cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Birthweight, mediating biomarkers and the development of type 2 diabetes later in life: a prospective study of multi-ethnic women.

Aims/hypothesis The aim of this work was to investigate the prospective relationship between low birthweight (LBW) and type 2 diabetes risk later in life and the mediation effects of type 2 diabetes biomarkers linking LBW to type 2 diabetes risk.
Endophilin N-BAR Domains-induced Membrane Remodeling Revealed by Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Endophilin N-BAR domains play a critical rule in membrane remodeling (e.g., endocytosis, synapses) due to their membrane sculpting abilities. Presently, roles of the amphipathic helices and the positively charged concave surface on the crescent dimer in membrane remodeling are still not well understood. In addition, the endophilin N-BAR domain has one additional inserted helix on each of the monomers, thus making it unique in the entire BAR superfamily. Both the structure and the function of this additional helix are unknown up to now. Interestingly, the tubulated structures of endophilin N-BAR domains are much larger than the corresponding amphiphysin N-BAR domains. It is important to investigate the effect of the inserted helices in order to fully understand the mechanism of endophilin N-BAR domain protein driven liposome tubulation. Large scale all-atom molecular dynamics simulations are used to examine the details of the endophilin mediated membrane remodeling process. By comparing the results of different possible arrangements of the protein and membrane, we predict the optimum location of the additional helix. These results will facilitate in understanding the overall mechanism of endophilin N-BAR domains membrane oligomerization and remodeling.
A Signaling Game Approach to Databases Querying and Interaction

As most database users cannot precisely express their information needs, it is challenging for database querying and exploration interfaces to understand them. We propose a novel formal framework for representing and understanding information needs in database querying and exploration. Our framework considers querying as a collaboration between the user and the database system to establish a mutual language for representing information needs. We formalize this collaboration as a signaling game, where each mutual language is an equilibrium for the game. A query interface is more effective if it establishes a less ambiguous mutual language faster. We discuss some equilibria, strategies, and the convergence rates in this game. In particular, we propose a reinforcement learning mechanism and analyze it within our framework. We prove that this adaptation mechanism for the query interface improves the effectiveness of answering queries stochastically speaking, and converges almost surely.
Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure Following Intrapleural Thrombolytic Therapy for Hemothorax

Intrapleural instillation of thrombolytic agents has been useful in the treatment of hemothorax when thoracostomy tube drainage is unsuccessful. We present a patient who developed acute hypoxemic respiratory failure following the intrapleural instillation of both streptokinase and urokinase 24 h apart. Hypoxemia most likely resulted from a direct effect of the products of fibrinolysis on the pulmonary circulation.
Coping and Benefit Finding among Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors of Different Sexual Orientations

This study of long-term breast cancer survivors examined differences in coping by sexual orientation and determined the contribution of sexual orientation and coping on survivors' benefit finding. Sexual orientation was indirectly associated with benefit finding by interactions with clinical, social support, and demographic variables, and not by interactions between sexual orientation and coping styles. While survivors with a sexual minority orientation had more adaptive coping than heterosexual survivors, these differences in coping did not relate to benefit finding. These findings provide some information for clinicians and researchers about subgroups of sexual minority survivors' who perceive more benefit after breast cancer.
The negative correlations between data-determined bandwidths and the optimal bandwidth

Abstract In nonparametric kernel regression, most automatically chosen bandwidths are known to have the disturbing property of being negatively correlated with the squared error optimal bandwidth. Fourier analysis method provide insight into the cause of this negative correlation, which is far deeper than previous heuristic explanations. The conclusions are verified by a simulation study.
Identification of Two RNA cis-Elements That Function to Regulate the 5′ Splice Site Selection of Bcl-x Pre-mRNA in Response to Ceramide

Two splice variants derived from the BCL-x gene, proapoptotic Bcl-x(s) and anti-apoptotic Bcl-x(L), are produced via alternative 5' splice site selection within exon 2 of Bcl-x pre-mRNA. In previous studies, our laboratory demonstrated that ceramide regulated this 5' splice site selection, inducing the production of Bcl-x(s) mRNA with a concomitant decrease in Bcl-x(L) correlating with sensitization to chemotherapy (Chalfant, C. E., Rathman, K., Pinkerman, R. L., Wood, R. E., Obeid, L. M., Ogretmen, B., and Hannun, Y. A. (2002) J. Biol. Chem. 277, 12587-12595). We have now identified several possible RNA cis-elements within exon 2 of Bcl-x pre-mRNA by sequence analysis. To study the possible roles of these RNA cis-elements in regulating the alternative 5' splice site selection of Bcl-x pre-mRNA, we developed a BCL-x minigene construct which conferred the same ratio of Bcl-x(L)/Bcl-x(s) mRNA as the endogenous Bcl-x and was responsive to ceramide treatment. Mutagenesis of either a purine-rich splicing enhancer or a pyrimidine tract element within exon 2 induced a change in the ratio of Bcl-x(L)/Bcl-x(s) mRNA from 7 to 1 and 0.23, thereby diminishing the selection of the Bcl-x(L) 5' splice site with a concomitant increase in Bcl-x(s) 5' splice site selection. Furthermore, mutagenesis of these cis-elements abolished the ability of ceramide to affect the 5' splice site selection. In vitro binding assays coupled with competitor studies demonstrated specific binding of RNA trans-activating proteins to these regions. SDS-PAGE analysis of cross-linked RNA trans-activating factors with these RNA cis-elements revealed the binding of 215-, 120-, and 30-kDa proteins to the purine-rich element and 120- and 76-kDa proteins to the pyrimidine tract element. In addition, exogenous treatment of A549 cells with ceramide increased the formation of protein complexes with these RNA cis-elements. Therefore, we have identified two ceramide-responsive RNA cis-elements within exon 2 of Bcl-x pre-mRNA, and this is the first report of an RNA cis-element responsive to a bioactive lipid.
Social phobia and response to challenge procedures: Examining the interaction between anxiety sensitivity and trait anxiety

Abstract Anxiety sensitivity (AS) has been posited to amplify anxiety reactions, because anxiety itself may become a fear stimulus in high AS persons. Based in part on theoretical statements by McNally (1989), we predicted that AS and trait anxiety would interact to produce anxiety following potentially threatening experiences. To investigate this possibility, we examined the responses of 62 social phobics to two challenge procedures: (1) a modified Stroop task consisting of socially threatening, physically threatening, and color comparison words and (2) a behavior test in which subjects were exposed to a simulation of a personally relevant feared situation. The combined main effects of AS and trait anxiety were not predictive of anxiety response to either procedure. Nevertheless, in two of five cases, the interaction between AS and trait anxiety accounted for a statistically significant increment in variance relative to the combined main effects of these two variables; in a third case, the increment in variance was marginally significant. Moreover, in all three cases, the direction of this interaction was in the predicted direction. Although these results are preliminary and require replication, they illustrate the potential utility of examining the interaction between AS and trait anxiety and the relevance of the AS construct to social phobia.
Sequential activation and inactivation of G2 checkpoints for selective killing of p53-deficient cells by microtubule-active drugs.

By inducing p53-dependent G2 arrest, the pretreatment with low concentrations of DNA damaging drugs (e.g., doxorubicin, DOX) can prevent cell death caused by microtubule-active drugs (e.g., paclitaxel, PTX), thus potentially permitting selective killing of p53-deficient cancer cells. However, DOX still protects a subset of tumor cell lines lacking wt p53 (HL60 and Jurkat leukemia cells), thus limiting the utility of protection of cells with wt p53 (e.g., normal cells). The present work overcomes this obstacle by adding an abrogator of p53-independent checkpoint (e.g., UCN-01) to the DOX-PTX sequence. By inhibiting a p53-independent pathway, UCN-01 overrode DOX-induced G2 arrest and instead induced G1 arrest in HL60 and Jurkat, thus propelling these p53-deficient cells from G2 to G1. Once they entered mitosis, cells were killed by PTX. Induction of G2 arrest with sequential abrogation of a p53-independent checkpoint allows pharmacological manipulation of Raf-1/Bcl-2 hyperphosphorylation, PARP and Rb cleavage and cell death caused by PTX in p53-deficient cells. Unlike previous approaches, this strategy is intended to increase selectivity, not the cytotoxicity of PTX. This rational sequence of agents that induces p53-dependent and abrogates p53-independent arrest represents a cancer-selective strategy for treatment of p53-deficient tumors.
Time Reversal With MISO for Ultrawideband Communications: Experimental Results

Time reversal (TR) communications marks a paradigm shift in ultrawideband (UWB) communications. The system complexity can be shifted from the receiver to the transmitter, which is ideal to some applications. UWB multiple input-single output (MISO) is enabled by the use of the TR scheme. Two basic problems are investigated experimentally using short UWB radio pulses (nanosecond duration). Temporal focusing and increase in collected-energy with the number of antennas are verified. Also, the reciprocity of realistic channels, the cornerstone of TR, is demonstrated perhaps for the first time in electromagnetics
Hemi-front operation in surgery for single ventricle: A preliminary report

Mortality after Fontan operation is related to risk factors like ventricular hypertrophy, pulmonary artery deformity, and young age (infancy). Preliminary procedures may improve Fontan results. The hemi-Fontan operation includes atriopulmonary anastomosis and correction of all anatomical risk factors, but an atriopulmonary patch directs superior vena caval flow into both pulmonary arteries and inferior vena caval flow into the ventricle, thus maintaining cardiac output (modified Glenn physiology). We performed 17 hemi-Fontan procedures in 16 patients, 14 primarily (median age, 9 months) and 3 for takedown of a Fontan operation. The 14 primary operations were for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (5), pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (4), and other (5). All patients had multiple risk factors. Extubation was at 18 hours (median), chest tube removal was at 3 days, and hospital discharge was at 8 days postoperatively. Important complications included subglottic stenosis, transient diaphragmatic paralysis, pulmonary artery stenosis and thrombosis requiring reoperation, and transient ventricular fibrillation. One patient required hemi-Fontan takedown, and this patient later (3 months postoperatively) became the only death. Fontan take-downs have had a high mortality rate. In 3 patients who tolerated Fontan operation poorly, converting Fontan to hemi-Fontan abruptly reversed the downhill course. For these patients, the operation was life-saving. Hemi-Fontan operation is safe and well-tolerated, even in infants, provides the advantages of modified Glenn physiology before Fontan operation, and may be especially useful for Fontan takedown after failed Fontan.
Current management of transplant renal artery stenosis: clinical utility of duplex Doppler ultrasonography.

Abstract Objectives To perform a retrospective study to determine the clinical utility of Doppler ultrasonography (DUS) and to determine its role in the management of transplant renal artery stenosis (TRAS). Methods Patients undergoing DUS between January 1998 and January 2001 for clinical suspicion of TRAS were included in the study. A total of 51 patients were divided into two groups according to the peak systolic velocity. Additional management was based on the clinical and DUS findings and their congruence. Patients were followed up and their outcome was analyzed. Results Of the 51 patients who entered the study, 26 were in the low probability group (LPG) and 25 in the high probability group (HPG). Nine patients in the LPG underwent additional investigations; eight underwent magnetic resonance angiography and one angiography. Of these 9 patients, 6 had stenosis, 4 of whom required angiography. In total, 5 patients from the LPG underwent angioplasty, and 4 of them had stenosis (1 with TRAS, 2 with common iliac artery stenosis, and 1 with renal artery ostial stenosis). Three patients underwent angioplasty and 2 of them improved. In the HPG, 20 of 25 patients underwent additional investigations, including magnetic resonance angiography in 12 and angiography in 8, with stenosis in 15 patients. Of the HPG, 13 of 25 patients underwent angiography, with 10 requiring angioplasty—8 for TRAS and 2 for adjacent renal artery stenosis, with improvement in 8 patients. Congruent clinical and DUS findings were highly predictive of significant stenosis more amenable to improvement. Conclusions The results of our study have shown that high-probability DUS and congruent clinical findings are likely to identify a significant stenosis that is amenable to treatment. Low-probability DUS findings do not eliminate the possibility of stenosis, but intervention in this group is less likely to result in improvement.
EFFECT OF SALT, PHOSPHATE AND SOME NONMEAT PROTEINS ON BINDING STRENGTH AND COOK YIELD OF A BEEF ROLL

Beef rolls were prepared with coarse-ground beef (25.4 mm plate), 8% added water and either salt, salt plus 0.25% sodium tripolyphosphate (TPP), soy isolate, textured soy protein and modified whey solids at 1, 2 or 3% levels. Binding strength was measured with an Instron as the amount of force necessary to break a beef roll across bridge widths of 75, 100, 125 and 150 mm. Binding strength increased as salt content increased from 1% to 3%. Cook yield increased from 79% with 1% salt to 93% with 3% salt. The addition of 0.25% TPP resulted in an additional increase in binding strength. Cook yield increased from 93% with 1% salt plus 0.25% TPP to 98% with 3% salt plus 0.25% TPP. The modified whey selids at 2% level had the highest binding strength of the nonmeat protein materials added. This was similar to 2 or 3% added salt. The soy isolate at 3% level resulted in the highest cook yield, 78%.
Network structure of epoxies — a neutron scattering study: 2

Abstract Neutron scattering measurements were performed on epoxies to elucidate the molecular network structure of these commonly used thermosets. A partially deuterated diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was cured with di- and triamines based on poly(propylene oxide) chains. Pronounced neutron scattering peaks were observed on all three epoxies studied, while X-ray scattering yielded scattering typical of most amorphous materials. The neutron scattering results can be explained successfully using equations that have been derived using a result from a random phase approximation based on an ideal network. Neutron measurements were also conducted on epoxies that had been swollen in acetone. The swollen sample results, along with those from the bulk specimens, provide a unique approach to the network homogeneity problem in epoxies.
Construction of equally entangled bases in arbitrary dimensions via quadratic Gauss sums and graph states

Recently, Karimipour and Memarzadeh [Phys. Rev. A 73, 012329 (2006)] studied the problem of finding a family of orthonormal bases in a bipartite space, each of dimension $D$, with the following properties: (i) The family continuously interpolates between a product basis and a maximally entangled basis as some parameter $t$ is varied, and (ii) for a fixed $t$, all basis states have the same amount of entanglement. The authors derived a necessary condition and provided explicit solutions for $D\ensuremath{\leqslant}5$, but the existence of a solution for arbitrary dimensions remained an open problem. We prove that such families exist in arbitrary dimensions by providing two simple solutions, one that employs the properties of quadratic Gauss sums and the other that uses graph states. The latter can be generalized to more than two parties---we can construct equally entangled families that vary continuously between a product basis and a graph-state basis.
Sex differences in parasite infections: Patterns and processes

Sex differences in parasite infection rates, intensities, or population patterns are common in a wide range of taxa. These differences are usually attributed to 1 of 2 causes: (1) ecological (sociological in humans); and (2) physiological, usually hormonal in origin. Examples of the first cause include differential exposure to pathogens because of sex-specific behavior or morphology. The second cause may stem from the well-documented association between testosterone and the immune system; sexually mature male vertebrates are often more susceptible to infection and carry higher parasite burdens in the field. Although many researchers favor one explanation over the other, the requisite controlled experiments to rule out confounding variables are often neglected. We suggest that sex differences in disease have evolved just as sex differences in morphology and behavior, and are the result of selection acting differently on males and females. Research has often focused on proximate mechanistic explanations for the sex difference in infection rates, but it is equally important to understand the generality of the patterns in an evolutionary context. Because males potentially gain more than females by taking risks and engaging in competition, sexual selection pressure has shaped male behavior and appearance to maximize competitive ability and attractiveness. Many of the classic male attributes such as antlers on deer are testosterone-dependent, putting males in what appears to be a cruel bind: become vulnerable to disease by developing an attractive secondary sexual ornament, or risk lowered mating success by reducing it. A variety of hypotheses have been put forward to explain why males have not circumvented this dilemma. The mating system of the host species will influence the likelihood of sex differences in parasite infection, because males in monogamous species are subject to weaker sexual selection than males in polygynous species. Whether these evolutionary generalizations apply to invertebrates, which lack testosterone, remains to be seen.
Contributing Factors to a Successful Online Course Development Process

Abstract This qualitative case study examined the experiences of instructional designers and professors during the online course development process. The purpose of this study was to determine if their experiences had an effect on the process itself. Data analysis revealed five emergent themes: communication, commitment to quality online courses, commitment to building robust working relationships, mutual respect for one another's time and talents, and satisfaction in working with online course development. Communication was the most prevalent factor identified as having a positive effect on the development process. Lack of time was most prevalent as an impediment to the process. In conclusion, a workplace culture that fostered good experiences and the opportunity to interact in a supportive environment was beneficial to the online course development process. Managers and others involved in the process should be mindful of the workplace culture and should consider dedicating effort and resources to preser...
Nabokov's Northern Kingdoms: Pseudo-Scandinavian Traces and the Transnational Translation of the Self

AbstractIn a 1966 interview, Vladimir Nabokov remarked, “A sad and distant kingdom seems to have haunted my poetry and fiction since the twenties”. This article seeks to explain Nabokov's fascination with imaginary and often pseudo-Scandinavian northern kingdoms by tracing their development in Nabokov's fictions and relating them to the theme of forgery. It argues that the northern kingdoms Nabokov forges serve a unique creative purpose characteristic of an intermediate stage in Nabokov's own transnational translation as a writer. These fragmented pseudo-Scandinavian forgeries produce a counter-factual counterfeit that celebrates the creative process, wherein the forger of fictions struggles to create his own “reality” and surmount the separation, loss, exile, and nostalgia necessitated by existential exigencies. As exemplified by the texture of his invented northern languages, Nabokov's northern creations perform an act of cultural hybridization that synthesizes and resolves the conflict that tears the e...
Modelado del comportamiento mecánico de unión socket - muñón, en amputados de miembro inferior

It was possible to determine the behavior of the stump/socket junction in a transtibial amputation by using the finite element method. The area of interest includes the skin, the socket, and the bone as elements in contact. Therefore, we generated physical molds for a specific case (patient), resulting in CAD geometric modeling. Also, we performed the biomechanical analysis on the interface –both standing and walking– and carried out the ANSYS Workbench simulation. Based on the results, we were able to establish the critical pressure points compared to the pain threshold. This way, we were able to provide information in order to better distribute the interface efforts and at the same time, generate an improved quality of life to the patient when designing the socket.
Digit tapping model of functional activation in the rat somatosensory cortex.

Abstract To establish a non-invasive model for functional activation of the rat somatosensory cortex, the forepaw digits of halothane-anesthetized rats were tapped while the blood flow (laser-Doppler flow, LDF) and somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) responses in the forelimb area of the somatosensory cortex (S1FL) were measured. The distal phalanges of the forepaw digits were lightly tapped for 10 s with an aluminum bar at frequencies between 1 and 40 Hz, with 0.4 cm total bar displacement. The LDF signal was normalized to the baseline preceding each stimulus block and averaged. The LDF response to digit tapping in the contralateral, but not ipsilateral S1FL, commenced within 1 s, peaked at 11 ± 0.5% (S.E.M.) above baseline within 2–3 s, decreased to a plateau of 5 ± 0.3% for the duration of the stimulation, and returned to baseline within 5–10 s following tapping cessation. The LDF peak and plateau were not significantly different at different tapping frequencies. In the contralateral, but not ipsilateral, S1FLs, tapping produced an SSEP with positive (P1) and negative (N1) peaks at 27 ± 0.5 and 47 ± 0.2 ms, respectively, after onset of the tap stimulation. As the tapping frequency increased from 1 to 20 Hz, the P1–N1 peak-to-peak amplitude decreased. At 30 and 40 Hz, the shortened interstimulus interval entrained the individual SSEPs into a steady-state evoked response. This study demonstrates that a robust functional activation of the forelimb region of primary somatosensory cortex of halothane-anesthetized rats can be produced by non-invasively tapping the forepaw digits and quantified with LDF and SSEP.
Excitatory amino acid antagonists in the rostral ventromedial medulla inhibit mesencephalic morphine analgesia in rats

Supraspinal opioid analgesia is mediated in part by connections between the periaqueductal gray (PAG) and rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM). Morphine analgesia elicited from the PAG is respectively decreased by selective serotonergic and opioid receptor antagonists administered into the RVM, and increased by RVM neurotensin antagonists. Since glutamate and excitatory amino acid (EAA) receptors are also active in the RVM, the present study evaluated whether either competitive (AP7) or non-competitive (MK-801) N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) antagonists or a kainate/AMPA (CNQX) antagonist microinjected into the RVM altered morphine (2.5 μg) analgesia elicited from the PAG as measured by the tail-flick and jump tests. Mesencephalic morphine analgesia was markedly reduced on both tests after RVM pretreatment with either AP7 (0.01-1 μg, 0.08-7.8 nmol) or MK-801 (0.03-3 μg, 0.04-4.4 nmol). In contrast, small but significant reductions in mesencephalic morphine analgesia occurred on the jump test following CNQX (0.5 μg, 2.2 nmol) in the RVM. NMDA antagonists did not markedly alter either basal nociceptive thresholds following RVM administration, or mesencephalic morphine analgesia following administration into medullary placements lateral or dorsal to the RVM. These data implicate EAA and particularly NMDA receptors in the RVM in modulating the transmission of opioid pain-inhibitory signals from the PAG.
Intervening with Women in Jail around Alcohol and Substance Abuse During Preparation for Community Reentry

The Women and Jails Project involved a jail in-reach brief screening and feedback intervention for women experiencing problems with alcohol or other substances. The screening and brief intervention (SBI) protocol involved the application of an evidence-informed screening interview (the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test-Including Drugs, or AUDIT-12) and the provision of personalized feedback on each woman's screening results, delivered in a brief motivational interview format. Comparisons of interview data while incarcerated and 2 months postrelease indicated significantly greater improvement in alcohol and other substance use screening results (lower AUDIT-12 scores) among women randomly assigned to intervention versus treatment as usual groups. This greater improvement could not be attributed to greater treatment engagement because that difference was not significant. The authors discuss practice and future research implications of the jail in-reach intervention and providing resource information ...
Organelle-Specific Activity-Based Protein Profiling in Living Cells

A multimodal activity-based probe for targeting acidic organelles was developed to measure subcellular native enzymatic activity in cells by fluorescence microscopy and mass spectrometry. A cathepsin-reactive warhead conjugated to a weakly basic amine and a clickable alkyne, for subsequent appendage of a fluorophore or biotin reporter tag, accumulated in lysosomes as observed by structured illumination microscopy (SIM) in J774 mouse macrophage cells. Analysis of in vivo labeled J774 cells by mass spectrometry showed that the probe was very selective for cathepsins B and Z, two lysosomal cysteine proteases. Analysis of starvation-induced autophagy, a catabolic pathway involving lysosomes, showed a large increase in the number of tagged proteins and an increase in cathepsin activity. The organelle-targeting of activity-based probes holds great promise for the characterization of enzyme activities in the myriad diseases linked to specific subcellular locations, particularly the lysosome.
An extension of the E/M0 tsunami earthquake discriminant Θ to regional distances

The ‘slowness’ parameter Θ, the logarithmic ratio of the estimated energy radiated by an earthquake EE to its moment M0, is a robust indicator of tsunami earthquakes when calculated from waveforms recorded at teleseismic epicentral distances (35° < Δ < 80°). However, Θ values calculated from waveforms recorded at regional epicentral distances (5° < Δ < 35°) are unreliable. This is because the necessary use of a differentiable traveltime T(Δ) curve smoothed through transition zone caustic distances leads to the systematic overestimation of EE, and hence of Θ, for waveforms recorded at or near these distances. Using a data set comprised of 67 global oceanic dip-slip earthquakes occurring in the last 20 yr that includes six recognized tsunami earthquakes, we empirically develop a Θ correction for waveforms recorded at regional epicentral distances. Application of the correction to our data set allows the recovery of Θ values fully consistent with those calculated using only teleseismic waveforms. The incorporation of this correction into existing tsunami warning algorithms has the potential to significantly advance near-field warning efforts.
ILR: Where'd My Gadgets Go?

Through randomization of the memory space and the confinement of code to non-data pages, computer security researchers have made a wide range of attacks against program binaries more difficult. However, attacks have evolved to exploit weaknesses in these defenses. To thwart these attacks, we introduce a novel technique called Instruction Location Randomization (ILR). Conceptually, ILR randomizes the location of every instruction in a program, thwarting an attacker's ability to re-use program functionality (e.g., arc-injection attacks and return-oriented programming attacks). ILR operates on arbitrary executable programs, requires no compiler support, and requires no user interaction. Thus, it can be automatically applied post-deployment, allowing easy and frequent re-randomization. Our preliminary prototype, working on 32-bit x86 Linux ELF binaries, provides a high degree of entropy. Individual instructions are randomly placed within a 31-bit address space. Thus, attacks that rely on a priori knowledge of the location of code or derandomization are not feasible. We demonstrated ILR's defensive capabilities by defeating attacks against programs with vulnerabilities, including Adobe's PDF viewer, acroread, which had an in-the-wild vulnerability. Additionally, using an industry-standard CPU performance benchmark suite, we compared the run time of prototype ILR-protected executables to that of native executables. The average run-time overhead of ILR was 13% with more than half the programs having effectively no overhead (15 out of 29), indicating that ILR is a realistic and cost-effective mitigation technique.
Precision and Bias of Using Opercles as Compared to Otoliths, Dorsal Spines, and Scales to Estimate Ages of Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass

Several structures can be used to estimate ages of Micropterus salmoides (Large- mouth Bass) and Micropterus dolomieu (Smallmouth Bass). Otoliths are often employed for these black bass age determinations, but processing otoliths can be time consuming and requires an investment in training and equipment. Scales and dorsal spines can also be analyzed to measure age, but precision and accuracy problems have been documented. Use of opercles to estimate age in Largmouth and Smallmouth Bass has not been previ- ously examined. Utilization of both otoliths and opercles requires sacrificing the fish, but opercles are easier to remove and process than otoliths. In our study, four readers estimated the ages of the fish using each of the four structures. Opercles had the lowest coefficient of variation (CV) for both species (Largemouth Bass = 6.31, Smallmouth Bass = 5.23), but underestimated the ages of Largemouth Bass older than nine and Smallmouth Bass older than six, relative to otoliths. Opercles proved easier to prepare and read, and the results showed lower age-bias, higher precision, higher among-reader agreement, and less reader bias than scales and dorsal spines.
Shared and separate systems in bilingual language processing: converging evidence from eyetracking and brain imaging.

The neurological and cognitive aspects of bilingual language processing were examined in late Russian–English bilinguals using headband-mounted eyetracking and functional neuroimaging. A series of three eyetracking studies suggested that, at early stages of word recognition, bilinguals can activate both languages in parallel, even when direct linguistic input is in one language only. A functional neuroimaging study suggested that, although the same general structures are active for both languages, differences within these general structures are present across languages and across levels of processing. For example, different centers of activation were associated with first versus second language processing within the left Inferior Frontal Gyrus, but not within the Superior Temporal Gyrus. We suggest that parallel activation (as found with eyetracking) and shared cortical structures (as found with fMRI) may be characteristic of early stages of language processing (such as phonetic processing), but the two languages may be using separate structures at later stages of processing (such as lexical processing).
Quality of care in low- and middle-income settings: what next?

For decades or longer, efforts to improve health in resource-limited settings focused on fundamental public health interventions, including sanitation, immunization and access to basic primary care. These interventions are paramount to reducing preventable mortality and increasing life expectancy. Nevertheless, as low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience economic development, calls for improved quality of care within both primary and secondary care settings have emerged [1–3]. The challenge is manifold. How to continue to expand access to preventive and primary care, while satisfying growing needs in clinical and secondary care? How to elevate quality without sacrificing access to services, particularly in resource-limited settings? These issues, we hope, will be harbingers of future health-care innovations that effectively address questions of cost, access and quality in LMICs. The science of health-care quality improvement, first brought to the USA through the National Demonstration of Quality Improvement in Health Care [4], is now widely endorsed by practitioners, researchers and policymakers in high-income settings. Decades of theoretical and empirical research has identified key elements of successful quality improvement efforts [5–9]. These include: (i) common vision and shared goals across the hierarchy of those planning and implementing improvement efforts, (ii) reliable, credible and timely data and (iii) an organizational culture of accountability without excessive individual blame. These elements are not easy to achieve and sustain in any environment, but special circumstances of LMICs may create greater challenges and highlight the need to develop a literature on essential elements of successful quality improvement efforts that are specific to these settings. A first special circumstance is the donor–recipient relationship that underpins the health systems' strengthening efforts that frame much of the quality improvement work in LMICs currently. Many quality improvement projects are initiated and funded by governmental and non-governmental agencies …
The use of event graphs in simulation modeling instruction

There is a longstanding debate among educators about how best to teach the concepts involved in modeling and simulating discrete event dynamic Systems (DEDS). The goal should be to convey fundamental modeling principles and to examine the implementation of these principles in real settings. One particularly contentious element of the debate deals with the choice of and degree of emphasis on means for implementing simulation models. This paper advocates the use of the event graph modeling formalism as a vehicle for conveying the underlying structure of DEDS models and their implementation.
Canned speech for tactical voice message systems

Various aspects of canned speech generation were examined. In this approach, brief tactical messages are generated by concatenating the speech waveforms corresponding to the individual words. According to the tests conducted, listeners unanimously preferred canned speech over synthetic speech generated by a text-to-speech converter. They selected canned speech not only for its higher intelligibility, but they also felt that canned speech was more natural. Some listeners thought that canned speech was originally recorded as sentences rather than individual words strung together. The data rate required to transmit canned speech is very low (well below 100 b/s). Such a low-data-rate voice encoding technique is essential when the network is congested. Future voice communication should be designed in such a manner that no voice messages are preempted because any voice call might be delivering vital tactical information. With the availability of low-cost, high-density memory devices, canned speech generation is practical in many applications. >
Three Waves of Disinfectants to Inactivate Bacteria

Metallic silver nanoparticles (NPs) have extensively been used in the treatment of disease and purification and heralded the ‘first wave’ of disinfection science, the ‘second wave’ being the nanocomposite of metal-doped TiO2. Recent advances in engineered surfaces have enabled ultrahigh surface area and rapid sterilization via using metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) as the ‘third wave’ disinfectant. MOFs offer the same advantages as colloids but also have ultra high surface area, long term persistence and ultra low doses, applied for water purification.
Fixed Or Variable Rate Choice In The Commercial Bank Business Loan Market

We study the choice available to business borrowers and lenders between fixed rate and variable rate bank loans. Unlike previous studies that examine residential mortgage loans, this analysis examines commercial and industrial loans. Business loans differ in attributes from mortgage loans and hence provide an opportunity to test determinants of the mortgage loan choice decision for other loan types. The diversity of business loans also permits tests of any effect which lender size and borrower size may have on the choice decision. Using a continuous index of preferences for the variable rate commercial loan, we find that the determinants of the business loan choice decision are different from the determinants of the mortgage loan choice decision. In contrast to prior research, we find strong evidence contradicting the proposition that variable rate loans are merely a response to high and variable interest rates. Further, this the first study to reveal size as a determinant of loan choice. Larger banks and larger borrowers have a greater preference for variable rate loans. Our results combined with the consolidation occurring among banks leads to the conclusion that the observed shift to variable rate bank loans is not transitory, and poses a significant risk for businesses with asset returns uncorrelated with short-term loan rates.
Bay of Bengal Surface and Thermocline and the Arabian Sea

Abstract : Investigate and quantify the oceanographic processes that exchange low salinity surface and upper thermocline water of the Bay of Bengal with the salty Arabian Sea and tropical Indian Ocean belt, including their seasonal and interannual variability and the impact on the regional structure of the thermohaline stratification within the two northern embayments of the Indian Ocean.
Asymmetric Response of Costa Rican White-Breasted Wood-Wrens (Henicorhina leucosticta) to Vocalizations from Allopatric Populations.

Divergence in song between allopatric populations can contribute to premating reproductive isolation in territorial birds. Song divergence is typically measured by quantifying divergence in vocal traits using audio recordings, but field playback experiments provide a more direct way to behaviorally measure song divergence between allopatric populations. The White-breasted Wood-Wren (Henicorhina leucosticta; hereafter “WBWW”) is an abundant Neotropical species with four mitochondrial clades (in Central America, the Darien, the Choco and the Amazon) that are deeply divergent (~5–16% sequence divergence). We assessed the possibility that the WBWW as currently defined may represent multiple biological species by conducting both statistical analysis of vocal characters and field playback experiments within three clades (Central America, Choco and Amazon). Our analysis of vocal traits revealed that Central American songs overlapped in acoustic space with Choco songs, indicating vocal similarity between these two populations, but that Central American songs were largely divergent from Amazonian songs. Playback experiments in the Caribbean lowlands of Costa Rica revealed that Central American WBWWs typically responded aggressively to songs from the Choco population but did not respond to playback of songs from the Amazonian population, echoing the results of the vocal trait analysis. This marked difference in behavioral response demonstrates that the songs of Central American and Amazonian WBWWs (but not Central American and Choco WBWWs) have diverged sufficiently that Central American WBWWs no longer recognize song from Amazonian WBWWs as a signal to elicit territorial defense. This suggests that significant premating reproductive isolation has evolved between these two populations, at least from the perspective of the Central American population, and is consistent with the possibility that Central American and Amazonian populations represent distinct biological species. We conclude by advocating for the further use of field playback experiments to assess premating reproductive isolation (and species limits) between allopatric songbird populations, a situation where behavioral systematics can answer questions that phylogenetic systematics cannot.
DNA Repair Mechanisms and Carcinogenesis

The study of cellular mechanisms for repairing damaged DNA remains as an important element of modern carcinogenesis research. The impetus for investigating DNA repair mechanisms arises from several fundamental observations. First, many carcinogens, both natural and experimental, are known to be DNA-damaging agents,1,2 and cellular removal of DNA damage has been shown to correlate with a diminished incidence of neoplastic transformation in experimental systems.3 Second, human patients genetically deficient in DNA repair have a greatly increased incidence of malignant neoplasms.4 Third, the great majority of known carcinogens have been found to be mutagens as well5,6; it has been inferred from this that the carcinogenic potential of these agents is mediated by interactions with and damage to DNA. These observations have led to the conclusion that DNA repair mechanisms form one of the major anticarcinogenic defenses of the mammalian cell. A key goal of much current research in carcinogenesis is to understand why carcinogens are able to produce cancer in spite of the extensive cellular capacity to repair DNA damage. This review concludes with a consideration of this question.
Chronic Morphine Treatment of Guinea Pigs Induces Nonspecific Sensitivity Changes in the Nucleus Tractus Solitarius In Vitro

Chronic morphine treatment results in the development of an opioid tolerance in guinea pig myenteric S-neurons that is nonspecific among pharmacologically unrelated inhibitory agonists and the concurrent development of a nonspecific supersensitivity to unrelated excitatory agonists. The purpose of these studies was to extend this model of opioid tolerance in the guinea pig to central neurons, specifically to the medial nucleus tractus solitarius (mnTS), the primary brainstem relay for visceroceptive information. Pharmacological responses of the guinea pig mnTS neurons were examined in an in vitro brainstem slice preparation and compared between chronically morphine-treated animals and untreated controls. The spontaneous activity of guinea pig mnTS neurons was inhibited by γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the GABAA-selective agonist muscimol, 2-chloroadenosine and clonidine and was excited by glutamate and elevations in extracellular potassium. Applied alone, morphine or the GABAA-selective antagonist bicuculline inhibited and excited approximately equal proportions of nucleus tractus solitarius (nTS) neurons. However, when applied in the presence of bicuculline, morphine inhibited most neurons tested. Reduced inhibitory responses to four agonists, i.e. , morphine, muscimol, 2-chloroadenosine and clonidine, were observed in mnTS neurons in slices obtained from chronically morphine-treated animals. Increased excitation of these neurons by elevated extracellular potassium was observed. It is concluded that 1) guinea pig nTS neurons respond similarly to nTS neurons from other species in vitro , 2) opioids disinhibit some proportion of guinea pig nTS neurons in vitro through a GABAergic mechanism and 3) the development of opioid tolerance in guinea pig nTS neurons is qualitatively similar to that of guinea pig myenteric S-neurons.
Understanding the Biases in Analyst Forecasts

Researchers have examined the relation between expected growth and analyst forecast bias and found mixed evidence, in that forecast bias differs significantly between high-growth and low-growth firms when the P/B ratio is used to measure expected growth, but not when the P/E ratio is used in this capacity. In this paper, I use P/B and P/E ratios jointly to more precisely investigate the relation of expected growth with forecast errors. I observe that the relation between P/E and forecast errors depends on the P/B level, explaining the low overall relation between P/E and forecast errors found in previous studies.
Modified hydroxyethylmethacrylate hydrogels as a modelling tool for the study of cell-substratum interactions

The interactions between cells and their extracellular substratum environment are complex and difficult to study. Defined, synthetic substrata are valuable tools for experimentally determining the role of ionic and receptor-specific interactions between cells and their substrata. Hydrogels have been modified to contain stoichiometrically defined quantities of both positive and negative charge as well as specific proteins. These synthetic surfaces are water-rich matrices that possess hydroxyl groups, positive and negative ionized charges and native proteins, and can be considered as models of extracellular matrices on which an assessment of charge contribution and macromolecular content and specificity can be addressed with respect to cell-matrix interactions. This study shows that simple gels made of polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate do not support the spreading of cells but that the generation of copolymers by the addition of monomers that contain ionizable functional groups, will permit cell spreading. These simple modifications do not lead to cellular proliferation, yet when collagen is entrapped in the hydrogel substratum, proliferation occurs. The proliferative rate of cells grown on collagen-containing surfaces may be modified by altering the stoichiometry of the ionizable polymers used to make the surface. This study describes a synthetic, definable model for the study of cell-substratum interactions and control.
Real-time Ocular Pupil Tracking for Motion Corrected Ophthalmic Optical Coherence Tomography

OCT volumetric acquisition is often subject to motion artifacts. Ocular pupil tracking is a simple and robust method to track patient movement. Real-time tracking of the ocular pupil mitigates lateral motion artifacts in OCT volumes.