cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated Application Offloading through Ant-inspired Decision-Making

-The explosive trend of smartphone usage as the most effective and convenient communication tools of human life in recent years make developers build ever more complex smartphone applications. Gaming, navigation, video editing, augmented reality, and speech recognition applications require considerable computational power and energy. Although smart- phones have a wide range of capabilities - GPS, WiFi, cameras - their inherent limitations - frequent disconnections, mobility - and significant constraints - size, lower weights, longer battery life - make difficult to exploiting their full potential to run complex applications. Several research works have proposed solutions in application offloading domain, but few ones concerning the highly changing properties of the environment. To address these issues, we realize an automated application offloading middleware, ACOMMA, with dynamic and re-adaptable decision-making engine. The decision engine of ACOMMA is based on an ant- inspired algorithm.
The patient journey with proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors in community practice

Background Trials have demonstrated that proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are effective as an adjunct to statin therapy, but access and cost issues have limited their use in community practice. Objective The aim of the study was to better understand patients' experiences when trying to obtain, fill, and use PCSK9 inhibitor therapy in community practice. Methods We conducted a patient survey to evaluate patient experiences with PCSK9 inhibitors including medication initiation, indication for treatment, insurance approval status, medication persistence, and reason for discontinuation. The survey was emailed to 4740 adults who used a patient access support program. Results Overall, 1327 of 4740 adults completed the survey (28.0% response rate). Of those, 75.0% were aged >60 years, 52.8% were male, and 92.4% were White. At the time of PCSK9 inhibitor prescription, 70.2% were not on a statin (with 84.4% of those not on a statin reporting statin intolerance). Overall, 74.6% of patients found the drug approval process to be "somewhat" or "very" burdensome. Among n = 1216 patients who initiated treatment, 33.7% discontinued by the time of the survey, with 50.0% taking the drug for 1 to 6 months. Patient out-of-pocket costs were the leading reported reason for discontinuation. Conclusions Most PCSK9 inhibitor users in community practice were not on a statin, presumably because of statin intolerance. The drug approval process and costs continue to be strong reasons for lower initiation of PCSK9 agents, as well as higher discontinuation rates.
Scientific Bases of PRP Therapy

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a minimally invasive treatment modality that harnesses the body’s own regenerative potential and focuses it on an area of need to essentially “force” the body to repair what it failed to naturally. As it pertains to the field of pain management, PRP has shown a great deal of promise with musculoskeletal injuries (i.e., tendonitis, tendon/ligament tears, etc.) that traditionally fail to heal due to poor blood supply. The appeal of PRP as an alternative treatment option for those patients who had previously exhausted conservative medical management has grown in recent years despite a complete lack of insurance coverage. In this chapter, the evidence-based rationale for using PRP to treat musculoskeletal chronic pain will be discussed.
4X: A Hybrid Approach for Scaffolding Data Collection and Interest in Low-Effort Participatory Sensing

Participatory sensing systems in which people actively participate in the data collection process must account for both the needs of data contributors and the data collection goals. Existing approaches tend to emphasize one or the other, with opportunistic and directed approaches making opposing tradeoffs between providing convenient opportunities for contributors and collecting high-fidelity data. This paper explores a new, hybrid approach, in which collected data-even if low-fidelity initially-can provide useful information to data contributors and inspire further contributions. We realize this approach with 4X, a multi-stage data collection framework that first collects data opportunistically by requesting contributions at specific locations along users' routes and then uses collected data to direct users to locations of interest to make additional contributions that build data fidelity and coverage. To study the efficacy of 4X, we implemented 4X into LES, an application for collecting information about campus locations and events. Results from two field deployments (N = 95, N = 18) show that the 4X framework created 34% more opportunities for contributing data without increasing disruption, and yielded 49% more data by directing users to locations of interest. Our results demonstrate the value and potential of multi-stage, dynamic data collection processes that draw on multiple sources of motivation for data, and how they can be used to better meet data collection goals as data becomes available while avoiding unnecessary disruption.
Teaching NeuroImages: Spindle coma following cerebral herniation and pontine infarction.

A 67-year-old woman presented with bilateral subdural hematomas. After hematoma evacuation, she was unresponsive with extensor posturing and preserved brainstem reflexes. MRI (figure 1) revealed extensive posterior circulation infarction including the mid-pons, thought secondary to herniation and vascular compression. EEG (figure 2) revealed an unreactive background resembling normal N2 sleep (including spindles, K-complexes, and vertex waves) for >24 hours, diagnostic of spindle coma.1 Conditions implicated in spindle coma tend to disrupt the ascending arousal system at the brainstem and hypothalamic level, but spare the thalamus.1,2 Underlying etiology, extent of injury, and EEG reactivity provide more prognostic insight than spindle coma alone.1,2
Mechanical injuries of neurons induce tau mislocalization to dendritic spines and tau-dependent synaptic dysfunction.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is associated with repeated traumatic brain injuries (TBI) and is characterized by cognitive decline and the presence of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of the protein tau in patients’ brains. Here we provide direct evidence that cell-scale mechanical deformation can elicit tau abnormalities and synaptic deficits in neurons. Using computational modeling, we find that the early pathological loci of NFTs in CTE brains are regions of high deformation during injury. The mechanical energy associated with high-strain rate deformation alone can induce tau mislocalization to dendritic spines and synaptic deficits in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. These cellular changes are mediated by tau hyperphosphorylation and can be reversed through inhibition of GSK3β and CDK5 or genetic deletion of tau. Together, these findings identify a mechanistic pathway that directly relates mechanical deformation of neurons to tau-mediated synaptic impairments and provide a possibly exploitable therapeutic pathway to combat CTE.
Self-reported barriers to accessing infertility care: patient perspectives from urban gynecology clinics.

(1) To test the hypothesis that under-represented minority women, including Hispanic/Latina and African American or Black women, will be more likely to report greater socioeconomic and cultural barriers to infertility care compared with white women. (2) To identify gaps in knowledge that can guide future educational interventions. A cross-sectional survey was completed by 242 women, ages 18–44, at five gynecology clinics in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area from February 27, 2018, to February 25, 2019. Of the respondents, 61.4% identified as Hispanic/Latina, 24.5% as white, and 6.6% as Black or African American. Cost was the most commonly reported barrier to care (62.8%) regardless of race/ethnicity or insurance status. Only 8.9% of participants were aware of personal insurance coverage for infertility treatment. Compared with white patients, Hispanic/Latina patients were less likely to know if their own insurance covered infertility treatment: 14.3% vs 6.8%; aRR 0.36 (95% CI 0.17–0.74), after adjusting for a personal history of infertility. Cost was the most commonly reported barrier to care. Most women were unaware of their insurance coverage despite the state insurance mandate to cover infertility treatment in Massachusetts. Education and outreach will be instrumental in helping address disparities in access to care.
All-epitaxial long-range surface plasmon polariton structures with integrated active materials

We demonstrate all-epitaxial structures capable of supporting short- and long-range surface plasmon polariton (SRSPP and LRSPP) modes in the long-wave infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The SRSPP and LRSPP modes are bound to the interfaces of a buried heavily doped ( n + +) semiconductor layer and surrounding quantum-engineered type-II superlattice (T2SL) materials. The surrounding T2SLs are designed to allow optical transitions across the frequency dispersion of the SPP modes. We map the SPP dispersion in our structure using grating-coupled angle- and polarization-dependent reflection and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The epitaxial structures are analytically described using a simplified three-layer system ( T 2 SL / n + + / T 2 SL) and modeled using rigorous coupled wave analysis with excellent agreement to our experimental results. The presented structures offer the potential to serve as long-range interconnects or waveguides in all-epitaxial plasmonic/optoelectronic systems operating in the long-wave infrared.
One product, many patents: Imperfect intellectual property rights in the pharmaceutical industry

Economists’ standard notion of intellectual property rights considers a single patent per product, with a clearly defined scope, certain enforcement, and a fixed term of monopoly protection. Yet common across industries are “imperfect” intellectual property rights: More than one patent may cover a single product, with the scope and enforcement of each uncertain, contributing to an indeterminate period of monopoly protection. Using data on the pharmaceutical industry, I systematically document the presence of imperfect intellectual property rights and provide the first evidence on the extent to which they impact competition. In a sample of novel drugs, I show that roughly 70 percent of drugs are covered by multiple intellectual property rights. I offer evidence on two mechanisms by which the accumulation of such rights for a single drug may delay generic entry: by introducing a binding later patent expiration and by increasing uncertainty in the scope and enforceability of remaining patents. In an instrumental variables analysis, I determine that the accumulation of patents for a single drug product delays generic entry by over 2 years per drug (amounting to 17.5 percent of mean monopoly life), well beyond the expiration of the drug’s initial molecule patent. This research suggests large consequences for consumer welfare in terms of drug pricing and offers an important nuance for future work on optimal patent policy and innovation—that intellectual property rights are less rigid than we typically assume.
Dynamics of Field-Reversed-Configuration in SSX

The Field Reversed Configuration (FRC) is a novel high (3 magnetic confinement scheme, which has not been as extensively investigated compared to other schemes like the tokomak. The Swarthmore Spheromak Experiment (SSX) forms hybrid spheromak/FRCs using the merging spheromak technique. A soft x-ray detector and a Mach probe are valuable diagnostics, especially for measuring the various forms of energy that are released when the two spheromaks merge in a magnetic reconnect ion process. By comparing the soft x-ray detector data to simulated emission spectra, electron temperature can be inferred. This analysis yields Te = 30 ± 10 e V for SSX, where the large uncertainty reflects the uncertainty in the impurity content of SSX. There is found to be more heating, apparently due to more reconnection, when the merging spheromaks are of counter-helicity rather than when they are co-helicity. The Mach probe has measured azimuthal ion velocity, which is probably caused by the J x B force.
Acute Headache Diagnoses in Pregnancy: A 5 Year Registry Study (S51.004)

Objectives: To characterize demographics, clinical details, and diagnoses in pregnant women presenting with acute headache and referred for neurologic consultation. Background: Differentiating between primary and secondary headache is difficult in pregnancy, with scarce clinical series and a lack of guidelines to provide diagnostic strategies in this population. Methods: We conducted an IRB-approved retrospective study of pregnant women presenting with acute headache receiving neurological consultation at the Weiler Division, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY from 7/1/09 through 6/30/14. Results: The 140 women had a mean age of 29±6.4 years, and were mostly African-American (39.3[percnt]) or Hispanic (36.4[percnt]). Mean gravidity was 3.8±2.6, parity was 1.3±1.3, and gestational age was 28.2±8.5 weeks, with a third trimester (56.4[percnt]) presentation predominating. Neuroimaging was performed in 87.9[percnt] (MRI=78.6[percnt], MRV=59.3[percnt], MRA=53.6[percnt]). Diagnoses were divided into primary (65.0[percnt]) and secondary (35.0[percnt]) disorders. The most common primary disorder was migraine (59.3[percnt]); 37.1[percnt] had migraine without aura, 24.3[percnt] had migraine with aura, 21.4[percnt] had status migrainosus, and 5.7[percnt] had chronic migraine. The most common secondary disorders were preeclampsia/eclampsia (16.4[percnt]), posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (4.3[percnt]), and pituitary disease (3.6[percnt]). Primary vs secondary headache groups were similar in age, race, parity, gestational age, headache acuity, duration, severity, laterality, character, and associated features aside from phonophobia (59.3[percnt] vs 34.7[percnt], p=0.005). The secondary headache group more likely had hypertension (55.1[percnt] vs 8.8[percnt], p<0.0001), fever (8.2[percnt] vs 0.0[percnt], p=0.01), and an abnormal neurological examination (40.8[percnt] vs 30.7[percnt], p=0.06) and less likely had a past headache diagnosis (63.3[percnt] vs 86.8[percnt], p=0.001). Conclusions: Among pregnant women receiving inpatient neurologic consultation for headache, over one-third have a secondary disorder. Vigilance for secondary headache in pregnancy should be heightened, especially when previous headache is lacking and hypertension or fever are present. Clinical features may not adequately distinguish primary versus secondary headache, and a low neuroimaging threshold may be justified. Disclosure: Dr. Robbins has received personal compensation for activities with MedLink and Prova Education. Dr. Robbins has received personal compensation in an editorial capacity for Current Pain and Headache Reports. Dr. Farmakidis has nothing to disclose. Dr. Dayal has nothing to disclose. Dr. Lipton has received personal compensation for activities with Allergan, Inc., American Headache Society, Autonomic Technologies, Boston Scientific Corp., Bristol-Myers Squibb, CogniMed Inc., Colucid Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Company, eNeura Therape
Triplet-Repeat Transcripts: A Role for RNA in Disease

A group of baffling diseases, including myotonic dystrophy and Huntington9s disease, are caused by expansion of a triplet nucleotide sequence within certain genes in successive generations. A report in this week9s issue indicates a likely mechanism by which these repeated sequences alter cell physiology in myotonic dystrophy. In his commentary, Singer outlines the new results--that the excess repeats may inappropriately bind a splicing factor necessary for proper expression of muscle proteins--and discusses the possible application of these findings to other triplet-repeat diseases.
Women's rights in transition: the collision of feminist interest groups, religion and non‐governmental organizations in three Latin American countries

This article explores the roles and successes of feminist interest groups, religious interests and non-governmental organizations in promoting or blocking reproductive policies in three Andean countries—Chile, Ecuador and Peru. Access to reproductive services and facilities, such as birth control and elective abortion, in the transitional democracies of Latin America has remained as restricted as under authoritarian regimes. The issue is complicated by the involvement of ideologically driven domestic and foreign interests attempting to influence policy decisions. The political outcomes have significant implications for the nature of democracy and for women's representation across Latin America. The evidence shows that successes have been varied for all women's groups involved in the reproductive rights issue. The primary reason appears to be that, despite advances in political representation in the region, the more established religious interests and other countervailing forces have managed to maintain the status quo in the face of feminist interest group demands. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
PROSIM V a production system simulator

A production system simulator, called PROSIM V, is described that is capable of simulating a variety of realistic production environments. Its primary uses are: (1) as a teaching aid in both graduate and undergraduate production control courses, (2) as a research vehicle for evaluating theoretical concepts and procedures, and (3) as a training aid for persons engaged in industrial production control operations.
Lipogenic activation after nibbling and gorging in mice.

Lipogenic activation was studied in mice that had been restricted to a single large meal once a day rather than being allowed to eat at frequent intervals throughout the night. Mice were injected intravenously with (U-14C)glucose, and the flux of glucose C to total lipid fatty acids (TLFA) and to all "end products" was estimated from serial plasma glucose specific activities and measurements of incorporation of I4C into TLFA of hepatic and extrahepatic tissues. Tracer studies were carried out in mice fasted for 1 day and at various times after the mice ate one or two small test meals or a single large test meal. Test meals consisted of a fat-free, 58% glucose diet. The flux of glucose C to TLFA increased by an order of magnitude within an hour after mice nibbled a test meal for several minutes. After ingestion of two small test meals or a single large test meal, the flux of glucose C to TLFA increased from a fasting rate of 0.5 to 35 and 87 pg of glucose C/min/20 g body wt, respectively. Although trained meal eaters are thought to have abnormally increased lipogenesis, their lipo- genic response to a single test meal was the same as that pre- viously reported for untrained nibbling mice. Most of the newly synthesized fatty acids were found in extrahepatic tissues. Ingestion of a first test meal completely prevented the expected hyperglycemic response following ingestion of a sec- ond test meal even though the latter contained Over 10 times more glucose than that in the total body glucose pool.
The role of the obstetric caregiver in adoption

Abstract The role of the obstetric caregiver in adoption is important, multifaceted, and generally neglected. It involves not only delivering a healthy baby but supporting the transfer of parenthood from the procreating birthparents to the adopting parents. The caregiver must recognize the crisis precipitated by an unwanted and untimely pregnancy. If sufficiently skilled to provide counseling, the caregiver may explore the options of abortion, parenting, and adoption. Recognizing that a fair consideration of adoption is often overlooked in pregnancy counseling with misinformation about adoption common, it is important to correct inaccuracies without becoming an adoption advocate. Over the course of the pregnancy and postpartum, the obstetric caregiver can facilitate the grief usually felt by birthmothers and challenge the societal stigma against adoption they confront. The developmental issues brought by adolescent birthmothers will often require additional support for the complicated emotional and cognitive aspects of their reactions that make it more difficult for them to implement adoption plans. Finally, obstetric caregivers serve an important role in exploring adoption as a feasible option during an infertility consultation as well as supporting the participation of the prospective adopting couple during the pregnancy of a birthmother choosing open adoption.
Effective promotional strategy through decentralization

The suggestion to decentralize the planning of promotional strategy has been presented against the background of a national market, consisting of purchase decision makers who are influenced in their choices by different cultures, peculiar to the regions in which they operate. Thus, a separate promotional strategy for each region would appear to be warranted. The significance of this suggestion is further amplified by the experience of most firms of an uneven market share throughout the territories they serve. Other possible causes were presented, in addition to differences in regional cultures. The future growth of regional markets was brought out, as a further factor to indicate the potential importance of the article's main idea.
Agency Theory and Entry Barriers in Banking

Agency theory suggests that, in imperfect labor and capital markets, managers will seek to maximize their own utility at the expense of corporate shareholders. Indicators of such managerial behavior may include expense preferencing in which some factor costs are elevated above optimal levels needed for efficient production or avoidance of optimal risk positions that maximize wealth opportunities for stockholders. This study of more than 6400 banks finds that recent reductions in legal entry barriers have generated results generally consistent with agency theory with a lowering of noninterest operating expenses, increased employee productivity, increased acceptance of portfolio risk, and greater dividend rates to shareholders.
The Political Activity of Evangelical Clergy in the Election of 2000: A Case Study of Five Denominations

This article focuses on the political participation of ministers from five evangelical Protestant denominations that differ in theology, polity, and history. Despite such differences, these clergy respond to political influences in much the same fashion. We find that the standard theories of political participation have varying success in accounting for their political involvement. Sociodemographic explanations provide little help, but psychological engagement with politics has more explanatory power. Professional role orientations are the best predictors of actual participation. And the clergy who see moral reform issues as the most important confronting the country—and who hold conservative views on such issues—are most likely to become engaged. Finally, membership in Christian Right organizations serves to elicit more activity than might occur if ministers were left to internally motivated participation. Despite the emphasis on other contextual variables in some work on clerical politics, we find that communications exposures, congregational influences, and even the support of clerical colleagues have very limited independent effects on political involvement.
Prostaglandin release by the chick embryo heart is increased by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and by other cytochrome P-448 inducers

Abstract Exposure of chick embryos in ovo to cytochrome P-448 inducers 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 3,4,3′,4′-tetrachlorobiphenyl, 3,4,5,3′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl and β-napthoflavone, increased cardiac prostaglandins in vitro . The dose response relationships were biphasic with prostaglandin release increasing at the low doses and returning to basal levels at higher doses. Phenobarbital was ineffective. Increased cardiac prostaglandin release was detected at doses that induced hepatic 7-ethoxyresorufin deethylase (7-ER) but which were below the threshold for cardiac induction. The fall in prostaglandin release coincided with induction of cardiac 7-ER and therefore may be attributable to increased prostaglandin metabolism. These studies show that the P-450 system may interact with the arachidonic acid metabolizing system to increase PG release and that this effect may be part of the pleiotypic response to Ah-receptor activation.
Introduction of Gas-Chromatographic Samples to a Mass Spectrometer

Abstract Of the various physical and chemical methods commonly used for qualitative analysis of gas-chromatographic fractions, only mass spectrometry can be routinely used with samples as small as 10−8 to 10−10 g. However, full utilization of this sensitivity is possible only by proper selection of the method of introducing the samples, and the methods generally employed vary in their minimal identification requirement from 10−4 to 10−10 g. Each sampling technique has different merits. The advantages of the various collection methods are compared with the various direct-coupling methods. Examples are presented to illustrate the types of sample advantageously analyzed with each system.
Performance analysis, model development and validation with experimental data of an ICE-based micro-CCHP system

Abstract The ICE technology applied to micro-CHP is a mature technology, with certain equipment established in the market. The integration of chillers in micro-cogeneration systems can be used to develop micro-CCHP systems with high overall efficiencies and high potential for integration in buildings. Studies of the behavior of these machines are necessary to develop models that simulate the micro-CCHP system under different weather conditions in different building configurations. This paper presents a micro-CCHP with heat recovery based on a Honda gas engine. The system incorporates a heat pump to meet the need for air conditioning. To analyze the behavior of the tri-generation system and its capabilities, a fully functional prototype is built and tested in the laboratory under different operating modes. The obtained results from the experimental data reveal that the maximum electrical efficiency is 7.63% and it is obtained when the heat pump is off and engine is operating at low speed. The higher performance of the gas engine driven heat pump is 10.79% and it is achieved when the engine is running at high speed. A model of the system is developed using TRNSYS software components and validated using the experimental data obtained during testing of various operating modes. The main contribution of this paper is focused on the applied methodology of tests, model, and validation through simulation. The proposed methodology includes experimental validation of the CCHP model using the TRNSYS energy simulation software. The features of this model make it appropriate for use as a stand-alone system in building simulations to produce electricity, DWH, heating and cooling.
Convulsive activity in garter snakes.

Abstract Convulsive activity was produced in garter snakes by treatments with pentylenetetrazol, bemegride, picrotoxin, and strychnine sulfate. The convulsive activity was studied behaviorally and with chronic electroencephalographic techniques. The effects of convulsant drugs were very similar to those usually observed in mammals. Strychnine sulfate effects were much less pronounced than expected. The results were interpreted as suggesting the dominance of presynaptic mechanisms in the garter snake brain. In addition, both behavioral and electroencephalographic indices showed that the snake brain can support and sustain considerable convulsive activity even when body temperatures remain at ambient levels, 22–24°. The possible roles of adrenergic and cholinergic mechanisms in the snake brain are discussed.
Diffusion of robotics into clinical practice in the United States: process, patient safety, learning curves, and the public health.

Background Robotic technology disseminated into urological practice without robust comparative effectiveness data.
Reconfigurable processor for a data-flow video processing system

The Cheops system is a compact, modular platform developed at the MIT Media Laboratory for acquisition, processing, and display of digital video sequences and model-based representations of moving scenes, and is intended as both a laboratory tool and a prototype architecture for future programmable video decoders. Rather than using a set of basic, computationally intensive stream operations that may be performed in parallel and embodies them in specialized hardware. However, Cheops incurs a substantial performance degradation when executing operations for which no specialized processor exists. We have designed a new reconfigurable processor that combines the speed of special purpose stream processors with the flexibility of general-purpose computing as a solution to the problem. Two SRAM based field-programmable gate arrays are used in conjunction with a Power PC 603 processor to provide a flexible computational substrate, which allows algorithms to be mapped to a combination of software and dedicated hardware within the data-flow paradigm. We review the Cheops system architecture, describe the hardware design of the reconfigurable processor, explain the software environment developed to allow dynamic reconfiguration of the device, and report on its performance.
Study of the Boric Acid-Glycerin Complex II: Formation of the Complex at Elevated Temperatures

A study of the boric acid-glycerin complex was conducted at temperatures of 30, 40, 50, and 60° and the effect of increasing the concentration of glycerin upon the solubility of boric acid was studied. This may then be indicative of the degree of complex formation taking place between these two substances. Concentrations of glycerin varying from 0 to 100% were utilized. The results of these experiments show the relationship between (a) solubility of boric acid and (b) temperature and concentration of glycerin. A phase diagram was constructed at these temperatures showing the quantitative relationship among boric acid, water, and glycerin. From a plot of the log solubility of boric acid versus the reciprocal of absolute temperature, the heat of solution at various concentrations of glycerin was calculated. It was found that the degree of complex formation between boric acid and glycerin increased with an increase in temperature but showed little, if any, increase with an increase in glycerin concentration from 0 to about 40%. However, above this concentration of glycerin, the degree of complex formation, as indicated by the solubility, increased with an increase in concentration of glycerin.
SOURCES OF VARIATION IN THE NUTRIENT CONTENT OF AGRICULTURAL COMMODITIES FROM THE FARM TO THE CONSUMER

Raw agricultural commodities vary widely in nutrient composition at the point of sale to the consumer. Sources of this variation in fresh and fruits and vegetables include genetics, preharvest conditions of the plant, maturity of the edible product at harvest, postharvest handling and storage conditions, and any minimal processing techniques employed. Similar sources of variation exist for other plant products and for animal products. Current research knowledge is primarily limited to compositional information on ascorbic acid and β-carotene. A concerted, systematic effort is needed with specific attention focused on the effects of refrigerated storage on composition and bioavailability.
Markov Chain Analysis of Carbonate Rocks: Applications, Limitations, and Implications as Exemplified by the Pennsylvanian System in Southern Nevada

Markov chain analysis may be used as a technique for evaluating the presence of determinism (“memory”) in a sequence of physical events. Application to the vertical facies changes found in the Pennsylvanian carbonate sequences of southern Nevada shows that (1) the interval examined in the Arrow Canyon Range (1846 ft, miogeosynclinal, Bird Spring Group) has a chi-square value of 167.41, indicating “memory” present; (2) the Callville Formation at Frenchman Mountain (1055 ft, shelf) yields a chi-square of 26.40, also indicating the presence of “memory”; and (3) the Callville at Azure Ridge (779 ft, shelf) yields a chi-square of 15.02, indicating no “memory.” All of these values were obtained with recognition of four facies with multistory relationships. Investigation of potential sources of error shows that consistency from studied section to studied section in choice of number of facies, evaluation of facies changes, and whether multistory or unit facies are recognized is essential if results are to be compared. The presence of covered intervals, while detrimental, does not obscure results where less than 20 percent of the total number of facies units are labeled covered.
Global and Local Regression Analysis of Factors of American College Test (ACT) Score for Public High Schools in the State of Missouri

This study aims to improve the conceptual understanding of the interrelationships among individual-level and school-level factors of academic performance by presenting a context-based conceptual framework of academic performance and articulating relationships among the factors. In addition, this study intends to advance the statistical methodology of local regression analysis through a case study analyzing predictor variables of American College Test (ACT) score for 447 public high schools in Missouri. A school-level statistical model of ACT score with nine predictor variables relevant to student, teacher, and school characteristics is tested. Ordinary least squares (OLS) global regression analysis derives a model of five predictor variables, showing that schools with higher parent income and education levels, more double-parent family background, larger class size, and more experienced teachers tend to have higher ACT scores. Geographically weighted regression (GWR) local regression analysis is conducted...
Interaction of Feedback Control and Product Inhibition in the Activation of Factor X by Factors IXa and VIII

A simple numerical model of the activation of factor X by factors IXa and VIII has been constructed in order to identify and examine the major controls that operate in a nonflowing system in the prese
Spectral image fusion using band reduction and contourlets

Spectral images have relatively low spatial resolution, compared to high-resolution single band panchromatic (PAN) images. Therefore, fusing a spectral image with a PAN image has been widely studied to produce a high-resolution spectral image. However, raw spectral images are too large to process and contain redundant information that is not utilized in the fusion process. In this study, we propose a novel fusion method that employs a spectral band reduction and contourlets. The band reduction begins with the best two band combination, and this two-band combination is subsequently augmented to three, four, and more until the desired number of bands is selected. The adopted band selection algorithm using the endmember extraction concept employs a sequential forward search strategy. Next, the image fusion is performed with two different spectral images based on the frequency components that are newly obtained by contourlet transform (CT). One spectral image that is used as a dataset is multispectral (MS) image and the other is hyperspectral (HS) image. Each original spectral image is pre-processed by spectrally integrating over the entire spectral range to obtain a PAN source image that is used in the fusion process. This way, we can eliminate the step of image co-registration since the obtained PAN image is already perfectly aligned to the spectral image. Next, we fuse the band-reduced spectral images with the PAN images using contourlet-based fusion framework. The resultant fusion image provides enhanced spatial resolution while preserving the spectral information. In order to analyze the band reduction performance, the original spectral images are fused with the same PAN images to serve as a reference image, which is then compared to the band-reduced spectral image fusion results using six different quality metrics.
When are supercomputers worth the bother

The availability of the UNIX operating system on large supercomputers has greatly simplified the importation of research software from workstations and minicomputers. Supercomputers generally offer much greater memory and storage than do smaller machines, which may make their use mandatory for some large applications. Realization of the full performance offered by vectorizing supercomputers such as the Cray C90 sometimes requires modification of existing code. The use of high-level interpreters for the development of applications is recommended, to minimize the amount of compiled code that must be optimized.
Comparison of pulmonary uptake with transient cavity dilation after dipyridamole Tl-201 perfusion imaging

Background Elevated lung-heart ratio (LHR) and transient ischemic dilation (TID) have been identified as markers of severe coronary artery disease after both exercise and pharmacologic stress testing. We have previously demonstrated a very weak correlation between elevated LHR and TID after exercise, which suggests that they reflect different pathophysiologic manifestations of coronary disease. Because the physiology of pharmacologic vasodilation with dipyridamole is significantly different than that of physical exercise, we undertook this study to evaluate the relationship between elevated LHR and TID after pharmacologic stress testing with dipyridamole.
Which Hodgkin’s Patients in the Unites States Should Be Treated with BEACOPP?

The majority of patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma are cured with current standard therapy such as Adriamycin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD). However, almost 20 % of patients fail to achieve complete remission, and depending upon risk group, 20–30 % experience relapse with prolonged follow-up. BEACOPP (bleomycin, etoposide, Adriamycin, cyclophosphamide, prednisone, procarbazine) was developed by the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) to improve upon standard therapy by intensifying treatment and substituting etoposide and procarbazine for vinblastine and dacarbazine, respectively. In the HD9 trial, escalated BEACOPP was shown to be superior to COPP/ABVD with regard to time to treatment failure, but was associated with increased risk of secondary malignancies. Modifications of BEACOPP were developed to maintain efficacy while reducing the adverse effects. While several randomized trials have confirmed prolongation of progression-free survival with BEACOPP compared to ABVD, a survival advantage has been difficult to demonstrate. Given the comparable survival between BEACOPP and ABVD, as well as the greater toxicities of the former, including infertility, myelosuppression, and secondary malignancies, ABVD should remain the standard regimen for patients in the U.S. Newer regimens incorporating novel agents such as brentuximab vedotin may further improve the efficacy of current regimens.
THE NES-CRM1P EXPORT PATHWAY IS NOT A MAJOR MRNA EXPORT ROUTE IN SACCHAROMYCES CEREVISIAE

Nuclear export signal (NES)‐containing proteins are recognized by the NES receptor CRM1/Crm1p (also called exportin 1/Xpo1p). In vertebrates and Schizosaccharomyces pombe , the toxin leptomycin B (LMB) inhibits CRM1‐mediated export by interacting directly with CRM1 and disrupting the trimeric Ran‐GTP–CRM1–NES export complex. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae , LMB is not toxic and is apparently unable to interact with Crm1p. A second difference between the systems is that LMB has no effect on mRNA export in vertebrate systems, whereas there is evidence that S.cerevisiae Crm1p plays a role in mRNA export. Here we show that a single amino acid change converts S.cerevisiae Crm1p from being LMB insensitive to fully LMB sensitive, indicating that Crm1p is the only relevant LMB target. This new strain has no phenotype, but LMB has a rapid and potent inhibitory effect on NES‐mediated export. In situ hybridization assays show that LMB also causes nuclear accumulation of poly(A) + RNA but with a significant delay compared with the effect on NES‐mediated export. Biochemical assays indicate little or no LMB effect on cytoplasmic protein synthesis, indicating that the NES–Crm1p pathway is not a major mRNA export route in S.cerevisiae . We conclude that Crm1p structure and function is conserved from S.cerevisiae to man.
Characterization of micropatterned lipid membranes on a gold surface by surface plasmon resonance imaging and electrochemical signaling of a pore-forming protein.

We report the fabrication and characterization of a micropatterned membrane electrode for electrochemical signaling of a bacterial pore-forming toxin, Streptolysin O (SLO) from S. pyogenes. Microcontact printing of an alkylthiol monolayer was used to fabricate an array template, onto which cholesterol-containing DMPC vesicles were fused to form lipid layer structures. The construction of the supported membranes, including pattern transfer and vesicle fusion, was characterized by in-situ surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging and electrochemistry. Quantitative analysis of the resulting membrane by using SPR angular shift measurements indicates that the membranes in the hydrophilic pockets have an average thickness of 8.2 ± 0.4 nm. Together with fluorescence microscopy studies, the results suggest that this could be a mixed lipid assembly that may consist of a bilayer, vesicle fragments, and lipid junctions. The voltammetric response of the redox probe ferrocene carboxylic acid (FCA) was measured to quanti...
Active recruitment of DNA methyltransferases regulates interleukin 4 in thymocytes and T cells

How T cells regulate interleukin 4 (IL-4) expression is not completely understood. We show here that single-positive thymocytes express IL-4, but attenuate GATA-3 expression, recruit DNA methyltransferases (Dnmts) to the Il4-Il13 locus and downregulate IL-4 expression as they mature into T cells. Type 2 polarization blocks Dnmt1 recruitment, enhances histone H3 Lys4 methylation (indicative of accessible chromatin) and initiates DNA demethylation of the locus. Dnmt1-/- CD4 and CD8 T cells derepress IL-4 expression considerably, demethylate DNA and increase H3 Lys4 methylation without affecting GATA-3 expression, demonstrating that Dnmt1 and DNA methylation are essential for proper Il4 regulation. These results indicate that Dnmts, DNA and histone methylation, and transcription factors 'collaborate' to determine appropriate Il4 expression patterns.
Data Acquisition and Control of the Zero Graient Synchrtron 500 MeV Booster Synchrorron

A data acquisition and control philosophy for the Zero Gradient Synchrotron (ZGS) 500 MeV booster has involved a top down design incorporating all of the systems comprising the booster. Consideration of operational complexity was necessary because the booster is to be used simultaneously for ZGS injection, and solid state physics studies. Existing software and hardware capabilities of the ZGS computer were considered.1 The resulting data acquisition and control system is based on a mix of sequential logic and a minicomputer. Hardware considerations were based on a ten year life expectancy of the booster. Due to time, budget, and manpower constraints, the incorporation of the total design has been divided into three phases of implementation. The first phase will be covered in this paper and the remaining phases will be outlined.
Nonlinear systems and higher-order statistics

The author illustrates various ways higher order statistics are used in the analysis of various nonlinear models. The Navier-Stokes equation is used to illustrate the nonlinear interaction of different wave numbers in a homogeneous velocity field. A hybrid method is used to illustrate the estimation of bispectral density function of a continuous-time stationary process sampled by a random point process. A set of specific nonlinear models is used to demonstrate the use of higher order statistics to discriminate among competing models. >
Prospective evaluation of delayed technetium-99m sestamibi SPECT scintigraphy for preoperative localization of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Abstract Background. Delayed technetium-99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scans were prospectively analyzed in a large series of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Methods. Three hundred thirty-eight patients underwent sestamibi-SPECT and were explored. Prospective data included preoperative demographics, clinical, sestamibi, and operative findings, laboratory values, and pathologic and follow-up laboratory results from all patients. Results. Between 1994 and 2000, 287 unexplored patients (85%) and 51 re-explored patients (15%) participated. The abnormal parathyroid glands excised from 336 of 338 patients included 299 single adenomas (88%) and 23 double adenomas (7%), and 14 patients had multigland hyperplasia (4%). Sestamibi SPECT correctly lateralized 349 of 400 abnormal parathyroid glands, with an overall sensitivity of 87%, an accuracy of 94%, and a positive predictive value of 86%. Precise localization occurred in 82% of the abnormal parathyroid glands. Sestamibi sensitivity was similar in unexplored (87%) and reoperative (92%) cases; two hundred eighty-six of 299 (96%) solitary adenomas, 38 of 46 (83%) double adenomas, but only 25 of 55 (45%) hyperplastic glands were identified. The mean weight of the true-positive glands (1252 ± 1980 mg) was greater than that of the false-negative glands (297 ± 286 mg) (P
Effect of coal combustion wastes used as lime substitutes in nutrition of apples in three soils

Fluidized bed combustion represents a feasible technology for energy production utilizing high S fossil fuels. The process generates not only bed waste (FBM) (coal ash plus CaSO4 and unreacted CaO) but also flyash (FA). The later waste has not been evaluated for its effects on plants and soils. A greenhouse experiment, using apple seedlings, was carried out using FBM, FA and calcitic limestone applied at or up to twice the lime requirement on three soil materials. Seedling growth varied dependent upon the treatment-soil combination. Growth was reduced by 60% on the Manor soil from FA applied at twice the lime requirement and was attributed to the higher initial reactiveness of the FA compared to FBM or limestone. Leaf P, K, N, Cu and Al were not significantly affected by treatments over all soils while Ca, and N decreased and Mg varied depedent upon treatment. Soil pH was increased by all treatments. DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) extractable Mn and Zn were good estimators of leaf Mn and Zn while DTPA Cu and Fe were not.
Localization of membrane-associated calcium during development of fucoid algae using chlorotetracycline.

During the first day of development, fertilized eggs of fucoid algae generate an embryonic axis and commence rhizoid growth at one pole. Using Fucus distichus (L.) Powell, F. vesiculosus L. and Pelvetia fastigiata (J.Ag.) DeTony we have investigated the role of calcium in axis formation and fixation as well as in tip growth. The intracellular distribution of membrane-associated calcium was visualized with the fluorescent calcium probe chlorotetracycline (CTC). Punctate fluorescence associated with organelle-like structures was found in conjunction with diffuse staining at all developmental stages. This membrane-associated calcium remained uniformly distributed throughout the cortical cytoplasm while the axis was established, but increased in the rhizoid protuberance at germination. In subsequent development, fluorescence was restricted to the cortical cytoplasm at the elongating tip and at sites of crosswall biosynthesis.