of two. Conidia were 35 to 45 μm long and 15 to18 μm in diameter, usually with three to eight transverse and one to four longitudinal septa. Pathogenicity of isolates was tested on carrot roots in the laboratory and carrot seedlings (cv. Goliath) in the greenhouse. In the laboratory, four surface-sterilized, whole carrot roots were sprayed until runoff with 2 × 106 conidia/ml of each isolate and incubated at 23 to 25°C in a moist chamber for 10 days...
An energy efficient wireless communication mechanism for sensor node cluster heads

This paper presents an efficient mechanism to achieve significant energy savings in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks such as HPWREN. Environmental sensors are typically located in remote and hard-to-reach locations far from the main high-bandwidth data links. Therefore the sensed data needs to be routed through multiple hops before reaching the backbone. The routing is done by battery-powered nodes using license free radios such as 802.11. In this context, minimizing energy consumption is critical to maintaining operational data links. We propose a distributed low-power scheduling algorithm that limits the number of active nodes and allows a large portion of nodes to sleep. The algorithm works in a completely distributed manner, requiring handshaking only when a node enters and exits the network. Routing of packets relies on a dynamically changing backbone of nodes. The nodes of the backbone provide connectivity and are responsible for delivering the packets to the proper destinations. The proposed solution sits on top of the unmodified MAC layer so that legacy network devices can be used, and expensive hardware/software modifications are avoided. Thus our solution is cheap yet easily deployable. Our results show up to 60% energy savings per battery operated node while maintaining efficient data delivery.
Virtual Engineering Approach to Developing Selective Harvest Technologies

Agricultural crop residues (e.g., straw and stover) are a current focus for bioenergy feedstocks, with new technologies being developed to improve the economics of bioenergy production. Among the emerging technologies focused on feedstock engineering is the selective harvest concept. Due to the complexity of the biomass separations required for addressing the challenges and requirements of selective harvest, high fidelity models and advanced experimental methods that allow observation and measurement of the physical system are needed. These models and methods were developed and include computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling to simulate the cleaning shoe of a grain combine and a particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique to quantitatively and qualitatively characterize the cleaning shoe performance. While these techniques alone can be sufficient engineering and analysis tools for developing selective harvest technologies, this paper presents a new methodology, Virtual Engineering (VE), that integrates the CFD and PIV data into a virtual environment, where the data is coupled with the geometric model of a grain combine to provide a virtual representation of the cleaning shoe performance. Using VE visualization capabilities, the CFD and PIV data can be viewed in the context of the physical system for an interactive evaluation of characteristics and performance. This paper also discusses the concepts of additional VE tools that are being developed to provide necessary visualization, simulation and integration functionality.
Oncogenes and tumor suppressors in the molecular pathogenesis of acute promyelocytic leukemia

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is associated with reciprocal chromosomal translocations always involving the retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARalpha) gene on chromosome 17 and variable partner genes (X genes) on distinct chromosomes. RARalpha fuses to the PML gene in the vast majority of APL cases, and in a few cases to the PLZF, NPM, NuMA and Stat5b genes, respectively, leading to the generation of RARalpha-X: and X:-RARalpha fusion genes. Both fusion proteins can exert oncogenic functions through their ability to interfere with the activities of X and RARalpha proteins. Here, it will be discussed in detail how an extensive biochemical analysis as well as a systematic in vivo genetic approach in the mouse has allowed the definition of the multiple oncogenic activities of PML-RARalpha, and how it has become apparent that this oncoprotein is able to impair RARalpha at the transcription level and the tumor suppressive function of the PML protein.
Source/Drain Engineering for Parasitic Resistance Reduction for Germanium p-MOSFETs

A reduction of parasitic resistance is presented with incorporation of preamorphization implantation (PAI) and self-aligned Cu3Ge in the source/drain region for germanium p-MOSFETs. Full activation of boron in the amorphous layer can be obtained during solid-phase epitaxial growth, and a concentration as high as 4 x 1020/cm3 is achieved. This nonthermal equilibrium concentration is maintained during the subsequent Cu3Ge formation. Cu3Ge is adopted as a contact metal in germanium p-MOSFETs for the first time, due to its superior electrical properties (6.8 muOmegaldrcm for resistivity and ~1 x 10-7 Omega cm2 on p-type germanium for specific contact resistance). The fabricated p+/n diode yields a five order of magnitude between forward and reverse currents, which can be attributed to the reduction in parasitic resistance. The low reverse current mitigates concerns of possible deep-level traps introduced by copper. It also confirms the nonexistence of extended defects created by PAI as a result of the unique role of vacancies in germanium. With high dopant concentrations achieved by PAI and low resistance of Cu3Ge, excellent MOSFET characteristics are demonstrated in self-aligned Cu3Ge p-MOSFETs. A 15% mobility enhancement over Si universal mobility and a 60% parasitic resistance reduction are achieved.
SOUTH KOREAN WOMEN WORKERS' LABOR RESISTANCE IN THE ERA OF EXPORT-ORIENTED INDUSTRIALIZATION, 1970-1980*

This paper examines the structural forces behind South Korean women workers’ labor activism in the 1970s, an era of rapid export-oriented industrialization. Most of the labor strikes initiated by women occurred in the labor-intensive manufacturing sector, and they were in sharp contrast to the overall labor quiescence of male workers during the same period. The experiences of South Korean women refute widely held assumptions about the docility of Asian women workers. This case study suggests that women rebel when their lives undergo drastic changes under a set of antagonistic structural transformations. Women dialectically interact with the capitalist-patriarchal structure as conscious human agents, and the result of such interaction is their gender- and class-based collective resistance.
A semi-empirical model for the generation of dose distributions produced by a scanning electron beam.

Abstract There are linear accelerators (Sagittaire and Saturne accelerators produced by Compagnie Generale de Radioiogie (CGR/MeV) Corporation) which produce broad, flat electron fields by magnetically scanning the relatively narrow electron beam as it emerges from the accelerator vaccum system. A semi-empirical model, which mimics the scanning action of this type of accelerator, was developed for the generation of dose distributions in homogeneous media. The model employs the dose distributions of the scanning electron beams. These were measured with photographic film in a polystyrene phantom by turning of the magnetic scanning system. The mean deviation of calculated from measured dose distributions is about 0.2 % , a few points have deviations as large as 2–4 % inside of the 50 % isodose curve, but less than 8 % outside of the 50 % isodose curve. The model has been used to generate the electron beam library required by a modified version of a commercially-available computerized treatment-planning system. (The RAD-8 treatment planning system was purchased from the Digital Equipment Corporation. It is currently available from Electronic Music Industries (EMI), Ltd.)
Supporting effective interaction with tabletop groupware

This workshop position paper describes our prior and ongoing research on horizontal computing systems, which is focused on understanding how interactive tables can effectively support co-located computer-supported collaborative work. We describe our recent contributions in the areas of multi-user coordination policies for interactive tables, using audio as a means of supplementing a tabletop display with private information, and exploring appropriate graphical layouts for horizontal interfaces. We also discuss our ongoing work in developing cooperative tabletop gestures and evaluating the potential of tabletop computing for educational activities.
CPA Liability: A Crisis Of Confidence? Is The Auditor A Watchdog Or A Bloodhound?

The recent problems with the financial status of Enron bring to mind when an accountant is liable for his or her work and to whom that liability can be directed. This paper analyzes most causes of action (rights to file a lawsuit) which can be claimed against an accountant. Most liability seems to stem from the auditing functions, but it can flow from a number of other causes as well. While the liability to the client is fairly straight forward, liability to third parties can be more treacherous. Among the legal principles on which liability can attach covered herein are breach of contract, negligence, negligent misrepresentation, intentional misrepresentation, unfair or deceptive trade practices, liability for incorrect tax returns, erroneous business advice, federal and state securities exchange acts, statutes of limitations, policy factors affecting court decisions, and damages.
The Nasal Nitric Oxide Response to External Acoustic Energy: A Pilot Study of Sampling Dynamics

Background: The paranasal sinuses serve as a reservoir of nitric oxide (NO), contributing to baseline nasal NO (nNO) levels. nNO has also been shown to increase transiently with humming, a response that may be blunted in severe rhinosinusitis. Blunting of the acoustically-induced nNO transient (“spike”) has been proposed as a screening test for osteomeatal complex (OMC) obstruction in sinusitis. Preparatory to conducting a clinical evaluation study, to eliminate variation in patient effort during this maneuver, we evaluated the use of external acoustic energy—in place of humming—to elicit nNO transients, documenting the effects of varying stimulus amplitude and gas sampling rates. Methods: Non-smoking, non-asthmatic subjects with no history of chronic sinusitis or nasal polyposis underwent nNO measurements in triplicate under: (1) control (quiet) conditions, and (2) with 128 Hz external acoustic energy. In Experiment 1, twelve subjects were exposed to two different intensities of external acoustic energy at 3 L/min sampling rate. In Experiment 2, a subset of nine subjects was sampled with and without acoustic stimulation at three different gas sampling rates (1, 2, and 3 L/min). Results: Experiment 1: Subjects, as a group, showed intensity-related increases in nNO with increasing acoustic amplitude (p < 0.01). Experiment 2: independently, both applied acoustic energy and lower nasal gas sampling rates increased measured nNO levels (p < 0.05 to p < 0.0001). Longitudinally, baseline (quiet) nNO obtained on a repeated basis in the two experiments (n = 9) was highly reproducible (R2 = 0.84; p < 0.001), and acoustically-stimulated nNO was moderately so (R2 = 0.50; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Application of external acoustic energy is a practical alternative to humming for mobilizing NO from the paranasal sinuses, and could be more objectively applied in any future validation studies involving clinical sinusitis and/or OMC obstruction.
Cooperation on Counterterrorism between the Philippines and United States under the Arroyo Administration (2001-2009)

This paper examines relations between the Philippines and US in the context of GWOT which was considered as a central feature of US foreign policy under the Bush administration. The first part shows the convergence in the goals and strategies of the two countries that enabled the partnership on counterterrorism to foster. The second part highlights the efforts of the Arroyo administration to address terrorism and the significant contributions of the US to the counterterrorism campaign. The discussion seeks to identify the gains and setbacks of President Arroyo’s move to support the GWOT strategy. The last part explores recent developments on counterterrorism cooperation between the two countries.
Molecular Imaging: The New Frontier in Neurotoxicology

The use of molecular imaging techniques in neurotoxicology research is currently lacking. There are a small number of case reports and long-term epidemiological studies in which modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to assess the effect of neurotoxicant exposure on brain volume or magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) is used to examine the effect of heavy metal exposure on brain metabolites. Despite these efforts, the application of other neuroimaging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET) in neurotoxicology has been limited in both clinical studies and experimental animals. However, it is known that a large percentage of neurotoxicant-induced neurological impairments are mediated through alterations of neurotransmitter systems that are amenable for studies using PET and single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT). In this chapter, the feasibility and value of using these powerful state-of-the-art neuroimaging modalities to assess neurotoxicant-induced changes in brain chemistry will be described. Molecular imaging of the brain holds tremendous promise for neurotoxicological research in the understanding of molecular mechanism and for risk assessment.
Public Drunkenness Statutes: An Insanity Defense

This article first focuses on the situation of the chronic alcoholic charged with public drunkenness and on judicial treatment of the special defense of chronic alcoholism. The analysis compares identifiable lines of judicial thought about the defense with the opinions and conclusions of medical, psychological and sociological experts. The article considers case law regarding the treatment of so-called "status crimes" and case law addressing conditions arguably diminishing individual criminal responsibility. Thereafter, utilizing common-law concepts of personal accountability, a chronic alcoholism defense to public drunlkenness is formulated.
Cultivating Capacity: Outcomes of a Statewide Support System for Prevention Coalitions

Although community coalitions are an increasingly popular mechanism for attempting to change community-wide health, the empirical evidence has been mixed at best. Technical Assistance (TA) efforts have emerged in greater scale in hopes of improving both programming quality as well as the coalition structures supporting such programs. However, this commitment to TA interventions has outstripped our knowledge of optimal ways to deliver such assistance, and its limitations. This study takes advantage of results from a state-wide technical assistance project that generated longitudinal data on 41 health-oriented coalitions. The following questions were addressed: What are the circumstances under which coalitions will utilize available assistance? What are the effects of technical assistance on intermediate community outcomes? The results suggested that coalitions with greater initial “capacity” used more TA. Coalitions with low utilization mentioned difficulty in identifying their TA needs as the sal...
Taxonomy, Immature Stages, and Bionomics of the South American Genera Perilimnia and Shannonia (Diptera: Sciomyzidae)1,2,3

A new species is described in each of the genera Perilimnia Becker (P. cineritia Zuska) and Shannonia Malloch (S. meridionalis Zuska). Redescriptions of the 2 species previously known and keys for identification of the adult flies in these genera are presented. Faunistic data and a distribution map are given for all 4 species. Descriptions and illustrations are presented of the eggs, 3 larval instars, and puparia of the 2 species that were reared, P. albifacies Becker and the newly described species of Shannonia. Larvae of the 2 reared species are predatory to parasitoid, or saprophagous, on aquatic pulmonate snails of the families Lymnaeidae, Physidae, and Planorbidae. Postembryonic development, larval feeding methods, seasonal aspects, habitats, mating, oviposition, and other ethological and ecological characteristics are discussed. Evidence from both adults and larvae indicates that Perilimnia and Shannonia are closely related, and that they should be placed in the subfamily Tetanocerinae.
MANAGEMENT OF CHRONIC RENAL FAILURE IN CHILDREN.

Dialysis and organ transplantation are not yet applicable in all cases of chronic renal failure in children, but a great deal can be done to help these young patients. Symptoms can be relieved and life prolonged. Appropriate measures should be instituted as soon as the pathophysiologic disorders associated with chronic renal failure are evident.
Preparation and Properties of FeS_2 Film Electrode from Electrodeposited Fe Film by Sulfuration

Iron films on Au substrate were prepared by electrodeposition.The iron sulfide films were synthesized by sulfurizing the Iron films with sulfur powder at 300°C.The crystal structure of the films was characterized by XRD.XRD patterns demonstrated that the iron sulfide film synthesized at 300°C is pyrite.Energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDAX) showed that the S/Fe ratio is 2.0.The thick of pyrite film was shown to be 5.04μm by calculation from the electric quantity of electrodeposited iron.The thin-film battery was characterized by a charge–discharge measurements.The film electrode of Pyrite has a reversible capacity of 114μAh cm-2·μm-1 at room temperature.
Study on the non-ignition self-destruction explosion hazard of SRM

Based on the self-destruction explosion characteristics and self-de-struction simulation test results of medium energy solid propellant rocket motor ,with reference of the development experience of SRMs, the non-ignition self-destruction explosion hazard calculative method of medium energy SRM was put forward .This method was used for calculation and analysis of the explosion TNT equivalent value, the fragment flying distance and the safe distance of blast wave overpressure when the three stages SRMs were destructed because of the ignition failuare. The results can give a reference to the self-destruction explosion hazard analysis of a missile.
On Relations between Judicial Power and Administrative Power——In view of administration litigation

There exists relations between judicial power and administrative power in procedure of administration litigation,it is unevadable problem for administration litigation that how handles relations between judicial power and administrative power.
Insights into Protein Structure and Dynamics by Ultraviolet and Visible Resonance Raman Spectroscopy.

Raman spectroscopy is a form of vibrational spectroscopy based on inelastic scattering of light. In resonance Raman spectroscopy, the wavelength of the incident light falls within an absorption band of a chromophore, and this overlap of excitation and absorption energy greatly enhances the Raman scattering efficiency of the absorbing species. The ability to probe vibrational spectra of select chromophores within a complex mixture of molecules makes resonance Raman spectroscopy an excellent tool for studies of biomolecules. In this Current Topic, we discuss the type of molecular insights obtained from steady-state and time-resolved resonance Raman studies of a prototypical photoactive protein, rhodopsin. We also review recent efforts in ultraviolet resonance Raman investigations of soluble and membrane-associated biomolecules, including integral membrane proteins and antimicrobial peptides. These examples illustrate that resonance Raman is a sensitive, selective, and practical method for studying the struc...
Complexation of Enzymes or Whole Cells with Collagen

Usually the most important criterion in selecting the carrier material and process for enzyme immobilization is that of economy. Collagen was selected with this idea in mind, because hide pulp is priced in the range of $0.50 per lb. Employing this material, we have been investigating different approaches to achieve enzyme immobilization on collagen with the goal of developing simple and economical processes. We have reported the processes of impregnation of enzyme (1–7) into a preformed collagen membrane and electrocodeposition of enzyme codispersed with collagen to form a membrane complex on an electrode (8). As shown on the left side of Fig. 1, the process to be introduced here is a newly developed method of immobilization through direct macromolecular complexation.
Technology and Rationing in Health Care

According to most economists, the adoption of new technology has accounted for the largest increase in health care costs between the post-World War II period and the early 1990s [Joseph P. Newhouse, “Medical Care Costs: How Much Welfare Loss?” Journal of Economic Perspectives, Summer 1992, pp. 3–21]. At the same time, technology has provided new sight and hearing capabilities, enhanced physicial mobility, and has added to the possibilities to extend and improve the quality of life. The increase in the costs of technology may mean considering ways to implicitly and explicitly ration health care services, some of which were introduced by new technology. This chapter, therefore, combines health care technology with the essential economics of health care rationing.
Ratchet rectification effect on the translocation of a flexible polyelectrolyte chain

We report a three dimensional Langevin dynamics simulation of a uniformly charged flexible polyelectrolyte chain, translocating through an asymmetric narrow channel with periodically varying cross sections under the influence of a periodic external electric field. When reflection symmetry of the channel is broken, a rectification effect is observed with a favored direction for the chain translocation. For a given volume of the channel unit and polymer length, the rectification occurs below a threshold frequency of the external periodic driving force. We have also observed that the extent of the rectification varies non-monotonically with increasing molecular weight and the strength of geometric asymmetry of the channel. Observed non-monotonicity of the rectification performance has been interpreted in terms of a competition between two effects arising from the channel asymmetry and change in conformational entropy. An analytical model is presented with predictions consistent with the simulation results.
Physicians-Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives Interactions and Conflict of Interest Challenges and Solutions

Physician-industry relationships have come a long way since serious debates began after a 1990 Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources report on the topic. On one side, the Sun Shine Act of 2007, now a part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act that mandates disclosure of payments and gifts to the physicians, has injected more transparency into the relationships, and on the other side, numerous voluntary self-regulation guidelines have been instituted to protect patients. However, despite these commendable efforts, problem persists. Taking the specific case of physician-pharmaceutical sales representative (PSR) interactions, also called as detailing, where the PSRs lobby physicians to prescribe their brand drugs while bringing them gifts on the side, an August 2016 article concluded that gifts as small as $20 are associated with higher prescribing rates. A close examination reveals the intricacies of the relationships. Though PSRs ultimately want to push their drugs, more than gifts, they also bring the ready-made synthesized knowledge about the drugs, something the busy physicians, starving for time to read the literature themselves, find hard to let go. Conscientious physicians are not unaware of the marketing tactics. And yet, physicians too are humans. It is also the nature of their job that requires an innate cognitive dissonance to be functional in medical practice, a trait that sometimes works against them in case of PSR interactions. Besides, PSRs too follow the dictates of the shareholders of their companies. Therefore, if they try to influence physicians using social psychology, it is a job they are asked to do. The complexity of relationships creates conundrums that are hard to tackle. This commentary examines various dimensions of these relationships. In the end, a few suggestions are offered as a way forward.
Modeling binary familial data using Gaussian copula

ABSTRACTModeling binary familial data has been a challenging task due to the dependence among family members and the constraints imposed on the joint probability distribution of the binary responses. This paper investigates some useful familial dependence structures and proposes analyzing binary familial data using Gaussian copula model. Advantages of this approach are discussed as well as some computational details. An numerical example is also presented with an aim to show the capability of Gaussian copula model in more sophisticated data analysis.
Reconciliation of Type 2 Diabetes Remission Rates in Studies of Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass

OBJECTIVE Bariatric surgery may induce remission of type 2 diabetes in obese patients. However, estimates of remission rates reported in the literature range from 25 to 81%, contributing to the uncertainty patients and physicians both face as they assess treatment options. This analysis attempts to reconcile the seemingly disparate rates of diabetes remission reported in studies of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery. It examines variation in the methodologies used to derive the estimates and proposes outcomes that should be reported by all studies. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A literature review yielded 10 large (n > 100), recent (index surgery since 2000) studies of diabetes remission after RYGB. These studies differed in definitions of remission (partial vs. complete), lengths of follow-up (1 year vs. ≥3 years), reported outcomes (cumulative vs. prevalent remission), and risks of attrition bias. RESULTS Reported rates of partial remission were 10–30 percentage points higher than rates of complete remission. Study duration explained 69% of the variability in cumulative remission rates, plateauing at 3 years. Adjustment for attrition increased the explained variability to 87%. Attrition-adjusted, 3-year cumulative, complete remission rates ranged from 63 to 65%; however, this does not account for relapse. Attrition-adjusted, 3-year prevalent complete remission rates that accounted for relapse were 23%. CONCLUSIONS Variations in reported rates of diabetes remission after RYGB are primarily related to definitions and study duration. Future studies should report both cumulative and prevalent remission to aid decision making and more easily compare studies.
Early Red Spruce Restoration Research by the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station, 1922–1954

This photograph (Fig. 1), taken in June of 1923 by E.S. Ship, depicts a red spruce (Picea rubens) stand with advanced reproduction near the summit of Mount Mitchell in the Pisgah National Forest of North Carolina. According to Hopkins (1899), the original extent of red spruce encompassed as much as 1,500,000 ac in the southern Appalachians; by 1895, this had been reduced to 225,000 ac. To help restore this ecosystem, the Appalachian Forest Experiment Station (AFES) was established in 1921. Headquartered in Asheville, North Carolina, the AFES covered an area of 120 million ac in Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, and North Carolina and parts of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. Earl Frothingham was the first AFES director, and one of his first hires was Clarence Korstian. Red spruce studies brought Korstian to cutover lands owned by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company in West Virginia and Champion Paper land in North Carolina (Maunder 1969).
Emergency Department Use in the Perinatal Period: An Opportunity for Early Intervention.

Study objective We characterize emergency department (ED) utilization among perinatal women and identify differences in risk factors and outcomes between women who use versus do not use the ED during the perinatal period. Methods This is a retrospective cross-sectional study comparing patients who used the ED versus did not use the ED during the perinatal period. Patient data were collected from medical chart review and postpartum interviews. Results Of the 678 participants, 218 (33%) had at least 1 perinatal ED visit. Women who used the ED were more likely than those who did not to be adolescent (relative risk [RR] 2.23; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38 to 3.63), of minority race (RR 1.94; 95% CI 1.46 to 2.57), and Medicaid insured (RR 2.14; 95% CI 1.71 to 2.67). They were more likely to smoke prenatally (RR 3.42; 95% CI 2.34 to 4.99), to use recreational drugs prenatally (RR 3.53; 95% CI 1.78 to 7.03), and to have experienced domestic abuse (RR 1.78; 95% CI 1.12 to 2.83). They were more likely to have delayed entry to prenatal care (RR 2.01; 95% CI 1.46 to 2.77) and to experience postpartum depression (RR 2.97; 95% CI 1.90 to 4.64). Their infants were nearly twice as likely to be born prematurely (RR 1.92; 95% CI 1.07 to 3.47). Conclusion Results highlight that pregnant patients using the ED are a high-risk, vulnerable population. Routine ED screening and linkage of this vulnerable population to early prenatal care and psychosocial interventions should be considered as a public health strategy worth investigating.
Unusual island formations of Ir on Ge (111) studied by STM

Abstract Island formation on the Ir/Ge(111) surface is studied using ultrahigh vacuum scanning tunneling microscopy. Ir was deposited at room temperature onto a Ge (111) substrate with coverages between 0.5 and 2.0 monolayers (ML). The samples were annealed to temperatures between 550 and 800 K, and then cooled prior to imaging. With 1.0 ML Ir coverage, at annealing temperatures 650–750 K, round islands form at locations where domain boundaries of the substrate reconstruction intersect. Both the substrate and the islands display a ( 3 x 3 ) R 30 ∘ reconstruction. Additionally, a novel surface formation is observed where the Ir gathers along the antiphase domain boundaries between competing surface domains of the Ge surface reconstruction. This gives the appearance of the Ir in the domain boundaries forming pathways between different islands. The islands formed at higher annealing temperatures resulted in larger island sizes, which is evidence of Ostwald ripening. We present a model for the islands and the pathways which is consistent with our observations.
Use of a Mobile BIM Application Integrated with Asset Tracking Technology Over a Cloud

Over the last decade, BIM and tracking have been explored by many researchers. Despite the extensive efforts in these domains, they have been mostly individually studied, and limited effort was made to fully integrate them into a single system. This study proposes a new development of a virtual mobile BIM platform for an on-site application by integrating the three systems: Building information modeling (BIM), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and inertial measurement units (IMU). The proposed system is created by 1) developing a low-cost tracking system using BLE and IMU, 2) developing a mobile BIM platform, and 3) integrating the developed components over a cloud. The tracking system is comprised of BLE-sensors, IMU sensors, and map knowledge. The mobile BIM platform is developed through data extraction from BIM and then integration into the tracking system. The study conducts a field experiment to demonstrate the capability of the system with respect to the real-time tracking information, the corresponding virtual BIM view, and communication. The test results show that the integration of the system is successful between the tracking system and the mobile BIM system, and that a new on-site communication tool using BIM and tracking is successfully implemented. In conclusion, the study advances the use of BIM and tracking with system integration that can improve the overall project management and coordination.