cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Polyunsaturated fatty acids in tissues of growing male and female rats

Abstract Polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations of tissues were determined in male and female Sprague-Dawley rats of weanling, 3 months, and 6 months of age. No significant differences were found in concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids in corresponding tissues of male and female animals. Concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids in tissues of rats changed with age. The changes were different for each tissue and varied with the polyene concerned. Hexaenes comprised the greatest portion of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the brain of rats while dienes predominated in muscle and pentaenes in the testes. Tetraenes were in uniformly high concentrations in all organs and tissues studied and varied less with age than any of the other polyenes. Brain differed from other tissues in that it contained only trace amounts of dienes but relatively large quantities of tetraenes. In all tissues except brain a marked decrease was observed in hexaene concentration as animals matured from weanling to 6 months of age. Many of the tissues had lower tetraene and pentaene levels at 3 months than at either weanling or 6 months. The most marked change with age was the large increase in pentaene levels of testicular tissue between the ages of 3 weeks and 3 months.
Models for theory-based M.A. and Ph.D. programs

Abstract In response to growing demand for advanced public relations education, this article suggests integrated models of outcomes, curriculum, pedagogy and assessment for theory-based M.A. and Ph.D. programs. Because public relations has commonly been approached as a professional rather than theoretical subject, this article begins with a short explanation of why theoretical education is becoming an increasingly important part of public relations education. It then reports the integration team's recommendations for a flexible educational framework allowing for practical constraints and providing for institutional individuality at both the M.A. and Ph.D. levels. Assumptions underlying efforts of the team are outlined and specifics that might be included in M.A. and Ph.D. programs are presented with rationales for each.
How Payday Credit Access Affects Overdrafts and Other Outcomes

Despite a dozen studies, the welfare effects of payday credit are still debatable. We contribute new evidence to the debate by studying how payday credit access affects bank overdrafts (such as returned checks), bankruptcy, and household complaints against lenders and debt collectors. We find some evidence that Chapter 13 bankruptcy rates decrease after payday credit bans, but where we find that, we also find that complaints against lenders and debt collectors increase. The welfare implications of these offsetting movements are unclear. Our most robust finding is that returned check numbers and overdraft fee income at banks increase after payday credit bans. Bouncing a check may cost more than a payday loan, so this finding suggests that payday credit access helps households avoid costlier alternatives. While our findings obviously do not settle the welfare debate over payday lending, we hope they resolve it to some extent it by illuminating how households rearrange their financial affairs when payday loan supply changes.
Hedvall Effect in Cement Chemistry

THE increased reactivity of a solid during and as a consequence of a crystalline transformation is commonly known as the Hedvall effect1–3. In a wider sense this effect may include increased reactivity near a transition point. The typical data quoted in support of the Hedvall effect refer to reactions in the binary systems containing silver salts with BaO, SrO and CaO yielding the reciprocal pairs4–7.
Evolutionarily conserved features of the arginine attenuator peptide provide the necessary requirements for its function in translational regulation.

Neurospora crassa arg-2 mRNA contains an evolutionarily conserved upstream open reading frame (uORF) encoding the Arg attenuator peptide (AAP) that confers negative translational regulation in response to Arg. We examined the regulatory role of the AAP and the RNA encoding it using an N. crassacell-free translation system. AAPs encoded by uORFs in four fungal mRNAs each conferred negative regulation in response to Arg by causing ribosome stalling at the uORF termination codon. Deleting the AAP non-conserved N terminus did not impair regulation, but deletions extending into the conserved region eliminated it. Introducing many silent mutations into a functional AAP coding region did not eliminate regulation, but a single additional nucleotide change altering the conserved AAP sequence abolished regulation. Therefore, the conserved peptide sequence, but not the mRNA sequence, appeared responsible for regulation. AAP extension at its C terminus resulted in Arg-mediated ribosomal stalling during translational elongation within the extended region and during termination. Comparison of Arg-mediated stalling at a rare or common codon revealed more stalling at the rare codon. These data indicate that the highly evolutionarily conserved peptide core functions within the ribosome to cause stalling; translational events at a potential stall site can influence the extent of stalling there.
"Should I let them talk?": Private speech and task performance among preschool children with and without behavior problems

Abstract Preschool and kindergarten teachers must make decisions everyday about how much to allow their children to talk out loud to themselves during various classroom activities. The present study examines the effects of children's private speech use on task performance for a group of behaviorally at-risk children and a group of control children during a speech–action coordination task. Twenty-nine behaviorally at-risk preschool children and 43 control children completed two versions of a speech–action coordination task (motor sequencing version and numeric tapping) two times, once with and once without speech instructions. Results indicated that the behaviorally at-risk children used more speech spontaneously compared to control children and performed just as well, and that both groups of children performed better when given instructions to use speech. Implications of these findings for early childhood educators’ decisions about children's private speech use in the classroom are discussed.
Examining the decision process of students' cheating behavior: An empirical study

This research examines the association between attitudes on cheating and cognitive moral development. In this research, we use Rest's (1979a) Defining Issues Test, the Attitudes on Honesty Scale (Authors) and Academic Integrity Index (Authors); the last two are adaptations of the DIT. A total of 220 students from three universities participated in the study (66 psychology majors and 154 business majors). The data indicate that 66.4 percent of the students reported that they cheated in high school, college, or both high school and college. Psychology majors scored higher than business majors on both the Defining Issues Test (Rest, 1979a) and the Attitudes on Honesty Scale (AHS, Authors). Using factor analysis, we found significant associations between students' ratings of the importance considerations present in the three cheating scenarios and their estimates of whether cheating would occur (i.e., the Academic Integrity Index). Finally, using logistic regression, we found that the scores on the Attitudes on Honesty Scale and Academic Integrity Index associate with the self-reported cheating behavior of college students.
Testing of digital micromirror devices for space-based applications

Scientists conceiving future space missions are interested in using DMDs as a multi-object spectrometer (MOS) slit mask. The main uncertainties in utilizing DMDs in a space-based instrument are associated with their operational longevity given the exposure to high levels of proton radiation and their ability to operate at low temperatures. Since a favored orbit is at the second Lagrangian point (L2), it is important to determine how long such Micro-Electrical Mechanical Systems (MEMS) would remain operational in the harsh L2 radiation environment, which primarily consists of solar protons and cosmic rays. To address this uncertainty, we have conducted DMD proton testing at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) 88” Cyclotron. Three DMDs were irradiated with high-energy protons (20- 50MeV) with energies sufficient to penetrate the DMD package’s optical window and interact electrically with the device. After each irradiation step, an optical test procedure was used to validate the operability of each individual mirror on the DMD array. Each DMD was irradiated to a wide range of dosage levels and remained 100% operable up to a total dose of 30 krads. In addition, a few single event upsets were seen during each irradiation dose increment. To determine the minimal operating temperature of the DMDs, we placed a DMD in a liquid nitrogen dewar, and cooled it from room temperature to 130 K. During this test, the DMD was illuminated with a light source and monitored with a CCD camera. Additionally, the temperature was held constant at 173 K for 24 hours to test landing DMD patterns for long periods of time. There was no indication that extended periods of low temperature operation impact the DMD performance. Both of these results point to DMDs as a suitable candidate for future long duration space missions.
Electronic structure and spectra of oxovanadium silicate

Abstract The electronic structure and spectroscopy of the oxovanadium catalytic center on a silica surface is modeled with the molecule OV(OSiH 3 ) 3 . Excited electronic states are examined at optimized geometries for the ground singlet and triplet states. For both the singlet and triplet states, the lowest energy transitions are calculated to be from orbitals on the terminal vanadyl oxygen to d orbitals in the metal. This result is consistent with most intrepretations of the electronic spectra but does not support a recent view that the lowest energy triplet is obtained by promotion of an orbital localized on the basal oxygens. Large shifts in the vanadyl bond length are calculated for the singlet and triplet excited states which are consistent with earlier calculations and the observed vibrational modes in the emission spectrum. The charge density in the vanadyl bond is comparable with that in, OV(OSi(OH) 3 ) 3 , and the excitation energies shift by less than 3 nm from those in the compound, OV(OSiH 3 ) 2 (OSiH 2 (OH)). The vibrational frequencies of the model compound are scaled relative to known values for the vanadyl stretching frequency to provide additional support for the emission electronic transition.
Characterization of AiGaP/GaP Heterostructures Grown by MOVPE

Abstract High quality Al x Ga 1- x P/GaP heteroepitaxial layers were grown by a barrel-type multiwafer metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy system. Fundamental aspects concerning the growth and the heterostructures, such as distribution coefficient of Al, critical layer thickness, doping properties, and band discontinuities at the heterojunctions, have been investigated.
Processing by Data and Program Blocks

A processing system is presented that implements simultaneously the efficiency of the special-purpose processor and the total applicability of the general-purpose computer—characteristics commonly thought of as being mutually exclusive. This is achieved through specializing the machine by programming the hardware structure, rather than by adding software systems to it. Data are organized in circulating pages which form a multiplicity of local dynamic memories for each process. Programs are made up of modules, each describing a transient special-purpose machine. A characteristic of this approach is that the processes are data-driven, rather than program-driven. The programming language presents significant flexibility and efficiency in modeling certain classes of problems, and it may be of interest as an implementation model in a broader context. Applications to real-time processing of radar signals are reported. The relevance of characteristics of this system to problems in multiprogramming and multiprocessing systems is discussed.
Robotic bariatric surgery: a systematic review

Abstract Background Obesity is a nationwide epidemic, and the only evidence-based, durable treatment of this disease is bariatric surgery. This field has evolved drastically during the past decade. One of the latest advances has been the increased use of robotics within this field. The goal of our study was to perform a systematic review of the recent data to determine the safety and efficacy of robotic bariatric surgery. The setting was the University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland, OH). Methods A PubMed search was performed for robotic bariatric surgery from 2005 to 2011. The inclusion criteria were English language, original research, human, and bariatric surgical procedures. Perioperative data were then collected from each study and recorded. Results A total of 18 studies were included in our review. The results of our systematic review showed that bariatric surgery, when performed with the use of robotics, had similar or lower complication rates compared with traditional laparoscopy. Two studies showed shorter operative times using the robot for Roux-en-Y gastric bypass, but 4 studies showed longer operative times in the robotic arm. In addition, the learning curve appears to be shorter when robotic gastric bypass is compared with the traditional laparoscopic approach. Most investigators agreed that robotic laparoscopic surgery provides superior imaging and freedom of movement compared with traditional laparoscopy. Conclusion The application of robotics appears to be a safe option within the realm of bariatric surgery. Prospective randomized trials comparing robotic and laparoscopic outcomes are needed to further define the role of robotics within the field of bariatric surgery. Longer follow-up times would also help elucidate any long-term outcomes differences with the use of robotics versus traditional laparoscopy.
Mutations Affecting Induction of Glycolytic and Fermentative Genes during Germination and Environmental Stresses in Arabidopsis

Expression of the alcohol dehydrogenase gene ( ADH ) of Arabidopsis is known to be induced by environmental stresses and regulated developmentally. We used a negative-selection approach to isolate mutants that were defective in regulating the expression of the ADH gene during seed germination; we then characterized three recessive mutants, aar 1–1, aar 1–2, and aar 2–1, which belong to two complementation groups. In addition to their defects during seed germination, mutations in the AAR 1 and AAR 2 genes also affected anoxic and hypoxic induction of ADH and other glycolytic genes in mature plants. The aar 1 and aar 2 mutants were also defective in responding to cold and osmotic stress. The two allelic mutants aar 1–1and aar 1–2 exhibited different phenotypes under cold and osmotic stresses. Based on our results we propose that these mutants are defective in a late step of the signaling pathways that lead to increased expression of the ADH gene and glycolytic genes.
Long-term aversion to a saccharin solution induced by repeated amphetamine injections.

Abstract In rats repeated 2 mg/kg injections of d -amphetamine given 30 min after imbibition of a 0.1% saccharin solution proved to be as effective in reducing saccharin intake as 2 mg/kg injections of d -amphetamine given 30 min before presentation of this saccharin solution. Treatment with alpha-methyl-para-tyrosine blocked the effect on saccharin intake of amphetamine given before, but not amphetamine given after presentation of the saccharin. After amphetamine injections were terminated, subsequent saccharin vs. water preference testing showed that the amphetamine injections given after but not the injections given before resulted in a long-term aversion to the saccharin solution. In a second experiment, the 2 mg/kg dose of amphetamine was shown to facilitate intracranial self-stimulation as well as to induce an aversion to saccharin.
The FreeBSD project: a replication case study of open source development

Case studies can help to validate claims that open source software development produces higher quality software at lower cost than traditional commercial development. One problem inherent in case studies are external validity - we do not know whether or not results from one case study apply to another development project. We gain or lose confidence in case study results when similar case studies are conducted on other projects. This case study of the FreeBSD project, a long-lived open source project, provides further understanding of open source development. The paper details a method for mining repositories and querying project participants to retrieve key process information. The FreeBSD development process is fairly well-defined with proscribed methods for determining developer responsibilities, dealing with enhancements and defects, and managing releases. Compared to the Apache project, FreeBSD uses 1) a smaller set of core developers - developers who control the code base - that implement a smaller percentage of the system, 2) a larger set of top developers to implement 80 percent of the system, and 3) a more well-defined testing process. FreeBSD and Apache have a similar ratio of core developers to people involved in adapting and debugging the system and people who report problems. Both systems have similar defect densities and the developers are also users in both systems.
Do Coalition Governments Bring Economic Stability

Coalition Politics and Economic Development: Credibility and the Strength of Weak Governments. By Irfan Nooruddin. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2011. 266 pp., $93.00 hardcover (ISBN-13: 978-0-521-19140-1). In Coalition Politics and Economic Development, Irfan Nooruddin speaks to the seminal puzzle that Barry Weingast posed: “The fundamental political dilemma forces us to ask what form of political system is required so that a viable, private market economy is a stable policy choice of that political system” (Weingast 1995, p. 2, emphasis mine). In the Weingast thesis, “market preserving federalism,” an apparently depoliticized form of government, was proposed as a solution to the credible commitment dilemma. Nooruddin roots for “more democracy” instead and argues that “countries in which policymaking authority is diffused across political institutions controlled by actors responsive to different societal constituencies are better able to make credible commitments to long-term policy stability” (p. 3). The causal mechanism works as follows: minority or coalition governments entail diffusion of policymaking authority among multiple parties representing “diverse societal preferences” (p. 4), which, in turn, prevents governments from making arbitrary policy choices, bolsters investor confidence, ensures longevity of investments, and attenuates growth rate volatility (p. 55). The evidence and analyses that the author presents build upon a number of empirical innovations. For instance, growth rate volatility is usually calculated as the standard deviation of economic growth in a given period of time. Considering this unsatisfactory, Nooruddin devises a new measure (using the residuals from the autoregressive process of growth in GDP per capita ), which accounts for baseline economic growth, temporal differences in average economic growth, and for the nature and extent of fluctuations over time. Moreover, the author measures growth rate volatility in three different time panels—the entire period (1964–2000) for which data are available, in increments of 10 years over the same period, and in increments of 5 years over the same period. Each of the explanatory variables is also measured in corresponding time panels. Based on the political …
Incidence, hospital costs and in-hospital mortality rates of epidural hematoma in the United States

Abstract Objective This study provides the first United States (US) national data regarding frequency, cost and mortality rate of epidural hematoma (EDH) and determines the factors affecting the morbidity and deaths in the patients with EDH undergoing surgical evacuation. Methods A retrospective analysis was performed by searching the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) from 2003 to 2010, the largest all payer database of non-federal community hospitals in the US. All cases of EDH were indentified using ICD-9 codes. Results A total of 5189 admissions were identified in the NIS database, and incidence was highest in the second decade (33.4%). The median length of stay in the hospital was about 4 days in each year (2003–2010) without significant difference. The percent of discharge disposition other than home was about 2–3% in the entire cohort, with the highest in 2009 (3%). The average cost per admission increased significantly (80%) from $45,850 in 2003 to $82,800 in 2010. The inhospital mortality and complication rate was 3.5% and 2.9%, respectively. Factors affecting in-hospital mortality rate were age (≤18 yr vs. >18 yr, P P P P P P P 18 yr, P P P P P P P P P P P Conclusion Nationally, there has been no significant change in the frequency of EDH. However, its cost is increasing rapidly.
A Technological Frames Perspective on Information Technology and Organizational Change

When information technologies (IT) have a central role in organizational change programs, understanding how organization members make sense of technology is critical to influencing their actions and to achieving planned outcomes. Orlikowski and Gash articulated a theoretic framework centered on technological frames of reference (TFR) to investigate interpretive processes related to IT in organizations. The TFR framework has been cited across a wide range of publications and has formed the basis for a genre of studies on the interpretive aspects of IT and organizational change. In this article, the author assesses these research contributions and argues that further theoretic development is needed for the TFR framework to reach its potential contributions to knowledge. The author outlines the following research strategies that could facilitate TFR theory development: focusing analysis on frame structure, investigating framing as a dynamic interpretive process, and examining the cultural and institutional b...
Large deformation of soft elastic materials in adhesive contact with a rigid cylindrical flat punch

A large strain finite element analysis is used to study the deformation of an incompressible Neo-Hookean half space in contact with a flat rigid cylindrical punch. We assume adhesion between the elastic solid and the punch and we study the deformation as the punch is retracted. We considered two interface conditions, frictionless and no slip. Numerical results are compared with the predictions of small strain linear elastic (SSLE) theory. Our results show that many aspects of the deformation are not captured by the SSLE theory. For example, the interfacial normal stress at the punch edge is much higher for the case with frictionless boundary conditions. The deformation profiles are also very different. Our results give important insights into how soft adhesives deform when they are detached from a hard surface.
Initial Experience with a Novel Real-Time Three-Dimensional Intracardiac Ultrasound System to Guide Percutaneous Cardiac Structural Interventions: A Phase 1 Feasibility Study of Volume Intracardiac Echocardiography in the Assessment of Patients with Structural Heart Disease Undergoing Percutaneous Transcatheter Therapy

Background Intracardiac echocardiographic (ICE) imaging is a modality increasingly used to guide percutaneous cardiac structural interventions. Until recently, ICE imaging has been limited by the presence of only two-dimensional imaging planes and requires considerable catheter manipulation to visualize certain targets. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a new three-dimensional (3D) volumetric ICE system to provide imaging guidance in 15 patients undergoing percutaneous cardiac structural interventions. Methods The Siemens AcuNav 3D volumetric ICE catheter was used to guide interventions in 15 patients. Imaging was performed at 6 and 8 MHz without color Doppler flow mapping and at 4 and 6 MHz with color Doppler flow mapping. The images were independently reviewed, and the ability to visualize specific structures was assessed by two independent and expert ICE imagers. Results The majority of patients ( n = 11 [73%]) were undergoing percutaneous transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovales ( n = 3 [20%]) or atrial septal defects ( n = 8 [53%]). Three patients (20%) underwent balloon valvuloplasty for mitral stenosis. One patient (7%) underwent a diagnostic study for congenital heart disease. There were no significant differences in image scores between 3D and two-dimensional imaging without color Doppler in clinically important targets. With color Doppler, there were decreased image scores in the 3D images. Three-dimensional images provided improved imaging of devices and catheters and of the relationship between atrial septal defect devices and the aorta. Conclusion Three-dimensional volumetric ICE imaging can be successfully used to guide structural heart disease procedures. It has the potential to provide greater anatomic information during interventions. Further improvement in its imaging capabilities is required to improve color Doppler mapping and volume size capabilities.
Innovative student solutions to a robotics design exercise

The paper focusses on the development of a hands-on project-based evaluation procedure for a senior level university course in robotics. In essence, the evaluation procedure involved dividing the class into small teams. Then a universal task was given to all the teams, which required the design and construction of a robot to complete. The object of the task was to develop an autonomous machine that could find and retrieve a specific ball (1" dia.) from the bottom of a water filled container. Three balls (one aluminum, one steel and one plexiglas) were initially randomly placed into a 16" deep plastic container (trash can). Then a die was thrown to randomly select which ball was to be retrieved. Once the robot had been set for retrieval of the selected ball, it was placed on top of the container and switched on. No further human intervention was then permitted. A set of rules were issued to explicitly define the task and permit judgments of success or failure to be made. Having successfully applied this concept to the Fall 1995 Robotic Systems class at USF, a number of common solutions were observed amongst the eight robots created. Ball retrieval tended to be achieved using either a suction pump, a bottom searching scoop, or a paddle/elevator arrangement. Having retrieved all three balls, a sorting system was employed, usually involving a cantilever scheme that separated the balls by weight. A second more ingenious technique was to separate the balls based on how far they bounced when dropped.
Reappraisal of Social Network Research in Educational Contexts.

During the past seven years, several important studies of social networks have been added to the educational research literature (Sarason & Lorentz, 1979; Litwak & Meyer, 1974; and Gittel'l, 1979). The term has also become popular as a strategy for promoting educational change. In the more general interdisciplinary research area of systems, the sub-topic of social network analysis or structural analysis research is presently characterized by sophisticated quantitative methodological analyses and serious debates designed to clarify terms and theoretical concepts. Some scholars now refer to systematic social network analysis as an "emergent paradigm" (Holland & Leinhardt, 1979). Whether or not one is willing to agree with that assessment, it is clear that social network analysis is an important area of contemporary scholarship. 1
Computer-controlled treatment delivery

Computer-controlled treatment machines and the delivery of conformal radiotherapy treatments using computer-controlled and/or automated delivery techniques have become an important new area of clinical and research activity in recent years. The historical experience with simple multileaf collimators and control systems used for dynamic conformal therapy has been expanded with the development of a number of different methods used to deliver modern conformal therapy treatments. Various approaches to these automated and semi-automated treatments are described. Safety considerations are a critical part of the automated delivery process, and are also briefly reviewed. Early experience with these techniques at a number of centers is briefly described.
Socio-economic factors and the sex ratio at birth.

Large scale data (The Collaborative Study) with refined measures of socioeconomic status were used to test the hypothesis that socioeconomic status and live birth sex ratio are positively associated. 3 controlled factors were analysed: socioeconomic status gravidity and race: the Mantel and Haenszel procedure was used. The sex ratio was positively and significantly (p less than .015) related to the socioeconomic index. Gravidity appeared to have no significant effect on sex ratio. Race was significantly related (p less than .04) with Negroes and Puerto Ricans having 6% and 7% lower ratios than whites. The influence of the socioeconomic factor was greatest among Negroes and Puerto Ricans. Between the lowest and highest socioeconomic categories the odds for a male birth increase 8 to 9%; however there is a slight decrease in male child odds between the 2 highest socioeconomic classes suggesting the greatest influence of socioeconomic factor is among the lower socioeconomic groups especially for Negroes and Puerto Ricans. It is concluded that no clear causal relationships can be demonstrated since all the "effects" are statistical associations.
A half gigawatt dual-moded X-band transmission and rf pulse compression system

We have produced 400 ns rf pulses of greater than 500 MW at 11.424 GHz with an rf system designed to demonstrate technology capable of powering a TeV scale electron-positron linear collider (NLC). Power is produced by four 50 MW X-band klystrons run off a common 400 kV solid-state modulator. We present the layout of our system, which includes a dual-moded transmission waveguide system and a dual-moded resonant-line (SLED-II) pulse compression system. Dual-moding of the transmission lines allows power to be directed through a pulse compression path or a bypass path; dual-moding in the pulse compressor allows the delay lines to be about half as long as they otherwise would need to be. We describe the design and performance of various components, including hybrids, directional couplers, power dividers, tapers, mode converters, and loads. These components are mostly overmoded to allow for greater power handling. We also present data on the processing and operation of this system, which is setting high-power records in pulsed rf.
Three-Dimensional Micro- and Nanofabrication with Multiphoton Absorption

Multiphoton absorption has become a powerful technique for the creation of three-dimensional micro- and nanostructures. Here we review some of our recent progress towards creating functional microdevices with multiphoton absorption. Specific thrusts of our research include development of new resins for multiphoton absorption polymerization, design of novel schemes for metal deposition, and post-fabrication ablation of polymeric structures.
A brief perspective on parallel programming

A large variety of multiple instruction, multiple data (MIMD) parallel machines-some with global shared memory and some without, some with few processors to some with a few thousand processors-are becoming commercially available, and more are being proposed, designed, or developed. Programming such machines for fast execution of desired applications remains a challenging problem. An examination is made of some broad approaches towards this goal, identifying relevant issues and presenting a few guidelines that should be helpful in parallel programming research and development. The Chare Kernel parallel programming system is proposed as a solution to the parallel programming problem. >
High-speed superconductive circuitry: An overview

Superconductive digital circuits have been demonstrated with speeds >2 GHz. Simulations show that some should be capable of much higher speed, including an analog-to-digital converter clocked at 20 GHz and a shift register with 60-GHz clocking. This article reviews the experimental status and the developments expected on the basis of simulations. The emphasis is on low-temperature superconductors.
A new technique for exploiting regularity in data path synthesis

Exploiting Regularity has been the key to the success of many techniques for digital systems design. This paper presents a novel approach for exploiting the regularity in memory access that exists in many DSP and matrix computations, in order to reduce the access delay of memory and to cut down hardware cost. In this approach, data (variables) that have regular access patterns are not stored in a random access memory element; instead they are kept floating in special storage structures called sequencers, thus avoiding the bottleneck of accessing random access memories and register files and saving the overhead of memory address generation and decoding. A theoretical foundation for modeling the allocation of two types of sequencers, namely queues and stacks, is established. In addition, algorithms are developed to map variables to queues and stacks and to integrate them into conventional high-level synthesis procedures. Experimental results show an encouraging improvement in the performance of designs as well as a significant reduction in hardware cost.
How Elite Coaches' Experiential Knowledge Might Enhance Empirical Research on Sport Performance

INTRODUCTION In their article, Greenwood et al. present interview data to demonstrate coaches’ insights into factors influencing athletes’ performance, and they suggest that researchers utilize coaches’ knowledge when planning and designing studies related to learning and performance in sports. As evidence for coaches’ unique insight into factors relevant to athletic performance, Greenwood et al. cite coaches’ observations related to the run-up (e.g., track and field, gymnastics), the interaction of various constraints during performance (e.g., weather, fatigue, arousal), and individual differences (e.g., physical, cognitive, emotional). There may indeed be many instances in which contributions to knowledge in general, and an athlete’s or team’s success specifically, would be enhanced by paying close attention to experienced and expert observers such as coaches or athletes. Thus, I agree that their observations may well provide ideas for research studies. I also see some potential limitations, however. My thoughts related to the arguments put forward by Greenwood et al. are related primarily to two issues: a) the fact that coaches’ observations seem to be shared by others, and b) that potentially false assumptions should be considered when designing research studies based on practitioners’ knowledge.
Environmental Justice at the Crossroads

The field of environmental justice emerged at a crossroads of social movements, public policy, and academic research ‐ what we call environmental justice praxis. Now, the field finds itself again at a crossroads as it expands to address new populations, problems, and places. In this article, we first outline the competing definitions of the problems of environmental inequality and environmental racism from the perspective of social movements, policy, and research. Second, we identify the expansion of the field in two key areas: new issues and constituencies and new places and sites of analysis ‐ specifically the relationship between the local and the global. This expansion leads to increasingly sophisticated spatial methodologies and social theories to examine problems of environmental injustice. Finally, we identify three promising trends in the field: refining the mechanisms and processes of environmental injustice, a renewed focus on the state and the environment as key actors, and a revitalized focus on the interactive and continually evolving relationship between scholarship and social movements.
The Value of Partnerships in State Obesity Prevention and Control Programs

State health departments funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Program collaborate with multiple partners to develop and implement comprehensive obesity prevention and control programs. A mixed-methods evaluation of 28 state programs over a 5-year period assessed states' progress on program requirements, including developing statewide partnerships and coordinating with partners to support obesity prevention and control efforts. States with greater partnership involvement leveraged more funding support for their programs, passed more obesity-related policies, and were more likely to implement obesity interventions in multiple settings. Case studies provided guidance for establishing and maintaining strong partnerships. Findings from this study offer emerging evidence to support assumptions about the centrality of partnerships to states' success in obesity program development and implementation and related health promotion activities. Language: en
Ghost Cell Glaucoma

Ghost cell glaucoma was first described in 1976 by Campbell and coworkers as a transient secondary open angle glaucoma in which the trabecular meshwork is obstructed by degenerated red blood cells called “ghost cells.” Ghost cells may develop in any remaining red blood cells 7-10 days following vitreous hemorrhage from any etiology. The erythrocytes become spherical, less pliable, and partially lose their intracellular hemoglobin, causing them to appear tan-colored. The denaturized hemoglobin left in the cytoplasm binds to the internal surface of the cell membrane forming granules (Heinz bodies). Ghost cells, once formed, may remain for months in the vitreous cavity after hemorrhage. These vitreous ghost cells can gain access to the anterior chamber through a disrupted anterior hyaloid face, or an open posterior capsule from previous surgery, after traumatic injury or spontaneously. Ghost cells are less pliable than fresh cells; thus, once in the anterior chamber, they may obstruct the trabecular meshwork and markedly increase intraocular pressure.
LRRC10 is required to maintain cardiac function in response to pressure overload

We previously reported that the cardiomyocyte-specific leucine-rich repeat containing protein (LRRC)10 has critical functions in the mammalian heart. In the present study, we tested the role of LRRC10 in the response of the heart to biomechanical stress by performing transverse aortic constriction on Lrrc10-null (Lrrc10(-/-)) mice. Mild pressure overload induced severe cardiac dysfunction and ventricular dilation in Lrrc10(-/-) mice compared with control mice. In addition to dilation and cardiomyopathy, Lrrc10(-/-) mice showed a pronounced increase in heart weight with pressure overload stimulation and a more dramatic loss of cardiac ventricular performance, collectively suggesting that the absence of LRRC10 renders the heart more disease prone with greater hypertrophy and structural remodeling, although rates of cardiac fibrosis and myocyte dropout were not different from control mice. Lrrc10(-/-) cardiomyocytes also exhibited reduced contractility in response to β-adrenergic stimulation, consistent with loss of cardiac ventricular performance after pressure overload. We have previously shown that LRRC10 interacts with actin in the heart. Here, we show that His(150) of LRRC10 was required for an interaction with actin, and this interaction was reduced after pressure overload, suggesting an integral role for LRRC10 in the response of the heart to mechanical stress. Importantly, these experiments demonstrated that LRRC10 is required to maintain cardiac performance in response to pressure overload and suggest that dysregulated expression or mutation of LRRC10 may greatly sensitize human patients to more severe cardiac disease in conditions such as chronic hypertension or aortic stenosis.
Regulating Homeopathic Products — A Century of Dilute Interest

In 2015, U.S. government agencies began considering greater regulation of both homeopathic drugs and the advertising of such products. These actions came after more than a century of missed opportunities to regulate homeopathic medicines.
Effects of intense magnetic field on digestion and settling performances of bauxite

The effects of magnetic field intensity, roasting temperature and roasting time on digestion rate and settling performance of bauxite with different iron contents were investigated systematically. The results indicate that such magnetic treatment can profoundly change the microstructure and digestion performance of bauxite. For the two samples carrying different iron contents, phase transformation of the aluminum oxide phase proceeds faster in the high iron bauxite than the low one. The optimal pretreatment conditions of low iron bauxite are roasting temperature 550 °C and magnetic field intensity 6 T, while for high iron bauxite are 500 °C and 9 T. The digestion rate of alumina can reach 95% and 92% at digestion temperature of 190 °C and 250 °C. The settling performances of roasted ore by intense magnetic field after digestion are enhanced through pretreatment.
Studying Disease Dynamics Under Diverse Population Structures and Contagion Scenarios

Disease dynamics are strongly affected by the structure of the population. According to demographics and geographic characteristics, the population naturally segregates into clusters of people with similar characteristics. Specific distributions of the population create unique environments for disease progression. To understand diverse epidemic patterns, it is necessary to ascertain its dynamics in differentiated communities. Synthetic communities reconstruction with computer simulations are convenient to conduct epidemiological investigations under different scenarios. In this work, a synthetic population is constructed, considering demographic and geographic attributes, to identify different population structures. By clustering population, the path the epidemic follows during its progression can be ascertained. Consequently, assumptions for identifying clusters with specific demographics and geographics are to be made to identify risk groups. A methodology that hierarchisizes the population’s attributes is utilized to produce different assortments of individuals into groups. Therefore diversified synthetic scenarios are produced to facilitate the experimentation and observation of the disease dynamics.
Modeling the Decision-Making Behavior of Fishers in the Reef Fish Fishery on the West Coast of Florida

ABSTRACTWhen, where, and how a commercial vessel fishes determines the temporal and spatial placement of the data they are legally bound to supply to management agencies. Data provided by commercial fishing vessels are used in assessments to infer fish population abundance. Fisher decision-making may also allow fishers to dissipate the benefits of regulations and affect expected management outcomes. Decisions about participation, site choice, and trip termination were modeled for commercial fishers in the Gulf of Mexico. Vessel logbook data were used to parameterize discrete choice models for each decision. A questionnaire of vessel captains (N = 40) helped inform model structure. Results suggested that participation and site choice decisions may be nested, and are affected by expected revenue, regulations, fish price, wind speed, vessel characteristics, and fuel price. Trip termination was influenced by regulations, wind speed, and catch relative to fish hold capacity. Assessment and management implicati...
Abstract 3116: MGMT immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a biomarker for response to combination therapy with capecitabine and temozolomide (C/T) in patients (pts) with advanced neuroendocrine carcinomas (aNEC)

Introduction: Tumor O6-methylguanine-methyltransferase (MGMT) reverses temozolomide-induced DNA injury, and low MGMT tumor expression has been shown as a predictor of response to temozolomide in glioblastoma. C/T therapy induces partial responses in up to 70% of pts with grade 1-2 pancreatic NEC but the role of MGMT expression as a predictor is unclear. We evaluated MGMT expression by IHC as a prognostic and predictive biomarker for pts with aNEC of all grades and primary sites treated with C/T. Methods: A retrospective review was carried out at Ohio State University of 29 pts with aNEC who received C/T therapy from 2009 to 2013 and who were evaluable for RECIST response. MGMT expression was assessed when available by IHC on pre-treatment tumor samples to test the hypothesis that low MGMT expression ( Results: Of 29 pts, primary NEC site was pancreas in 18 pts, and non-pancreas in 11 pts. Objective response, progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) data are outlined in the Table. Partial response (PR) rate was 50% in pts with pancreas primary vs 18% for non-pancreas primary. High PRs were observed in pts with grade 3 NEC (57%). Median PFS in the MGMT-low group was 16.6 months vs 9.5 months in the MGMT-high group (p = 0.19). Median OS in the MGMT low group was 42.9 months vs 18.1 months in the MGMT-high group (p = 0.16). There was a trend toward higher rate of PR (63%) in pts whose tumors had low levels of MGMT expression compared to those with high levels (17%) (p = 0.18). Conclusion: We observed a trend towards increased PR, median PFS, and median OS in aNEC pts whose tumors had low MGMT protein expression by IHC. The small sample size likely limited the statistical significance of the data. Results of this trial serve as strong rationale for future prospective trials to clarify role of MGMT expression in choosing C/T therapy for pts with NEC. Citation Format: Dwight Owen, Andrew J. Alexander, Lai Wei, Jessica Hemminger, Manisha H. Shah. MGMT immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a biomarker for response to combination therapy with capecitabine and temozolomide (C/T) in patients (pts) with advanced neuroendocrine carcinomas (aNEC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 3116.
Ethnohistorical evidence for inbreeding among the pre-Hispanic Mixtec royal caste.

Pre-Columbian Mixtec social organization was distinguished by the tight endogamy of the ruling class, which included many consanguineous marriages. It was also characterized by a vigorous historical and genealogical tradition. The historical documents, or codices, provide materials for the calculation of the levels of inbreeding present before the Spanish Conquest. A genealogical analysis of inbreeding was performed on the combined pedigree, which spanned the tenth through sixteenth centuries, of all individuals connected by ancestry, descent, or marriage with Lord 8 Deer Jaguar Claw of Tilantongo (A.D. 1063-1115). Sixty of the 217 couples (27.65%) were consanguineous. When only couples of wholly known grandparentage were considered (N = 39), F = 0.1051. The mean F of all couples, even those where one spouse was of unknown parentage, was 0.0243. Over the 550 years of the pedigree the maximum F in any 52-year period was 0.1324. This level of inbreeding is sufficient to produce noticeable effects on population structure and affinities over time.