cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gait characterization via dynamic joint stiffness

Abstract Dynamic joint stiffness (the slope of joint angle-moment plot) is defined as the resistance that the muscles and other soft tissue structures that cross a joint offer during gait in response to an applied moment. This paper documents this concept for the ankle in normal gait and explores its potential clinical utility in pathological gait. Mean ankle stiffness was computed during the second rocker interval of stance phase for 28 normal pediatric ambulators and found to be 0.0598 N-m/kg/deg. Several patients with cerebral palsy were evaluated pre- and post-treatment with respect to their ankle stiffness.
Slow and multiple unit potentials in trace and temporal conditioning controlled by electrical reward in the rat.

Abstract Rats trained to expect medial forebrain bundle electrical reward every 17 sec acquire, in their visual cortex, a linear gradient of increasing negative potential over the prereinforcement half of the interval. The postreinforcement half of the interval is occupied by a less linear reversal of the negative shift. Integrated multiple unit activity from the same electrodes shows for the same half intervals, respectively, acquisition of progressive increase and sudden decrease. Behaviorally, naive subjects are most active following the reinforcement, becoming progressively less active in the second half of the interreinforcement interval. After training, the above pattern is reversed with sudden cessation of activity following reinforcement and progressive increase beginning about 5 sec later and continuing to the time of reinforcement. Slopes for the negative anticipatory potential gradient (APG) ranged from 8 to 28 μV/sec in different subjects on the 17 sec interreinforcement interval. Doubling the interval halved the slope, the maximum prereinforcement negative voltage remaining constant. The phenomenon thus appears as a relative or pacing dynamic rather than as an absolute or fixed microvolts/second function. Making the interreinforcement interval variable caused loss of both the anticipatory gradient and the integrated multiple unit increment. Trace conditioning with variable intertrial interval restored an anticipatory gradient and multiple unit increment. The specific dissociation of unit firing activity during the APG previously reported in the quietly expectant cat is not seen in this study owing to the excited expectancy in the rat anticipating MFB reward. Although the longer periods of negative potential gradient and unit action potential activity appear associated rather than dissociated, transient dissociations in patterns were observed during shorter duration shifts in the slow potential. Resolution of these variations must await more definitive study of unit activity and sustained potential genesis.
Shank2 contributes to the apical retention and intracellular redistribution of NaPiIIa in OK cells

In renal proximal tubule (PT) cells, sodium-phosphate cotransporter IIa (NaPiIIa) is normally concentrated within the apical membrane where it reabsorbs ∼70% of luminal phosphate (Pi). NaPiIIa activity is acutely regulated by moderating its abundance within the apical membrane. Under low-Pi conditions, NaPiIIa is retained within the apical membrane. Under high-Pi conditions, NaPiIIa is retrieved from the apical membrane and trafficked to the lysosomes for degradation. The present study investigates the role of Shank2 in regulating the distribution of NaPiIIa. In opossum kidney cells, a PT cell model, knockdown of Shank2 in cells maintained in low-Pi media resulted in a marked decrease in NaPiIIa abundance. After being transferred into high-Pi media, live-cell imaging showed that mRFP-Shank2E and GFP-NaPiIIa underwent endocytosis and trafficked together through the subapical domain. Fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy demonstrated that GFP-NaPiIIa and mRFP-Shank2 have indistinguishable diffusion coefficients and migrated through the subapical domain in temporal synchrony. Raster image cross-correlation spectroscopy demonstrated these two proteins course through the subapical domain in temporal-spatial synchrony. In the microvilli of cells under low-Pi conditions and in the subapical domain of cells under high-Pi conditions, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy-Forster resonance energy transfer analysis of Cer-NaPiIIa and EYFP-Shank2E found these fluors reside within 10 nm of each other. Demonstrating a complexity of functions, in cells maintained under low-Pi conditions, Shank2 plays an essential role in the apical retention of NaPiIIa while under high-Pi conditions Shank2 remains associated with NaPiIIa and escorts NaPiIIa through the cell interior.
MPtopo: A database of membrane protein topology

The reliability of the transmembrane (TM) sequence assignments for membrane proteins (MPs) in standard sequence databases is uncertain because the vast majority are based on hydropathy plots. A database of MPs with dependable assignments is necessary for developing new computational tools for the prediction of MP structure. We have therefore created MPtopo, a database of MPs whose topologies have been verified experimentally by means of crystallography, gene fusion, and other methods. Tests using MPtopo strongly validated four existing MP topology-prediction algorithms. MPtopo is freely available over the internet and can be queried by means of an SQL-based search engine.
The ~Ir!Relevance of Militarized Interstate Disputes for International Trade

Do military disputes between two states suppress trade between their firms? Both liberals and realists suggest that conflict occurrence reduces bilateral trade. However, using a rational expectation argument, Morrow (1999) proposes that conflict occurrence and trade should be uncorrelated statistically. Empirical evidence to date both supports expectations and appears contradictory and inconclusive. We offer a theory that reconciles, encompasses, and extends the competing arguments, explaining the empirical inconsistency. By incorporating rational expectations and uncertainty into the profit calculus of trading firms, the theory identifies the conditions under which various properties of a conflict (onset, duration, and severity) should and should not reduce bilateral trade ex ante and ex post . We test the ex post effects in two datasets that cover either a wider range of countries or a longer time period than previous quantitative studies. Both an unexpected MID onset and the unexpectedness of a MID onset reduce bilateral trade substantially ex post . Preliminary tests suggest that MID duration and severity also affect bilateral trade ex post . We conclude by discussing the implications of our research.
Successful intervention with multi‐problem mothers: Effects on the mother‐infant relationship

A two-step model of intervention for multi-problem mothers was proposed. In order to improve mother-child interaction and later developmental outcomes, the first step is for the practitioner to help the mother change her external competencies (adult social skills) and internal perceptions (support, depression). These changes make the second step possible—the mother then can learn to foster her own child's development. The model was tested in a study of 95 multi-problem women who participated in a nursing intervention program from mid-pregnancy through the child's first birthday. The results supported the two-step model. Improvements in the mothers' external competencies were related to completion of intervention goals. These external improvements also were related to more optimal patterns of mother-child interaction during teaching and feeding episodes at 1 year. Furthermore, an especially insecure type of attachment relationship was found more frequently among the infants of mothers in the group that did not improve. Changes in internal perceptions were unrelated to intervention or interaction measures. These unexpected results suggest that the mother's internal improvements may have a more delayed or a less direct effect upon the child.
Investigation of resist effects on EUV mask defect printability

In this paper, we report our recent investigations into the effect of resist processing on defect printability. Simulations are conducted using both aerial image threshold and resist models in an attempt to determine the effect of the resist process. There is good agreement between the resist model simulation and the printing data obtained using the EUV micro exposure tool (MET) and a programmed defect mask. The CD error, or defect printability, introduced by edge defects on 70nm semi-iso lines predicted by the aerial image threshold model is larger than that by both the resist model and the actual printing results. However, this favorable difference vanishes for edge defects on 30nm lines. Mask error enhancement factor (MEEF) is used to understand the discrepancy between the aerial image threshold model and the resist model. Image quality measured by normalized image log slope (NILS) and resist process window characterized by exposure latitude are closely related to image MEEF and resist MEEF respectively, and ultimately determine defect printability for a given patterning and resist processing. Defect printability increases exponentially as the feature size shrinks. This nonlinear behavior presents a challenge for defining defect specifications for EUV lithography based on extrapolations from currently available printing data.
Schizophrenic subjects activate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex during a working memory task, as measured by fMRI

Abstract Background: Neuroimaging studies of schizophrenic subjects performing working memory (WM) tasks have demonstrated a relative hypoactivity of prefrontal cortex compared with normal subjects. Methods: Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we compared dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) activation in 12 schizophrenic and 10 normal subjects during rewarded performance of a WM task. Subjects performed a modified version of the Sternberg Item Recognition Paradigm (SIRP), a continuous performance, choice reaction time (RT) task that requires WM. We compared a high WM load condition with a nonWM choice RT condition and with a low WM load condition. Results: Schizophrenic subjects performed the tasks better than chance but worse than normal subjects. They showed greater activation than normal subjects in the left DLPFC but did not differ in the right DLPFC or in the control region. In the schizophrenic group, left DLPFC activation was inversely correlated with task performance, as measured by errors. Conclusions: These findings contrast with previous studies that demonstrated task-related hypofrontality in schizophrenia. Task parameters that may contribute to this difference are discussed. We hypothesize that the performance and activation differences we observed are also manifestations of prefrontal dysfunction in schizophrenia. They reflect inefficient functioning of the neural circuitry involved in WM.
Topical nicotinamide prevents UV immunosuppression.

1Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA UV light is a major risk factor for skin cancer development (Essen and Klar, 2006). The mechanisms by which UV leads to cancer formation are complex and appear not to be limited solely to UV-induced DNA damage. UV induces immune suppression, which is associated with increased skin cancer formation, as evidenced by the increased cancer risk in immunosuppressed transplant patients (Bergstresser, 1983; Ulrich and Stockfleth, 2007). Therefore, protection against UV-induced immune suppression may have clinical benefits. In this issue, Damian et al. (2008) explore the potential role of topical nicotinamide in preventing UV immunosuppression in humans, based on animal models to prevent UV-induced immune suppression. Using volunteers with a positive Mantoux test (purified protein derivative positive from Bacille Calmette-Guerin vaccination), the authors studied the ability of topical nicotinamide to prevent UVB immune suppression and the mechanisms by which this occurred. They found that when nicotinamide was applied either before or after UV exposure (simulating normal sunlight exposure), the typically encountered immune suppression was reduced. Additionally, men were more sensitive to UV-light-induced immune suppression, which the investigators concluded may account, in part, for the greater incidence of skin cancer and skin cancer mortality in men. Nicotinamide did not work as a sunscreen but rather, as suggested by microarray analysis, as a mechanism that may include alterations in complement, energy metabolism, and apoptosis. Through the following questions we will delve into this paper in greater detail. For brief answers, please refer to http://network.nature.com/group/jidclub.
Resection of Thoracic Hemivertebra

The objective of this review is to discuss the indications, surgical technique, and potential complications of thoracic hemivertebra excision in the pediatric population. Thoracic hemivertebra produce a congenital scoliosis or kyphoscoliosis that may progress and require surgical intervention. Patients may require either separate anterior and posterior approaches for hemivertebra excision, or more recently, a posterior-only approach has been developed, which is our preferred method. A posterior-only approach is accomplished with a unilateral costotransversectomy, which allows complete hemivertebra excision as well as reconstruction of the anterior as well as posterior column. Preoperative preparation, intraoperative pearls, and pitfalls and postoperative care will be discussed for this surgical procedure.
Electrical properties of synthetic sodalites

The bulk ionic conductivity of various sodalites (synthesized by the structure conversion method) and their starting materials, Linde molecular sieves, has been investigated over a temperature range between 300 to 700°K in a vacuum enclosure. The Arrhenius plots of these data indicate a single activation process. X-ray diffraction studies verify the conversion of molecular sieves into sodalite structures and also indicate that the unit cell parameter in sodalite is dependent upon the anion incorporated. The conductivity of sodalite is found to be dependent upon the unit cell parameter. Of the different materials studied, Cl-, Br-, I-sodalites and molecular sieves show progressively increasing conductivity and decreasing activation energy. The effect of adding sulfur to the sodalites is to raise the conductivity and lower the activation energy, relative to the undoped sodalites. These results are explained by a model based on the collapsing of the aluminosilicate framework into sodalite under the influence of the various halogens.
Transient paresis in myotonic syndromes: A simplified electrophysiologic approach

Patients with different myotonic syndromes were evaluated for the presence of transient decrease of muscle fiber excitability. The evoked compound muscle action potential (CMAP) was recorded from the hypothenar eminence; single, supramaximal stimuli were applied to the ulnar nerve at the wrist before and after various periods of voluntary, isometric exercise of the hand muscles. A variable decline of the CMAP after exercise was present in all subjects with myotonia. The results were similar to those obtained with rapid repetitive nerve stimulation.
Results of Eleven Separate Maintainability Demonstrations

The procedures employed, the results obtained, and ancillary findings and insights gained from 11 separate maintainability demonstrations are presented. These demonstrations were conducted in accordance with MIL-M-26512 on electronic equipment installed at five operating ground sites. A total of 419 simulated malfunctions were inserted into 11 of these subsystems under carefully controlled conditions, and the times required to diagnose and correct these malfunctions were recorded. The results are sure to be of interest to both the theoretician and the practitioner in the field of maintainability engineering, and will hopefully serve and interest many in the broader areas of system planning, system simulation, and system evaluation.
Chemoprotection in glioblastoma therapy: reality or a dream?

Glioblastoma (GBM) is one of the most deadly human cancers. Annually, over 10,000 individuals are diagnosed with this tumor in the USA alone [101]. The survival is dismal, and most patients succumb to the disease within 12–15 months from diagnosis. Brain tumors, unlike other cancers, do not respond well to conventional chemotherapeutic regimens and therapy for GBM is associated with a very high failure rate. Even the more recent introduction of novel antiangiogenic agents to therapy for GBM did not significantly improve prognosis for patients with malignant gliomas. There are several reasons that partially explain these disappointing therapeutic results. First, the blood–brain barrier limits the entry of many chemotherapeutics at conventional doses into the brain parenchyma and cerebro-spinal fluid [1]. Many agents that reach the brain parenchyma do not achieve high enough cytotoxic concentrations within the tumor. The most commonly used alkylating agent, temozolomide (TMZ), only achieves 20% of the serum area under the curve in the cerebrospinal fluid [1]. Microdialysis experiments indicated that while TMZ can be found in the peri tumoral brain parenchyma, concentrations of the drug might not be optimally therapeutic [2,3]. In addition to the structural blood–brain barrier, there are active efflux systems responsible for removing toxic compounds (including chemotherapy) from the brain tissue. Finally, and most importantly, approximately 50–60% of GBM tumors have an active enzymatic repair mechanism employing O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) to repair the cytotoxic DNA damage caused by alkylating agents such as carmustine (BCNU) and TMZ, efficiently protecting cancer cells from chemotherapymediated damage. High activity of the MGMT gene results in resistance to therapy and poor prognosis in patients with GBM [4]. Naturally occurring methylation of the MGMT gene promoter decreases expression of MGMT, rendering tumor cells susceptible to TMZ-induced cytotoxicity. As a result, patients with methylated (silenced) MGMT promoter in tumor cells display a better prognosis and response to therapy
Power saving and noise reduction of 28nm CMOS RF system integration using integrated fan-out wafer level packaging (InFO-WLP) technology

An integration of 28 nm CMOS RF system with 3D solenoidal inductors (3DSI) in integrated fan-out (InFO) wafer level package technology is studied. The 3DSI provides the performance of Q-factor of 51 and isolation of −53 dB. With the 3DSI, the RF system in the InFO technology results in power saving by 58% and noise reduction by 80% in LNA and VCO, respectively, compared with those in RF SoC system. The InFO technology provides a novel solution for RF system integration.
The effects of market network heterogeneity on innovation diffusion: An agent-based modeling approach

Innovations usually have an initial impact on very few people. The period of learning or early evaluation precedes the diffusion of the technology into the wider addressed population. More than a transfer, this is best characterized as communication of benefits, costs, and compatibility with earlier technologies and a relative assessment of the new state of the art. Innovation development by an organization or individual creates not just a device (i.e., process or tacit knowledge) but concomitantly a capacity on the part of other organizations or persons to use, adopt, replicate, enhance, or modify the technology, skills, or knowledge for their own purposes. How innovations actually diffuse is to understand the communication of progress, and this framing helps one to design innovations and also design the marketing and testing programs to ready innovations for market and launch them efficiently. Diffusion theory's main focus is on the flow of information within a social system, such as via mass media and word-of-mouth communications. This theory presents often in the form of mathematical models of innovation and imitation. Distinct from classical diffusion models, however, consumers are not all identical in how they connect to others within a market or how they respond to information. We examine the effects of various network structures and relational heterogeneity on innovation diffusion within market networks. Specifically, network topology (the structure of how individuals in the market are connected) and the strength of communication links between innovator and follower market segments (a form of relational heterogeneity) are studied. Several research questions concerning network heterogeneity are addressed with an agent-based modeling approach. The present study's findings are based on simulation results that show important effects of network structure on the diffusion process. The ability to speed diffusion varies significantly according to within- and cross-segment communications within a heterogeneous network structure. The implications of the present approach for new product diffusion are discussed, and future research directions are suggested that may add useful insights into the complex social networks inherent to diffusion. A simple summary is that discovery of significant prime communicator nodes in a network allows innovation development practices to be better calibrated to realistically multiple market segments.
Modeling the social determinants of caregiver burden among families of children with developmental disabilities.

Abstract This study described predictors of caregiver burden among parents of children with developmental disabilities. The sample, obtained from the 2005–2006 National Survey of Children With Special Health Care Needs, included 12,225 children, aged 5 to 17 years, with a developmental disability. Structural equation modeling assessed the relationships between the factors of Caregiver Burden, Ease of Accessing and Navigating the Health Care System, and Unmet Health Care Needs. Caregiver burden was inversely associated with ease of accessing and navigating the health care system (β = −0.094, SE (β) = 0.045) and positively associated with unmet health care needs (β = 0.428, SE (β) = 0.036). Parents of poor, minority, and uninsured children experienced significantly greater caregiver burden. Bolstering services, particularly for vulnerable families, may ameliorate caregiver burden.
Dual or unitary system? Two alternative models of decision making

In recent years, a lively debate in neuroeconomics has focused on what appears to be a fundamental question: Is the brain a unitary or a dual system? We are still far from a consensus view. The accumulating evidence supports both sides of the debate. A reason for the difficulty in reaching a convincing solution is that we do not yet have a clear theoretical model for either position. Here I review the basic elements and potential building blocks for such theories, using sources in large measure from classical decision theory and game theory.
A Few Comments on an Elegant Answer in Search of Useful Questions

3 t s f s p a t e F i t t b t w W hat does the specialty hope to gain from the widespread application of 3-dimenional imaging? Beyond the generation of pretty— lbeit realistic and impressive—pictures, I think we eek answers to the sorts of cephalometric (“head easurement”) questions that have been asked by rthodontists for well over a century. To this end, linicians probably would like, at the very least, to be ble to execute familiar measurements, both in 3 imensions (cone-beam versions of such standard escriptive and treatment analyses as Downs, Steiner, Ricketts, McNamara, Tweed, and he like) and in 4 dimensions (change during and fter treatment). Change, however, implies supermposition, and superimposition is even more of a ork in progress than is description and treatment lanning. As we begin to explore cone-beam superimosition, I think we have no choice but to be uided/constrained by Bjork’s 2-dimensional ork; it is the only gold standard we have. Indeed, it may be the only gold standard we will ever have. Further, our methods will have to be consistent with what we know of facial growth. Which structures change; which do not? When does change take place? Where? How? To some extent, we know the answers to these questions; however, my experience working with superimposition has demonstrated problems that I think can only be rectified by the programmers. As in the movie, “The Matrix,” we see what the programmers want us to see in the way they want us to see it. As displayed in 3 dimensions, bony surfaces look good; unfortunately, they don’t seem to be able to support meaningful
Emergency Department Pneumonia Patients Who do not Meet the Six-Hour Criteria for Antibiotic Administration: Do They Have a Different Clinical Presentation?

Background: The Joint Commission (JC) has set a quality of care standard for emergency department (ED) patients diagnosed with community acquired pneumonia (CAP) that states that they are to receive antibiotics within six hours of presentation to the ED. Hospitals have been able to demonstrate that the majority of patients meet these criteria, yet there are still many who do not. Previously published studies have reported that there are several issues that contribute to prolonged times to antibiotic administration including ED crowding and atypical clinical presentations. This study was undertaken to identify factors existing early in the patient encounter that may be associated with failure to meet the Joint Commission’s six-hour standard for antibiotic administration. Methods: This was an IRB-approved, retrospective observational study covering 36 months in an academic emergency department. All adults with an admission diagnosis of CAP were eligible but were excluded if their discharge diagnosis was not CAP, if hospitalized within the previous 14 days, or if HIV positive. Univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression with stepwise variable selection were performed comparing patients who met and did not meet JC standards. The analysis included demographics (age, sex), chief complaint at triage and to doctor (fever, dyspnea, cough, chest pain, weakness/fatigue, abdominal pain), presence of altered mental status, triage vital signs, co-morbidities, day of week and time of day of presentation. Results: A total of 736 cases were eligible; 199 cases met exclusion criteria; 43 charts were unavailable; 494 were included in the study group (363 with complete antibiotic time records; 131 were incomplete). From the univariate analysis, respiratory rate (RR) and oxygen saturation were the only factors that met Bonferroni criteria for statistical significance when comparing those who met and did not meet the JC six-hour criteria (RR 25 ± 9 vs 22 ± 6 breaths/minute, respectively, P = 0.002; oxygen saturation 87 ± 10% vs 92 ± 5%, respectively, P 3.5 times more likely to meet the 6-hour criteria. If they presented to ED between 3 PM and 10 PM chances of meeting criteria were reduced by about 65%. If they presented on a Thursday, chances improved 2.8 times . Conclusions: Compared to patients who did meet Joint Commission criteria, those who did not receive antibiotics within 6 hours were likely to have triage pulse rates and O 2 saturation levels closer to normal, thus contributing to diagnostic uncertainty. They were also likely to present to the ED at the most crowded time of day. Likelihood to meet JC criteria was improved if O 2 saturation was below normal, pulse rate was elevated, if they exhibited mental confusion, or if they presented to the ED very early or very late in the day, or on a lower census day. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jocmr1092w
Fairness Attacks in the Explicit Control Protocol

Protocols such as the explicit control protocol (XCP) use explicit router feedback to guide endpoint transmission rates for near-optimal capacity utilization and fairness. However, non-cooperative end hosts can manipulate and ignore feedback to either obtain unfair advantages over cooperative hosts, or perform denial-of-service attacks on intervening network links. In this paper we explore the methodology behind, and construct working examples of different attack vectors on XCP, including both cheating senders and receivers. Through detailed simulations in ns, we show that misbehaving users can dominate bandwidth allocation on shared links, and our strategies allow them to successfully allocate bandwidth by either sharing or selfishly competing for the bottleneck bandwidth capacity.
Data-Dependency Graph Transformations for Superblock Scheduling

The superblock is a scheduling region which exposes instruction level parallelism beyond the basic block through speculative execution of instructions. In gen- eral, scheduling superblocks is an NP-Hard optimiza- tion and prior work includes both heuristic (polynomial- time) and optimal (enumerative) scheduling techniques. This paper presents a set of transformations to the data-dependency graph which significantly improves the results of heuristic and enumerative superblock scheduling. The graph transformations prune redun- dant and inferior schedules from the problem solution space. Heuristically scheduling the transformed data- dependency graphs yields significant reduction in ex- pected execution time for hard superblocks. Also, enu- meratively scheduling the transformed graphs is faster, and an optimal schedule is found for more problem in- stances within a bounded time. The transformations are applied to superblocks generated with the GNU Compiler Collection (GCC) using the SPEC CPU2000 benchmarks targeted to various processor models. The experimental results confirm that the transformations significantly improve the results for heuristic and enu- merative superblock scheduling.
Porothermoelastic analyses of anisotropic hollow cylinders with applications

It has been known that material anisotropy and thermal stresses affect borehole stability significantly. Aiming at the experimental studies associated with borehole stability in anisotropic (transversely isotropic) poroelastic materials subject to non-isothermal conditions, this paper details and applies an anisotropic porothermoelastic solution to an unjacketed hollow cylinder in a triaxial set-up. Numerical analyses are presented to demonstrate thermal and material anisotropy effects on the pore pressure and the stress concentrations in and around the geometry of a hollow cylinder subjected to thermal and stress perturbations. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Data-aided maximum likelihood symbol timing estimation in MIMO correlated fading channels

In this paper, the maximum likelihood (ML) symbol timing estimator in a MIMO correlated channel, based on training data, is derived. It is shown that the approximated ML algorithm in (A. F. Naguib et al, IEEE J Select. Areas in Commun., vol.16, p.1459-1478, 1998) and (Y. C. Wu et al, IEEE Trans. on Wireless Comm., 2003) is just a special case of the proposed algorithm. Furthermore, the modified Cramer-Rao bound (MCRB) is also derived for comparison. Simulation results under different operating conditions (e.g., number of antennas and correlation between antennas) are given to assess the performances of the ML estimator and it is found that the mean square errors (MSE)s of the ML estimator: i) are close to the MCRBs; ii) are approximately independent of the number of transmit antennas; iii) are inversely proportional to the number of receive antennas; and iv) correlation between antennas has no effect on the MSE performance.
A process model for decision based software development

A process model for software maintenance using the decision-based software development (DBSD) paradigm is described. The DBSD paradigm models the process of software development and maintenance as a continuous problem-solving activity where the decision is the focal point. An important aspect of this process is the preparation for perfective and corrective maintenance by identifying conditional decisions whose validation depends on experience with the production system. Validation requires the instrumentation of the production system to collect data which will support or refute the decision. The authors discuss the instrumenting of a prototype DBSD support environment to collect data to validate the proposed process model. Also given are the results of some preliminary data. >
Heterospecific pollen deposition in Delphinium barbeyi: linking stigmatic pollen loads to reproductive output in the field.

� Background and Aims Most pollinators are generalists and therefore are likely to transfer heterospecific pollen among co-flowering plants. Most work on the impacts of heterospecific pollen deposition on plant fecundity has utilized hand-pollination experiments in greenhouse settings, and we continue to know very little about the reproductive effects of heterospecific pollen in field settings. � Methods We explored how patterns of naturally deposited heterospecific pollen relate to the reproductive output of Delphinium barbeyi, a common subalpine perennial herb in the Rocky Mountains (USA). We assessed a wide range of naturally occurring heterospecific pollen proportions and pollen load sizes, and linked stigmatic pollen deposition directly to seed set in individual carpels in the field. � Key Results We found that heterospecific pollen deposition in D. barbeyi is common, but typically found at low levels across stigmas collected in our sites. Neither conspecific nor heterospecific pollen deposition was related to carpel abortion. By contrast, we saw a significant positive relationship between conspecific pollen amount and viable seed production, as well as a significant negative interaction between the effects of conspecific pollen and heterospecific pollen amount, whereby the effect of conspecific pollen on viable seed production became weaker with greater heterospecific deposition on stigmas. � Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a relationship between heterospecific pollen and seed production in a field setting. In addition, it is the first report of an interaction between conspecific and heterospecific pollen quantities on seed production. These findings, taken with the results from other studies, suggest that greenhouse hand-pollination studies and field studies should be more tightly integrated in future work to better understand how heterospecific pollen transfer can be detrimental for plant reproduction.
Abstract 371: Mitochondrial Antiviral Signaling (MAVS) Protects Cardiomyocytes Under Oxidative Stress by Interfering with Bax-Mediated Cell Death

MAVS is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein that activates innate antiviral signaling by recognizing cytosolic viral RNAs and DNAs. While the discovery of MAVS is the first molecular evidence that links mitochondria to innate immune mechanisms, it is still unclear whether MAVS affects mitochondrial cell death as a member of caspase activation and recruitment domain (CARD)-containing proteins. We found that MAVS interacts with Bax through CARD by Yeast two-hybrid and a series of immunoprecipitation (IP) assay, which led us to hypothesize that MAVS functions not only in the innate antiviral mechanisms but also in the mitochondrial cell death pathway. Methods: 1) We examined molecular interaction between MAVS and Bax under oxidative stress by IP using isolated myocytes with H2O2 stimulation and the heart post ischemia-reperfusion (I/R). 2) We evaluated the effect of MAVS on mitochondrial membrane potential and apoptosis under H2O2 stimulation using isolated myocytes with adenoviral MAVS knockdown. 3) We i...
External Validation of the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Severity Scale

Background The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Severity Scale (CPSSS) was recently developed to predict large-vessel occlusions (LVOs) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). In its derivation study, which consisted of patients enrolled in thrombolysis and endovascular therapy trials, the CPSSS had excellent discriminatory performance. We sought to externally validate the CPSSS in an independent cohort. Methods Using our institution's prospective stroke registry, we calculated CPSSS scores for all patients diagnosed with AIS at Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2013 and 2014. The primary outcome was presence of LVO and the secondary outcome was a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 15 or higher. Harrell's c-statistic was calculated to determine the CPSSS score's discriminatory performance. Using the previously defined cut-point of 2 or higher (range 0-4), we evaluated the test properties of the CPSSS for predicting study outcomes. Results Among 751 patients with AIS, 664 had vessel imaging and were included in the final analysis. Of these patients, 80 (14.2%) had LVOs and 117 (17.6%) had an NIHSS score of 15 or higher. The median CPSSS score was 0 (interquartile range 0-1) and 133 patients (20%) had scores of 2 or higher. c-statistic was .85 (95% confidence interval [CI] .81-.90) for predicting LVO and .94 (95% CI .92-.97) for predicting an NIHSS score of 15 or higher. Using a cut-point of 2 or higher, the CPSSS was 70.0% sensitive and 86.8% specific for predicting LVO, and 87.2% sensitive and 94.3% specific for predicting an NIHSS score of 15 or higher. Conclusions In a cohort of patients with AIS treated at a tertiary-care stroke center, the CPSSS had reasonable sensitivity and specificity for predicting LVO and severe stroke. Future studies should aim to prospectively validate the score in emergency responders.
Factors Influencing Spanish Instructors' In-Class Feedback Decisions.

While oral corrective feedback is a principal focus in second language acquisition research, most studies examine feedback once it has been provided. Investigating how instructors make in-class feedback decisions has not been thoroughly explored, despite the fact that classroom feedback occurs at the discretion of the individual language instructor and evidence from case studies that feedback provision varies greatly between instructors (recently reviewed in Lyster, Saito, & Sato, ). This study investigates how 32 instructors make their moment-to-moment feedback decisions in response to learner errors during natural, university-level Spanish foreign language lessons. Each instructor had a 50-minute grammar-focused lesson videotaped and participated in a stimulated recall. Results reveal instructor in-class feedback decision making to be a systematic and ordered cognitive process: Instructors who reflect on learner errors report that contextual (e.g., error type), learner (e.g., perceived student ability), and instructor factors (e.g., research background) influenced their decision whether or not to provide feedback, as well what type(s) to provide, and when. Others report having automatized their feedback practices and not reflecting on learner errors. All instructors report that their individual characteristics, specifically their native language, teaching experience, and training in second language acquisition, mediate the corrective feedback they provide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Lecture capture: enhancing learning through technology at the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine.

BACKGROUND The intent of this research was to evaluate the Mediasite lecture capture system at the Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine (formerly the Ohio College of Podiatric Medicine) to determine the acceptance, use and benefits to both students and faculty and to identify any concerns, limitations, and suggestions for expansion. There is extreme debate on the effect of lecture capture on student attendance included in the research. METHODS Two surveys were compiled, one each for students and faculty. These were distributed by email to the entire student body and all full-time and part-time faculty. Responses were voluntary. The questions sought to identify the priorities of the participant, reasons for viewing lectures compiled by course, to assess any effect on class attendance and to evaluate the ease and use of the technical function. There was also a section for subjective responses and suggestions. RESULTS The tabulations proved a very high use of the program with the most important reason being to prepare for exams. The question of class attendance is still open to interpretation. Technically, the Mediasite system was ranked easy to use by both groups. CONCLUSIONS The results of this survey confirm the concept of lecture capture as an integral segment of advanced education. Though this system should not replace class attendance, it is a vital supplement to course work and study. By reviewing all of the components of the survey those who may have concerns on its effectiveness are also aware of the advantages. The results of this study met all the objectives to evaluate use and obtain viewpoints to improve and expand the program.
The differential sheep cell agglutination test in arthritis.

While the serologic properties of blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis have been studied extensively, no test of diagnostic value has, as yet, been devised. 7 Such a laboratory test would have considerable significance were it to confirm or eliminate an early rheumatoid state. In 1939 Waaler demonstrated in the serum of some persons a factor which agglutinated sheep red blood cells. A small amount of such serum, when added to specific agglutinating serum against sheep red cells, increased the titer of the specific serum remarkably. If a small amount of anti-sheep cell serum is added to one of these human serums, agglutination of sheep red blood cells will occur in high dilutions, whereas no agglutination appears without the addition of the specific agglutinating serum. This factor was found, in small amounts, in serums of patients with various diseases. I t was found in larger quantities in 22 of 43 patients (51 per cent) with rheumatoid arthritis. It was further demonstrated that this hitherto unknown factor was present in the globulin fraction of the serum, was relatively thermostable (withstanding 60 C. for one-half hour), and was not related to the heterophile antibodies or to the patient's blood group. These interesting observations, to our knowledge, did not provoke any further clinical or bacteriologic investigation. In 1948, however, Rose and his associates described a similar phenomenon in the serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. When inactivated human serums were set up in serial dilutions and tested against normal sheep erythrocytes and sensitized sheep erythrocytes, they disclosed that a sixteen-f old or greater increase in the agglutination of the sensitized cells occurred almost exclusively in patients with rheumatoid arthritis; in other forms of arthritis the reactions were much milder. These observers considered that the height of the differential titer reflected the clinical activity of the disease. Moreover, utilizing electrophoretic technics, this specific factor was demonstrated in the beta and gamma globulin fractions of the serum, and appeared to be unrelated to the antibody responsible for the Group A hemolytic streptococcus agglutination test. In a series of 51 patients exhibiting some form of rheuma toid arthritis, a positive serologic test was found in 38 patients (74.5 per cent). In 15 patients with rheumatic fever and in 15 other patients with arthritic manifestations, which included undifferentiated arthritis of mild character, degenerative joint disease, dermatomyositis, lupus erythematosus disseminatus, gout, gonorrheal arthritis, lymphopathia venereum and Sudeck's atrophy, the test was negative. An additional 29 patients, with a variety of diseases, free of arthritic manifestations or involvement, were also examined and in only 2 instances (7 per cent) was a positive reaction observed.
Effect of Porous Medium on Combustor Performance in Micro-Thermophotovoltaic System

A high and uniform temperature distribution along the wall of micro-combustor is very helpful to micro-thermo-photovoltaic system. Porous medium was applied in the micro-combustor. At different admixture flux and hydrogen/oxygen mixture ratio,combustion status and temperature distribution along the wall with and without porous medium in micro-combustor were obtained. Porous medium can improve heat transfer and change temperature distribution. When H2/O2volume ratio is 1.5 and flowrate is 1.83×10-5m3/s,the temperature distribution along the wall of the micro-combustor was fit for the application of micro-thermophotovoltaic system.
Total sleep deprivation and pain perception during cold noxious stimuli in humans

Abstract Background and aims A substantial portion of the population suffers from chronic pain leading to significant health care costs and lost productivity. Loss of sleep duration and quality are widely reported in patients suffering from a variety of acute or chronic pain conditions. Conversely, sleep loss has been known to elevate pain perception; thus a potential bi-directional relationship exists between sleep deprivation and pain. To date, the majority of studies examining the relationship between experimentally induced pain and sleep loss have focused on the measurement of pain threshold . Additionally, despite evidence of sex differences in ratings of perceived pain, previous studies examining pain following sleep loss have not probed for sex differences. We examined the effects of 24-h total sleep deprivation (TSD) on perceived pain during a 2-min cold pressor test (CPT). We hypothesized that TSD would augment perceived pain and that women would demonstrate an elevated pain response compared to men. Methods Testing was carried out in 14 men and 13 women. All subjects reported to be nonsmokers with no history of cardiovascular disease, autonomic dysfunction, asthma, or diabetes. All female subjects were free of oral contraceptive use, and were tested during the early follicular phase of the menstrual cycle. Trial order was randomized and testing sessions (Normal sleep (NS) and TSD) were separated by approximately one month. Subjects immersed their left hand, up to the wrist, in an ice water bath (∼1°C), and perceived pain was recorded every 15s from a modified Borg scale (6–20 arbitrary units a.u.). Results Perceived pain responses during CPT were augmented following TSD (Δ1.2 a.u.; time×condition, p p p p >0.05). Conclusions and implications We conclude that TSD significantly augments perceived pain during CPT, but this response was not sex dependent. These findings support emerging evidence that adequate sleep represents a relevant, and cost effective, preventative/therapeutic strategy to reduce self-perceived pain in both men and women.