cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cardiac CT Provides Complementary Parameters of Right Ventricle Function in LVAD Patients

Purpose Patients receiving LVADs are at risk for post-operative right ventricular (RV) failure. Cardiac CT angiography (CTA) provides 3D isotropic spatial resolution and blood pool-myocardial delineation and can be used to assess ventricular volumes. We sought to evaluate whether right heart catheterization (RHC) and echocardiographic (echo) parameters of RV structure and function correlate with CT-derived parameters - specifically, RV ejection fraction RVEF, RV stroke volume index RVSVI, RV to LV end diastolic ratio RV-LVEDR, and RV end diastolic volume index RVEDVI. Methods 11 LVAD candidates (age 55 ± 12, 10 males) underwent cardiac CTA between 9/27/2017 and 10/16/2018. All patients had contemporaneous (within 7 days) echo examinations and 7 patients had contemporaneous RHCs. Pulmonary artery pulsatility index PAPI, RV stroke work index RVSWI, and the ratio of right atrial to pulmonary capillary wedge pressure RAP/PCWP were obtained from RHC reports and RV size, global function, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were obtained from echo reports. Ventricle size was graded as small, normal, mild, moderate, or severely enlarged, and ventricle function as normal or depressed. Pearson's correlation coefficient (ρ) was calculated for each relationship. For echo-derived ventricular function, an unpaired t-test (p Results Structurally, echo derived RV size correlated moderately with CT RV EDVI and RAP/PCWP correlated strongly with RV-LVEDR. Functionally, RV SWI correlated well with RV EF and RV SVI. PAPI poorly correlated to RV EF and RV SVI. Echo-based characterization of global RV function was not associated with any CT-derived measures (p > 0.1). Conclusion CT-derived RV parameters may provide complementary information to hemodynamic and echo assessment, especially RAP/PCWP and 2D echo parameters, and when combined could lead to comprehensive assessment of RV function. Further research is required to examine the relationship between TAPSE and RV EF.
Cardiovascular Health and Healthy Aging

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is common in the general population, affecting most individuals over the age of 60. It currently represents over half of all noncommunicable diseases worldwide and is the leading global cause of death, accounting for over 17.3 million deaths per year. The lifetime incidence of CVD is high, as demonstrated by the Framingham Heart Study, where the estimated lifetime risk of developing coronary heart disease (CHD) alone at age 40 was 48.6% for men and 31.7% for women. The demographic shift in aging, coupled with increased survival with CVD, has resulted in an increase in the old and oldest old with chronic CVD-related conditions. Cardiovascular diseases are highly responsible for disability in those ≥ age 75. Coronary heart disease represents approximately one-third to one-half of all CVD cases. There are many lifestyle factors that have contributed to an increasing CVD disease burden, including poor diet, tobacco smoking, elevated body mass index (BMI), hypertension, glucose intolerance, and physical inactivity. Though not a modifiable risk factor, age alone outranks hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and smoking as a clinical predictor of CVD events and is the strongest determinant of heart disease and stroke in several risk factor algorithms. As such, older adults experience the greatest burden of CVD. Although occult CVD and CVD-related events increase with advancing age, subclinical CVD, such as atherosclerosis, is present for years prior to diagnosis. Thus, the prevention and slowing of CVD progression from middle age to old age are of utmost importance in promoting healthy aging.
Retrospective study of inpatient diabetes management service, length of stay and 30-day readmission rate of patients with diabetes at a community hospital.

ABSTRACTBackground: Hospitalized patients with diabetes are at risk of complications and longer length of stay (LOS). Inpatient Diabetes Management Services (IDMS) are known to be beneficial; howev...
Conductance of gated junctions as a probe of topological interface states

Energy dispersion and spin orientation of the protected states at an interface between topological insulators and nontopological materials depend on the charge redistribution, strain, and atomic displacement at the interface. Knowledge of these properties is essential for applications of topological compounds, but direct access to them in the interface geometry is difficult. We show that conductance of a gated double junction at the surface of a topological insulator exhibits oscillations and a quasilinear decay as a function of gate voltage in different regimes. These give the values for the quasiparticle velocities along and normal to the junction in the interface region, and determine the symmetry of the topological interface states. The results are insensitive to the boundary conditions at the junction.
Making nature into infrastructure: The construction of oysters as a risk management solution in New York City:

This paper investigates how nature is transformed into infrastructure through an examination of New York State’s Living Breakwaters project, a $60 million risk management experiment to grow oyster ...
Measuring the Macroeconomic Impact of Carbon Taxes

Policymakers often express concern about the impact of carbon taxes on employment or GDP. Using a new dataset on carbon tax rates, we estimate the macroeconomic impacts of these taxes on GDP and employment growth rates for various specifications and samples. Our point estimates suggest a zero to modest positive impact on GDP and total employment growth rates. More importantly, we find no robust evidence of a negative effect of the tax on employment or GDP growth. For the European experience at least, we find no support for the view that carbon taxes are job or growth killers.
Families in transition: Parenting gender diverse children, adolescents, and young adults

In Families in Transition: Parenting Gender Diverse Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults, Arlene Lev and Andrew Gottlieb bring together the perspectives of various health professionals to provid...
“Placing” the relation of social media participation to neighborhood community connection

While the association of social media to neighborhood community connection (belongingness, cooperation, and trust with neighbors) has been explored, the influence of neighborhoods in this associati...
Facilitating Evaluation of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Long-Term Health Outcomes Through Social Media Support Groups

Individual burden and cost of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)-a medical condition characterized by acute kidney failure-can be substantial when accounting for long-term health outcomes (LTHOs). Because of the low incidence of HUS, evaluation of associated LTHOs is often restricted to physician and outbreak cohorts, both of which may not be representative of all HUS cases. This exploratory study recruited participants from private social media support groups for families of HUS cases to identify potential LTHOs and costs of HUS that are not currently measured. Additionally, this study sought to identify case characteristics that may confound or modify these LTHOs and costs of HUS. Respondents self-selected to complete an online cross-sectional survey on acute and chronic illness history, treatments, and public health follow-up for HUS cases. Posttraumatic stress among respondents (typically case parents) was also evaluated. Responses were received for 74 HUS cases from 71 families representing all geographic regions, and levels of urbanicity within the US self-reported symptoms were typical for HUS, while 35.1% of cases reported antibiotic treatment at any point during the acute illness. Hospital transfers were reported by 71.6% of cases introducing possible delays to care. More than 70% of cases reported experiencing at least one LTHO, with 45% of cases reporting renal sequelae. Posttraumatic stress symptoms were frequently reported by respondents indirectly affected by HUS. Potentially large economic costs that are not addressed in existing analyses were identified including both financial and more general welfare losses (lost utility). While biases in the study design limit the generalizability of results to all HUS cases, this study provides new insights into unmeasured LTHOs and costs associated with HUS. These results suggest that robustly designed cohort studies on HUS should include measures of psychosocial impacts on both the affected individual and their family members.
La integración de L1 en las clases de L2: El caso del árabe como lengua extranjera en las universidades de los Estados Unidos

For many years, instructors and scholars of the Arabic language in American higher education schools have debated two pedagogical questions: (1) whether or not non-standardized Arabic varieties, Spoken Arabic, should be integrated with Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) in the foreign Arabic classroom, and if so, (2) what that integration should look like (see Al-Batal, 2017). One of the prominent claims of those favoring MSA in the classroom is that MSA is the more prestigious language variety and therefore better represents Arabic literature, religious tradition and culture (Ryding, 1995:226) However, in the last two decades there has been an evolving pedagogical trend that aims to break the firewall of separation between these varieties and to call for a new vision that integrates both varieties in the Arabic classroom (Al-Batal, 2017b). One of the main arguments of this new trend is that it reflects the sociolinguistic changes taking place in Arabic speaking countries and is therefore more responsive to the students’ learning needs. In this study, I aim to build on this argument and make a case for flexibility in teaching that allows for both Spoken Arabic varieties and the students’ L1 in the Arabic L2 classroom. This study aims to validate the findings of previous studies in which the L1 was found to be an important tool and resource with which to build proficiency in the L2 classroom. Using the L1, specifically English, alongside spoken Arabic in the Arabic L2 classroom, reflects the sociolinguistic dynamics of the Arab world where English as a global language is widely used both online and in everyday Arabic conversation. The study suggests a model that is based on the communicative approach which focuses on activating vocabulary and building proficiency in Spoken Arabic with the help of the L1 language.
Trends and patterns of neurotology drug prescriptions on a nationwide insurance database.

Author(s): Goshtasbi, Khodayar; Abouzari, Mehdi; Abiri, Arash; Ziai, Kasra; Lehrich, Brandon M; Risbud, Adwight; Bayginejad, Soha; Lin, Harrison W; Djalilian, Hamid R | Abstract: To examine neurotologists' 2013 to 2016 Medicare Part-D data and evaluate commonly prescribed medications, longitudinal changes in prescribing patterns, presumed associated pathologies, and cost distribution across United States. Comprehensive prescription data of Part-D-participating neurotologists was quiered from the 2013 to 2016 Medicare Part-D database. Outcome variables consisted of the 25 most commonly prescribed + refilled medications, cost distribution per medication, presumed associated pathologies, and standardized prescription cost across United States. Of the 594 available U.S. neurotologists, 336 (57%) were found in the Medicare Part-D database. In 2016, total prescription costs were $4 483 268 with an averaged $13 343 ± $18 698 per neurotologist. The three most frequently filled drugs were fluticasone propionate, ciprofloxacin, and triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide. From 2013 to 2016, the greatest change in prescription pattern was observed with azelastine (+188%), montelukast sodium (+104%), mupirocin (+63%), and mometasone (-91%), whereas the greatest change in relative drug cost distribution was seen in ofloxacin, (+695.7%) neomycin-polymyxin-hydrocortisone (+262.1%), and mometasone (-83%). Triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide, prednisone, montelukast, amoxicillin-clavulanate, azelastine, spironolactone, and mupirocin had statistically significant increases in average number of prescriptions per physician, whereas ofloxacin and mometasone had significant decreases. Medications presumably treating Eustachian tube dysfunction, Meniere's disease, and vestibular migraine had the greatest percent changes across years. Cost distribution of four drugs increased upwards of 100%. Geographic analysis demonstrated that Southern and Midwest regions had higher standardized prescription costs. This study is the first to analyze neurotologists' trends in prescribing patterns, regional prescription cost distributions, and commonly treated pathologies. This can lead to better standardization of prescribing patterns and cost in the future.
Adaptive active suspension to attain optimal performance and maintain static equilibrium level

An adaptive control approach for an active suspension to deal with a nonlinear time varying (NTV) vehicle–plant is discussed. A robust stable adaptive controller with time varying parameters is designed for control of an active suspension for a vehicle plant to obtain near optimal performance and maintain static equilibrium during parametric variations. Adaptive control of an active suspension for a NTV single input single output (SISO) vehicle–plant is considered. Adaptive controller based on error augmentation approach of model reference adaptive control (MRAC) with a velocity error term is derived to obtain the optimal performance without a priori knowledge of variations in vehicle plant parameters. The controller is designed for the first time to maintain static equilibrium irrespective of dynamic load shifts that occur during acceleration and deceleration manoeuvres. Optimal performance between good vibration isolation and stability or curving that can be achieved by this method is illustrated by simulation results. Results for drastic online and nominal parameter variations for deterministic and stochastic input are discussed. A block diagram illustrating the adaptive controller for practical implementation is also discussed.
Evaluation of Peripheral Vertical Nondegenerative Medial Meniscus Tears Treated With Trephination Alone at the Time of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.

Purpose To determine (1) subjective results and incidence of symptomatic medial meniscus tears (MMTs) in patients treated with trephination alone compared with a control group without meniscus tears and (2) if trephination treatment resulted in a higher incidence of knee arthritis compared with controls with intact menisci. Methods Between 1997 and 2010, 419 patients met the inclusion criteria of having an isolated anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, peripheral vertical nondegenerative MMT treated with trephination alone, no lateral meniscus tears, normal radiographs before surgery, and no bilateral knee involvement. A control group of 462 patients included patients who met the same criteria but without MMT. Objective data included International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) objective evaluation. Subjective data included IKDC and Cincinnati Knee Rating System (CKRS) scores. Results Objective follow-up was obtained for 191 patients in the study group and 200 patients in the control group (mean, 5.6 and 5.9 years, respectively; range, 2 to 16 years). Subjective survey follow-up was obtained for 312 patients in the study group and 343 patients in the control group (mean, 7.0 and 7.1 years, respectively). The mean CKRS score was 91.8 ± 13.3 for the study group and 92.3 ± 10.9 for the control group ( P = .27). The mean IKDC score was 86.5 ± 15.8 for the study group and 86.7 ± 16.3 for the control group ( P = .81). Subsequent MMTs occurred in 51 patients (16.3%) in the study group and 20 patients (5.8%) in the control group ( P P = .18). Conclusions Patients with peripheral nondegenerative MMTs treated with trephination alone had a 16.3% rate of subsequent symptomatic MMTs compared with 6% in patients with intact menisci. However, no statistically significant differences were found between groups for radiographic and subjective results. Level of Evidence Level III, therapeutic case control study.
The Making of a Conservationist: Audubon’s Ecological Memory

In the centuries since Audubon lived, the extent of disruption to natural ecosystems has relentlessly increased throughout North America. Yet during the first half of the 19th century Audobon already recognized threats to environmental integrity and biodiversity long before such concepts were articulated by 20th-century ecologists. Based on his own extensive observations of nature’s abundance and destruction throughout North America, Audubon anticipated the broad outlines of conservation in many ways consistent with principles of environmental protection in our time. Fundamental to these understandings, as prescient as they seem today, was his extraordinary sense of ecological memory. Based on his own observations of the changing range of wildlife populations during his lifetime, he could extrapolate to consequences for the continent of North America as a whole and recognized what was at stake for future generations.
Law, Culture, and Ritual: Disputing Systems in Cross-Cultural Context

Foreword by Jerome S. BrunerPreface 1 Introduction 2 The Lesson of the Azande 3 "Modern" Dispute-Ways 4 American "Exceptionalism" in Civil Litigation 5 The Discretionary Power of the Judge in Cultural Context 6 The Rise of ADR in Cultural Context 7 The Role of Ritual 8 How Disputing In?uences Culture 9 Conclusion Afterword: The Classroom and the Terror of Relativism Notes Bibliography Index About the Author
A repressible alkaline phosphatase in Neurospora crassa. II. Isolation and chemical properties.

Abstract The repressible alkaline phosphatase in a wild type strain of Neurospora crassa was purified to apparent homogeneity, as ascertained from centrifugal and electrophoretic data, and was characterized by physical and chemical methods. The native protein molecule has a molecular weight of 154,000, as determined by the method of sedimentation equilibrium. This species can be dissociated in the presence of 6 m guanidine-mercaptoethanol into subunits possessing a molecular weight of 77,000. Determinations of the amino acid and sugar composition of this enzyme disclosed that it is a glycoprotein in which the carbohydrates constitute about 11.5% of the total weight. In derepressed cultures of the mold, this enzyme represents about 1% of the total protein.
Squeezing out gaming behavior in a dialog-based ITS

Research Methods Tutor (RMT) is a dialog-based intelligent tutoring system which has been used by students in Research Methods in Psychology classes since 2003. Students interact with RMT to reinforce what they learn in class in five different topics. In this paper, we evaluate a different population of students and replicate our prior research: despite the relatively small amount of exposure during the term to RMT compared to other course-related activities, students learn significantly more on topics covered with RMT [1]. However, we did not find the same advantage for the dialog-based tutoring mode of RMT over the CAI mode. When transcript analyses indicated that a small but significant number of students were gaming the system by entering empty or nonsense responses, we modified the tutor to require reasonable attempts. This did lead some students to reform their gaming ways. In other cases, however, it resulted in disengagement from tutoring at least temporarily because reasonable answers were not recognized.
On the Performance of Online Learning Methods for Detecting Malicious Executables

We present results from an empirical study of seven online-learning methods on the task of detecting previously unseen malicious executables. Mali- cious software has disrupted computer and network operation and has compro- mised or destroyed sensitive information. Methods of machine learning, which build predictive models that generalize training data, have proven useful for de- tecting previously unseen malware. In previous studies, batch methods detected malicious and benign executables with high true-positive and true-negative rates, but doing so required significant time and space, which may limit applicability. Online methods of learning can update models quickly with only a single exam- ple, but potential trade-offs in performance are not well-understood for this task. Accuracy of the best performing online methods was 93%, which was 3-4% lower than that of batch methods. For applications that require immediate updates of models, this may be an acceptable trade-off. Our study characterizes these trade- offs, thereby giving researchers and practitioners insights into the performance of online methods of machine learning on the task of detecting malicious executa- bles.
Courtship and mating in the giant hairy desert scorpion, Hadrurus arizonensis (Scorpionida, Iuridae).

Hadrurus arizonensis is a large, long-lived species of North American desert scorpion with lengthy, stereotyped courtship behaviors that lead to sperm transfer via an external spermatophore. Courtship and mating behaviors in H. arizonensis and other members of the Iuridae family have not been described. H. arizonensis has reproductive behavior similar to that of other scorpions, including the promenade a deux, but with some unique components described here for the first time. Courtship and mating behaviors of H. arizonensis are presented in a flowchart to emphasize its stereotypical nature and suitability for experimental manipulation in field and laboratory studies.
L12 precipitates within L21 ordered Fe–21.7Mn–14.5Al

Needle-like precipitates exhibiting Widmanstatten side plate morphology have been observed in Fe–21.7Mn–14.5Al annealed at 1573 K for 2 h followed by furnace cooling. The precipitates were identified to be an L12 (ordered fcc) structure, whereas the matrix had an L21 (ordered bcc) structure. The orientation relationship between the precipitates and matrix was found, by electron diffraction analysis, to be (011)L21//(001)L12, [11 ]L21//[ 10]L12. Nanoindentation results showed that the hardness of the L12 phase was ∼10.2 GPa, whereas a hardness of ∼15.9 GPa for the L21 matrix was found.
Leukocyte adherence in rat mesenteric venules: effects of adenosine and methotrexate.

Abstract Background: Methotrexate (MTX) reduces neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cell monolayers, possibly via stimulation of adenosine production. However, it remains unclear whether adenosine participates in the anti-inflammatory actions of MTX in postcapillary venules. Methods: Leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive interactions were measured in rat mesenteric venules (25–35 μm diameter) during superfusion with either bicarbonate-buffered saline (BBS) alone, BBS combined with platelet-activating factor (PAF), or BBS combined with leukotriene B 4 (LTB 4 ). In some experiments, either MTX or adenosine was added to a superfusate containing either PAF or LTB 4 . In other experiments, either adenosine deaminase (ADA), an adenosine A1-receptor antagonist, or an A 2 -receptor antagonist was added to a superfusate containing PAF and either MTX or adenosine. Results: Both MTX and adenosine were effective in preventing the leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesive interactions elicited by PAF, but not by LTB 4 . These actions of adenosine and MTX against PAF-induced leukocyte adhesion were blunted by ADA and the A 2 -(but not the A 1 -) receptor antagonist. Conclusions: These results indicate that both adenosine and methotrexate attenuate PAF-induced leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion in postcapillary venules via activation of A 2 -receptors on the leukocyte.
Finite-amplitude shear wave in pre-stressed thin elastomers

We examine the elastic shear waves generated in a thin pre-stressed elastomer layer that is sandwiched between two relatively thick steel plates and is subjected to an elastic shear wave traveling in one of the steel plates. The elastomer layer has been deformed in uni-axial strain in advance, producing in the layer very large axial and lateral compressive stresses of the order of its bulk modulus. Deformations of this kind are produced in the thin layer when the sandwich structure is impacted by another steel plate at an oblique angle. Our results are thus relevant to the analysis of such pressure-shear plate impact experiments.
Low-energy excitations of neutral C60.

Low-energy excited states of a neutral ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ molecule are studied in detail. The system is described by a Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Hubbard-type Hamiltonian which is solved perturbatively in the electron-electron interactions. The optical-absorption spectrum is computed including both the direct and one-phonon-induced processes. Electronic-correlation effects are qualitatively important and, if and only if the electron-electron interaction is taken to be large enough, good agreement with experiments is achieved. Furthermore, it is shown that, in this model, the lowest-energy spin-triplet state is stable against decay due to a large Coulomb binding. Also, the theory predicts a triplet-triplet band about at 0.45 eV which, to my knowledge, has not yet been observed experimentally.
Paromomycin binding induces a local conformational change in the A-site of 16 S rRNA.

Abstract Aminoglycoside antibiotics that bind to ribosomal RNA in the aminoacyl-tRNA site (A-site) cause misreading of the genetic code and inhibit translocation. An A-site RNA oligonucleotide specifically binds to aminoglycoside antibiotics and the structure of the RNA-paromomycin complex was previously determined by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Here, the A-site RNA structure in its free form has been determined using heteronuclear NMR and compared to the structure of the paromomycin-RNA complex. As in the complex with paromomycin, the asymmetric internal loop is closed by a Watson-Crick base-pair (C1407 · G1494) and by two non-canonical base-pairs (U1406 · U1495, A1408 · A1493). A1492 stacks below A1493 and is intercalated between the upper and lower stems. The comparison of the free and bound conformations of the RNA shows that two universally conserved residues of the A site of 16 S rRNA, A1492 and A1493, are displaced towards the minor groove of the RNA helix in presence of antibiotic. These changes in the RNA conformation place the N1 positions of A1492 and A1493 on the minor groove side of the A-site RNA and suggest a mechanism of action of aminoglycosides on translation.
Grid-based methods for diatomic quantum scattering problems: A finite-element discrete-variable representation in prolate spheroidal coordinates

We show how to combine finite elements and the discrete variable representation in prolate spheroidal coordinates to develop a grid-based approach for quantum mechanical studies involving diatomic molecular targets. Prolate spheroidal coordinates are a natural choice for diatomic systems and have been used previously in a variety of bound-state applications. The use of exterior complex scaling in the present implementation allows for a transparently simple way of enforcing Coulomb boundary conditions and therefore straightforward application to electronic continuum problems. Illustrative examples involving the bound and continuum states of H2+, as well as the calculation of photoionization cross sections, show that the speed and accuracy of the present approach offer distinct advantages over methods based on single-center expansions.
A Broad Picture of Darwinian Biology

Rose, Michael R., and Laurence D. Mueller. 2006. Evolution and ecology of the organism. Pearson Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. xx + 693 p. $115.33, ISBN: 0-13-010404-3.
Quenched flow technique with plasma membrane vesicles: Acetylcholine receptor-mediated transmembrane ion flux

Abstract The construction and use of a versatile quenched flow machine suitable for use with small volumes of membrane vesicle suspension with a wide range of incubation times is described. Several sequential incubations can be made and the mixing can be performed with different dilutions. The design allows great versatility in plumbing which can be changed readily during an experiment. The time course of ion influx and efflux mediated by acetylcholine receptor was followed with varying ligand concentration using membrane vesicles with reaction times ranging from 5 ms to minutes. These measurements expose the varying response to different ligands, and the different ligand dependencies of ion flux and inactivation of receptor. Inactivation of the receptor by ligand and its recovery after dilution of ligand were studied by double incubation and concentration jump techniques. Problems particularly associated with the use of membrane vesicles in a rapid mixing system are considered. Breakage of the vesicles, studied with labeled membrane as an internal standard, was usually small but could be significant depending on the tubing arrangement and membrane preparation. Breakage, when observed, occurred very reproducibly. The mixing-quenching dead time with the vesicle system was apparently greater than that measured with a model hydrolysis reaction. This discrepancy may be attributable to the low diffusion rate of the vesicles.
Bridging the Divide Between HPC and Commodity System Software

Cloud computing holds great promise for High Performance Computing (HPC) users and applications. Accordingly a large amount of work has gone into exploring and enabling the use of current cloud service architectures to support HPC applications. While the allure of cloud based HPC systems is very compelling, there are still a number of issues that prevent the cloud from becoming a truly viable HPC platform. In particular, application performance has been found to suffer from competing workloads, randomized layouts and node assignments, as well as competing network flows. All of these issues arise from the fact that HPC applications are forced to share and compete for resources along with a wide variety of other commodity applications. Unfortunately, the presence of these competing workloads is critical to the success of the cloud model, which relies on the economics of leveraging shared resources. While this inherent tension has so far acted as a barrier to the deployment of HPC applications in the cloud, we claim that it can be overcome using multiple specialized system software stacks that are capable of providing isolated partitions for co-located workloads. This talk will focus on the design and development of system software capable of effectively supporting HPC applications in a commodity cloud environment through the use of dynamic resource partitioning and isolated management layers.
The Maximum Familywise Error Rate of Fisher's Least Significant Difference Test

Abstract In this article an investigation is made of the maximum familywise error rate (MFWER) of Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) test for testing the equality of k population means in a one-way layout. An exact expression for the MFWER is derived (see Theorem 1) for all balanced models and for an unbalanced model with k = 3 populations (Type I models). A close upper bound for the MFWER is derived for all unbalanced models with four or more populations (Type II models). These expressions are used to illustrate that the MFWER may greatly exceed the nominal size α of the LSD test. In addition, a simple modification of the LSD test is proposed to control the MFWER. This modified procedure has MFWER equal to the nominal level α for Type I models and no greater than α for Type II models (Theorem 2) and is, therefore, recommended as an improvement over the LSD test. The key to the analysis is two theorems concerning the ranges of independent normal random variables, which are contained in the Append...
Regulatory T cell clones induced by oral tolerance: suppression of autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a cell-mediated autoimmune disease that serves as an animal model for multiple sclerosis. Oral administration of myelin basic protein (MBP) suppresses EAE by inducing peripheral tolerance. T cell clones were isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes of SJL mice that had been orally tolerized to MBP. These clones were CD4+ and were structurally identical to T helper cell type 1 (TH1) encephalitogenic CD4+ clones in T cell receptor usage, major histocompatibility complex restriction, and epitope recognition. However, they produced transforming growth factor-beta with various amounts of interleukin-4 and interleukin-10 and suppressed EAE induced with either MBP or proteolipid protein. Thus, mucosally derived TH2-like clones induced by oral antigen can actively regulate immune responses in vivo and may represent a different subset of T cells.
Ethanol Increases Apoptotic Cell Death of Thymocytes in Vitro

Exposure of animals to ethanol causes thymic atrophy in adults and fetuses. Whether direct effects of ethanol contribute to thymic atrophy or whether indirect effects are entirely responsible is at present unknown. In the normal animal, large numbers of thymocytes undergo a physiological form of cell death referred to as "apoptosis." To determine if ethanol affects the process of apoptosis, studies were undertaken in which mouse thymocytes were cultured overnight in the presence or absence of ethanol. Apoptotic cell death was analyzed by flow cytometric quantitation of apoptotic nuclei, by fluorometric measurement of DNA fragments, and by gel electrophoretic analysis of DNA fragments. Ethanol in concentrations of 0.2% to 0.8% produced significantly higher levels of apoptosis than were seen in control cultures. The DNA fragmentation was characterized as apoptotic on the basis of inhibition by aurintricarboxylic acid (an inhibitor of nucleases) and by the presence of characteristic oligonucleosomal-sized fragments of DNA. The effect of ethanol on apoptosis was additive to that induced by immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody. CD4+CD8+ cells underwent apoptosis as indicated by reduction in CD4 and CD8 surface antigen expression. An inhibitor of protein kinases (H-7) reduced the DNA degradation induced by ethanol and by anti-CD3. These results suggest that direct effects of ethanol contribute to thymic atrophy in alcohol-consuming animals.
Weight gain during menopause. Is it inevitable or can it be prevented

PREVIEWWeight gain at menopause increases the risk of high blood pressure, high blood lipid levels, and insulin resistance. Some studies have suggested that increased weight is linked with hormonal changes and might be considered “normal.” Does this mean women face inexorable weight gain at menopause, or are there ways to overcome this problem? In this article, the authors review long-term studies related to changes that occur at menopause and define the factors that can be altered to avoid weight gain and the many problems associated with it.
The effect of soy protein isolate in the diet on retention by the rat of iron from radiolabeled test meals.

The influence of soy protein isolate (SPI) in the diet on whole-body retention of extrinsically radiolabeled iron from test meals containing or not containing SPI was evaluated in marginally iron-deficient weanling rats. In experiment 1 SPI was compared with casein in a 2 X 2 factorial design: diets and test meals were either SPI-based or casein-based. Diets were fed for 13 days prior to the test meal and for 7 days subsequent to the test meal. Rats fed the SPI-based diet retained less iron from test meals than did rats fed the casein-based diet (66.1 vs. 74.8%, P less than 0.01). Experiment 2 showed that an SPI-based diet fed during the final 4 days of a 14-day pre-test meal period and subsequent to the test meal led to less iron retention compared to a casein-based diet. In addition to the observed diet effect, experiment 1 showed that iron retention was less from an SPI-based test meal than from a casein-based test meal, confirming previous reports of adverse effects of SPI on iron retention. The present experiments show that SPI can adversely affect from retention in two ways: by its presence in the diet before and after a test meal, andmore » by its presence in a test meal.« less
The effects of disturbance patch size on species coexistence

A central problem in community ecology lies in determining how the frequency and spatial extent of disturbance events affect community structure. In an empirical study of competition in fungi ( Armstrong, 1976 ), I showed that the ease with which species are able to coexist can depend strongly on the disturbance regime. In the present paper, I use a model of two species competing for space to show that this observation was not due entirely to idiosyncrasies of the species studied; in particular, I show that as disturbance patch size increases relative to the dispersal abilities of the species involved, coexistence becomes more difficult. The model also predicts that coexistence should occur more readily as the level of seed production by the subordinate species increases relative to seed production by the dominant species, and as the growth rate and dispersal ability of the subordinate species increase relative to those of the dominant species. The present model may be enhanced for use in field situations, yielding quantitative predictions of conditions under which fugitive species will be able to coexist.
OMEGA EP : High-energy petawatt capability for the OMEGA laser facility

OMEGA EP (Extended Performance) is a petawatt-class addition to the existing 30-kJ, 60-beam OMEGA Laser Facility at the University of Rochester. When completed, it will consist of four beamlines, each capable of producing up to 6.5 kJ at 351 nm in a 1 to 10 ns pulse. Two of the beamlines will produce up to 2.6 kJ in a pulse-width range of 1 to 100 ps at 1053 nm using chirped-pulse amplification (CPA). This paper reviews both the OMEGA EP performance objectives and the enabling technologies required to meet these goals.
Chronically ill and “feeling fine”;: A study of communication and chronic illness

Abstract The goal of this study was to obtain the perspective of persons living with chronic illness on their communication with those who are well. The review of literature revealed that little research had been conducted from the perspective of the chronically ill person. Data consisted of 140 pages of transcripts from in‐depth interviews conducted with sixteen persons who defined themselves as chronically ill. The researcher performed an interpretive analysis on the transcripts. Analysis of the data revealed that persons living with chronic illness perceive communication problems between themselves and those who are well. The researcher argues that these communication problems can be defined as instances of “miscommunication”; brought about by shifts in meanings the chronically ill bring to the words they use. Suggestions based on the ideas of the interviewees for improving communication between the chronically ill and the well are offered.
Interactive editing of massive imagery made simple: Turning Atlanta into Atlantis

This article presents a simple framework for progressive processing of high-resolution images with minimal resources. We demonstrate this framework's effectiveness by implementing an adaptive, multi-resolution solver for gradient-based image processing that, for the first time, is capable of handling gigapixel imagery in real time. With our system, artists can use commodity hardware to interactively edit massive imagery and apply complex operators, such as seamless cloning, panorama stitching, and tone mapping.We introduce a progressive Poisson solver that processes images in a purely coarse-to-fine manner, providing near instantaneous global approximations for interactive display (see Figure 1). We also allow for data-driven adaptive refinements to locally emulate the effects of a global solution. These techniques, combined with a fast, cache-friendly data access mechanism, allow the user to interactively explore and edit massive imagery, with the illusion of having a full solution at hand. In particular, we demonstrate the interactive modification of gigapixel panoramas that previously required extensive offline processing. Even with massive satellite images surpassing a hundred gigapixels in size, we enable repeated interactive editing in a dynamically changing environment. Images at these scales are significantly beyond the purview of previous methods yet are processed interactively using our techniques. Finally our system provides a robust and scalable out-of-core solver that consistently offers high-quality solutions while maintaining strict control over system resources.
ANALYSIS OF OPEN SYSTEMS OF MULTIPLE POOLS BY ADMINISTRATION OF TRACERS AT A CONSTANT RATE OR AS A SINGLE DOSE AS ILLUSTRATED BY PROBLEMS INVOLVING STEROID HORMONES.

When attempts are made to evaluate the rates of secretion and metabolism of steroid hormones by the application of isotope tracer techniques, compartmental analysis involving pools which represent different related compounds and different spaces of distribution for each compound must be employed. In this paper, new approaches to this form of analysis are presented. Thus, general open systems of multiple pools (in the steady state) into which tracers are introduced at a constant rate have been studied. Mathematical expressions have been derived by which “production rates”, “direct production rates” of each pool, and “transfer factors” between pools can be calculated from isotopic data obtained by sampling the pools at equilibrium. In some more restricted models it was possible to relate the rates of direct transfer between pools to the specific activities of some of the pools. A relationship has been derived between the specific activities of a pool at equilibrium during constant infusion of the tracers an...
Information Needs and Barriers to Accessing Electronic Information: Hospital-Based Physicians Compared to Primary Care Physicians

This article focuses on the information needs of physicians in the UK; the frequency physicians formulate questions and then search the literature electronically; physicians' use of information technology (IT) and their desire to use such equipment; physicians' preferences in locating evidence; and perceived barriers to accessing electronic information to assist in clinical decision making. Physicians working in the hospital environment are compared to those who work in primary care. Data for this study were gathered using an online questionnaire.
Infertility due to antisperm antibodies

Immunoinfertility is an important problem, involving a significant number of infertile couples. Although the presence of antibodies on sperm has better prognostic value than those in serum or seminal plasma, it may not be the sole authentic evidence of immunoinfertility. Infertility from antisperm antibodies is likely only when they bind to a relevant sperm antigen involved in a specific fertility function. The variance in functional deficits seen in immunologic infertility is most likely related to antibodies directed at different sperm antigens or different class, subclass, or isotypes. Antibodies to FA-1 seem to be of significant importance in human immunoinfertility. In approaching couples with infertility, a high index of suspicion for antibodies is necessary to avoid misdiagnosis. In the optimal situation, all semen analyses should be screened for sperm-bound antibodies, but if this is impractical, testing should be performed on high-risk individuals (Table I). In couples in which the man has sperm-bound antibodies, and in whom there is no identifiable female factor, treatment should be instituted. Most treatments for immunoinfertility have been disappointing because of poor results, adverse effects, or high cost. Corticosteroid therapy has shown some promise in published reports (mostly poorly designed studies), but increase in pregnancy rate is modest and adverse effects may be significant. In our opinion, informed consent should be documented prior to institution of corticosteroid therapy, and subjects should be closely monitored. Advanced reproductive technologies offer a higher safety profile, and, with increasing technology, higher pregnancy rates. We recommend progressing from "low-tech" procedures, such as IUI and reserving the higher level procedures, such as IVF and ICSI, for those couples in whom pregnancy does not occur. The highest level reproductive technologies give the best current prospects for pregnancy in patients with this difficult problem but also are invasive and costly. It is hoped that further work in the laboratory will give rise to newer, safer, and less expensive effective treatments in the very near future.
Adaptation of chicken vestibular nucleus neurons to unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy

Vestibular compensation refers to the behavioral recovery after a unilateral peripheral vestibular lesion. In chickens, posture and balance deficits are present immediately following unilateral vestibular ganglionectomy (UVG). After three days, most operated chickens begin to recover, but severe deficits persist in others. The tangential nucleus is a major avian vestibular nucleus whose principal cells are vestibular reflex projection neurons. From patch-clamp recordings on brain slices, the percentage of spontaneous spike firing principal cells, spike discharge rate, ionic conductances, and spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) were investigated one and three days after UVG. Already by one day after UVG, sEPSC frequency increased significantly on the lesion side, although no differences were detected in the percentage of spontaneous spike firing cells or discharge rate. In compensated chickens three days after UVG, the percentage of spontaneous spike firing cells increased on the lesion side and the discharge rate increased bilaterally. In uncompensated chickens three days after UVG, principal cells on the lesion side showed increased discharge rate and increased sEPSC frequency, whereas principal cells on the intact side were silent. Typically, silent principal cells exhibited smaller persistent sodium conductances and higher activation thresholds for the fast sodium channel than spiking cells. In addition, silent principal cells on the intact side of uncompensated chickens had larger dendrotoxin-sensitive potassium conductance, with a higher ratio of Kv1.1 surface/cytoplasmic expression. Increased sEPSC frequency in principal cells on the lesion side of uncompensated chickens was accompanied by decreased Kv1.2 immunolabeling of presynaptic terminals on principal cell bodies. Thus, both intrinsic ionic conductances and excitatory synaptic inputs play crucial roles at early stages after lesions. Unlike the principal cells in compensated chickens which showed similar percentages of spontaneous spike firing cells, discharge rates, and sEPSC frequencies bilaterally, principal cells in uncompensated chickens displayed gross asymmetry in these properties bilaterally.