cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Restoration of Spinopelvic Continuity with the Free Fibula Flap after Limb-Sparing Oncologic Resection Is Associated with a High Union Rate and Superior Functional Outcomes.

Background Type 1 internal hemipelvectomies and total sacrectomies cause significant biomechanical instability, demanding pelvic ring reconstruction for ambulation and torso support. Previously described methods include autografts, allografts, and implants, commonly with poor long-term outcomes. The authors hypothesized that the free fibula flap for spinopelvic reconstruction is safe and effective, and associated with a high bony union rate and superior functional outcomes. Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of all patients who underwent free fibula flap surgery after internal hemipelvectomy or total sacrectomy at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center from 2003 to 2018. The primary outcome was radiographic evidence of bony union. Secondary outcomes included surgical-site occurrence and lower extremity function. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results Forty-seven patients were included (internal hemipelvectomy, n = 38; total sacrectomy, n = 9). The mean follow-up was 3.3 years and the most common abnormality was chondrosarcoma (30.4 percent). The nonunion rate was 9.7 percent and the surgical-site occurrence rate was 34 percent; there were no flap losses. Greater age was significantly associated with nonunion (OR, 1.1; 95 percent CI, 1 to 1.2; p = 0.003), whereas obesity was the only independent predictor of surgical-site occurrence (OR, 9.2; 95 percent CI, 1.2 to 71.3; p = 0.03). Functional metrics approached those of adult norms by 3 years postoperatively. Compared to internal hemipelvectomy patients, patients undergoing total sacrectomy had more comorbidities, a higher complication rate, and a worse functional outcome. Conclusion The free fibula flap for spinopelvic reconstruction is safe and effective, and is associated with a high bony union rate and superior functional outcomes. Clinical question/level of evidence Risk, III.
Model-based Knock Prediction and its Stochastic Feedforward Compensation

This article studies the correlation between incylinder mixture temperature at intake valve closing and the engine knock, along with cycle-to-cycle knock variability based on a knock predictive model developed earlier. Based on the correlated stochastic relationship, a feedforward knock limit control strategy is developed to reduce the knock cycle-to-cycle variability and maintain the knock mean-intensity within a desired up bound while keeping spark timing close to engine MBT (maximum brake torque) timing as close as possible. The proposed feedforward control strategy is evaluated based on the knock predictive model in terms of knock mean-intensity and standard deviation and demonstrated its capability of reducing the knock cycle-to-cycle variability under the knock intensity constraint.
Testing our understanding of SCFTs: a catalogue of rank-2 $\mathcal{N}$=2 theories in four dimensions

In this paper we begin mapping out the space of rank-2 $\mathcal{N}=2$ superconformal field theories (SCFTs) in four dimensions. This represents an ideal set of theories which can be potentially classified using purely quantum field-theoretic tools, thus providing a precious case study to probe the completeness of the current understanding of SCFTs, primarily derived from string theory constructions. Here, we collect and systematize a large amount of field theoretic data characterizing each theory. We also provide a detailed description of each case and determine the theories' Coulomb, Higgs and Mixed branch stratification. The theories naturally organize themselves into series connected by RG flows but which have gaps suggesting that our current understanding is not complete.
All of the accuracy in half of the time: assessing abbreviated versions of the Test of Memory Malingering in the context of verbal and visual memory impairment.

The Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) Trial 1 (T1) and errors on the first 10 items of T1 (T1-e10) were developed as briefer versions of the TOMM to minimize evaluation time and burden, although th...
The Vagueness of Clarity: Metaphysical and Epistemic Truth Claims in the Empirical Study of Mindfulness Practices

The research literature on mindfulness and meditation (MM) practices in psychology is replete with descriptions of the meditative process and its possible mechanisms of action. The mainstreaming of MM has endeavored to shed its practices of Buddhist truth claims, appealing to the universality of introspection and attentional control. However, ostensibly secularized studies and practices on MM may be committing to unsupported epistemic and metaphysical arguments through their use of language. This critique broadly addresses language used in the field of research psychology and clinical practice that suggests a level of epistemic accuracy of descriptions of MM practices—or the level to which a person is able to perceive truth in the world, as well as metaphysical claims about personal identity and the universe. The epistemic accuracy and metaphysical aspects of MM practices are not supported in secular research studies. Examples of these possible claims in secular research are presented and critiqued. Ethical considerations of language use in MM studies and instructions are also discussed. This commentary cautions against the use of poorly defined terms and calls for a broader philosophical review of epistemic and metaphysical claims in secular literature.
RAPID: checking API usage for the cloud in the cloud

We present RAPID, an industrial-strength analysis developed at AWS that aims to help developers by providing automatic, fast and actionable feedback about correct usage of cloud-service APIs. RAPID’s design is based on the insight that cloud service APIs are structured around short-lived request- and response-objects whose usage patterns can be specified as value-dependent type-state automata and be verified by combining local type-state with global value-flow analyses. We describe various challenges that arose to deploy RAPID at scale. Finally, we present an evaluation that validates our design choices, deployment heuristics, and shows that RAPID is able to quickly and precisely report a wide variety of useful API misuse violations in large, industrial-strength code bases.
Clipping over dissipation in turbulence models.

Clipping refers to adding 1 line of code A=min{A,B} to force the variable A to stay below a present bound B. Phenomenological clipping also occurs in turbulence models to correct for over dissipation caused by the action of eddy viscosity terms in regions of small scales. Herein we analyze eddy viscosity model energy dissipation rates with 2 phenomenological clipping strategies. Since the true Reynolds stresses are O(d^2) (d= wall normal distance) in the near wall region, the first is to force this near wall behavior in the eddy viscosity by clipping the turbulent viscosity. The second is Escudier's early proposal to clip the turbulence length scale, reducing too large values in the interior of the flow. Analyzing respectively shear flow turbulence and turbulence in a box (i.e., periodic boundary conditions), we show that both clipping strategies do prevent aggregate over dissipation of model solutions.
Role of Galactocerebroside in the Formation of Peripheral Myelin

The formation of mature myelin lamellae in developing peripheral nerve is preceeded by a series of events during which axons are segregated by invading Schwann cells into those that will become myelinated and into others that will be ensheathed by non-myelinating Schwann cells. Initially columns of Schwann cells align along the outside of large nerve bundles (1). These Schwann cells migrate toward the interior of the bundle and rapidly proliferate in response to the axons (2, 3). Clusters of Schwann cells (called families) become organised around smaller groups of 5–20 neurites and acquire a common basal lamina. The larger axons become segregated, first at the periphery of the small bundle, and eventually into a separate furrow in the Schwann cell surface. Thus some Schwann cells adopt a 1:1 relationship with a single axon segment and become isolated from other Schwann cells and axons by a separate basal lamina and extracellular collagen fibrils (4). The Schwann cells that claim a 1:1 relationship with the larger axons are destined to form myelin sheaths around the axons they ensheath, while Schwann cells that retain a relationship to several smaller axons do not form myelin but ensheath each axon in a separate trough. The myelinating Schwann cell ceases division once it has established a 1:1 relationship with an axon segment and forms a mesaxon that elongates to spiral around the axon producing multiple membrane layers. As a final step, these myelin lamellae compact to form the mature myelin sheath (5).
Scratching Deer: a Late Prehistoric Campsite in the Green Lakes Valley, Colorado

The Scratching Deer site (5 BL 69) is a small, single-component Hog Back Phase campsite inthe upper subalpine forest, western Boulder County, Colorado. The site was occupied 1260 + 95radiocarbon ye...
Chapter 24. Structure and Biological Activity Interrelationships in Peptides

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the importance of conformation of biologically active peptides. The close relationship between biological activity and molecular architecture of proteins is generally accepted. The conformational features of ring-structure, hypercyclization and the presence of N -methyl amino acids and other imino acids are not the attributes of peptide antibiotics only. The toxic principles of Amanita phalloides, phalloidin, and amanitin exhibit similar characteristics, and the synthesized component of the same fungus antaminid (III), a peptide that can antagonize the toxic effects of amanitin, is also cyclic. The existence of a preferred conformation of cyclic peptides—such as oxytocin or vasopressin—can be expected. The existence or significance of a preferred conformation is less obvious in the case of open-chain peptide hormones. The contrast between the presence of well-defined conformation in secretin and the absence of rigid geometry in bradykinin or cholecystokinin (CCK) prompts the speculation that the cooperative intramolecular interactions that determine the architecture of secretin might be replaced by similar but intermolecular interactions in CCK, that is by interactions between the hormone and the yet unknown receptor site.
Calcium conductances in Purkinje cell dendrites: their role in development and integration.

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews the role of calcium in both the integrative properties of neurons and in their role as modulators of other cell biological parameters. Voltage-dependent calcium conductance changes large enough to be self-regenerative have been observed in a multitude of neuronal elements, most of the work having been obtained in invertebrate neurons. In vertebrates, action potentials have been demonstrated in several types of central and peripheral neurons. In most cases, the inward calcium current has occurred at the somatic level, whereas the axon is for the most part devoid of such conductance. It is shown that spikes are preferentially recorded at dendritic level and play an important role in neuronal integration. Besides the all-or-none calcium dendritic action potentials, prolonged calcium-dependent local responses may also be seen in somas and dendrites. The ontogeny of this voltage-dependent membrane conductance indicates that the calcium component appears with the development of the dendritic trees. A general hypothesis is proposed for the role of calcium currents in neuronal function.
Superrenormalizable gauge and gravitational theories

We investigate 4-dim gauge theories and gravitational theories with nonpolynomial actions containing an infinite series in covariant derivatives of the fields representing the expansion of a transcendental entire function. A class of entire functions is explicitly constructed such that: (i) the theory is perturbatively superrenormalizable; (ii) no (gauge-invariant) unphysical poles are introduced in the propagators. The nonpolynomial nature is essential; it is not possible to simultaneously satisfy (i) and (ii) with any polynomial series in derivatives. Cutting equations are derived verifying the absence of unphysical cuts and the Bogoliubov causality condition within the loop expansion. A generalized KL representation for the 2-point function is obtained exhibiting the consistency of physical positivity with the improved convergence of the propagators. Some physical effects, such as extended bound excitations in the spectrum, are briefly discussed.
Developing and Evaluating a Student Scholars Program to Engage Students with the University’s Public Service and Outreach Mission

A “student scholars” program was developed to engage undergraduates at a large, public, land-grant research university with its public service and outreach mission, through cohort meetings, supervised internships, and site visits. Qualitative and pre-/post-participation quantitative data from the first cohort of 10 students show that participants gained deeper understanding of the university’s public service and outreach mission, purpose, and activities, and developed skills appropriate to engaging in this work themselves. Such a program holds promise for creating a core of informed student advocates for the university’s public service and outreach mission and engagement work as well as improving these students’ own competencies and motivations for incorporating public service and outreach into their academic and professional careers.
Comparisons of Reaction-Time Measures to a Visual Stimulus and Arm Movement

Abstract The purposes of this study were (1) to compare reaction-time measures for arm displacement and a visual stimulus, and (2) to compare reaction-time measures for selected groups of varsity athletes, physical education majors, music majors, and liberal arts majors. Analysis of the data revealed that only a modest relationship existed between the two reaction-time measures. Significant differences in reaction time were found among the several groups for both reaction-time measures.
Minimizing Variables’ Lifetime in Loop-Intensive Applications

In this paper, we address a set of research problems regarding loopintensive applications. The first problem consists of minimizing variables’ lifetime under timing constraints. Any variable that is alive for more than one iteration must be saved by for instance storing it into a register. The second problem is derived from the first one, and consists of balancing variables’ lifetime for a target total number of registers and under timing constraints. For the third problem, we focus on minimizing variables’ lifetime in the context of software pipelining in the case of one loop as well as nested loops. We provide methods to solve these three problems, and show that a set of them have polynomial run-time. Once these methods are used, one may need to solve the problem of generating the transformed code and reducing its size. We provide algorithms to solve this fourth problem. Designers face these problems during hardware-software co-design, and in designing embedded systems as well as system-on-chip. Solving these problems is also useful in low power design. We exercise some of these methods on known benchmarks, and provide obtained numerical results that show their effectiveness. We solve these problems using techniques related to retiming, an algorithm originally developed for hardware optimization.
Cytokeratin 18 expression inhibits cytokine-induced death of cervical cancer cells.

Objectives: In cervical cancer, increased cytokeratin 18 (CK18) filament expression is associated with disease progression. However, it may also provide resistance to cytokine-induced apoptosis. The present study tested whether CK18 expression influences susceptibility to cytokine-induced apoptosis. Methods: The cervical cancer cell lines C-4II (high CK18 expression), ME-180 (low CK18 expression), and 2 subtypes of HeLa cells containing or lacking CK18 expression (CK18+ and CK18− cells, respectively) were exposed to vehicle (control), Fas ligand (FasL) (50 ng/mL), or tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α; 10 ng/mL) without/with cycloheximide (CHX; 2.5 μg/mL) to test the hypothesis that diminished CK18 expression increases susceptibility to cytokine-induced apoptosis. Results: Flow cytometric analysis of cell death via TUNEL staining revealed that cytokine-induced apoptosis was 2-fold greater in ME-180 cells than C-4II cells in response to FasL+CHX or TNF-α+CHX (P 0.05). Caspase 3 activity was greater in CK18− HeLa cells than in CK18+ HeLa cells at 8 and 18 hours after FasL treatment (P Conclusions: Cervical cancer cells with diminished CK18 expression are more susceptible to cytokine-induced apoptosis, particularly in response to FasL treatment. These observations suggest that relative CK18 expression is an important factor when considering therapeutic strategies to enhance immune cell-mediated death of cervical cancer cells.
BOWEL, AN ODD-SKIPPED HOMOLOG, FUNCTIONS IN THE TERMINAL PATHWAY DURING DROSOPHILA EMBRYOGENESIS

Abstract The terminal genes of Drosophila specify non-segmented regions of the larval body that are derived from the anterior and posterior regions of the early embryo. Terminal class genes include both maternal-effect loci (typified by the receptor tyrosine kinase torso) that encode components of a signal transduction cascade and zygotic genes (e.g. tailless and huckebein) that are transcribed at the poles of the embryo in response to the local activation of the pathway. We have characterized a zygotic gene, bowel, that was identified as a zinc finger homolog of the pair-rule segmentation gene odd-skipped. bowel transcripts are initially expressed at both poles of the blastoderm embryo and in a single cephalic stripe. This pattern depends upon torso and tailless activity, but is not affected in huckebein mutants. We isolated and sequenced five mutations that affect the bowel protein, including a nonsense mutation upstream of the zinc fingers and a missense mutation in a putative zinc-chelating residue. bowel mutants die as late embryos with defects in terminal derivatives including the hindgut and proventriculus. Our results indicate that the developmental roles of odd-skipped and bowel have diverged substantially, and that bowel represents a new member of the terminal hierarchy that acts downstream of tailless and mediates a subset of tailless functions in the posterior of the embryo.
Hypertension prevalence, awareness, and control in Arab countries: a systematic review

One billion of the world's population has hypertension, resulting in four million deaths per year. Data on the prevalence of hypertension in the Arab world are very limited. This review summarizes existing knowledge regarding prevalence, awareness, and control of hypertension in Arab countries. The PubMed, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched for publications on HTN among Arab people from 1980 to January 2011. Only 13 studies were identified in the literature from 10 Arab countries. The overall estimated prevalence of hypertension was 29.5% (n = 45 379), which indicates a higher prevalence of hypertension among Arabs compared to people from the USA (28%) and sub-Saharan African (27.6%). Awareness of hypertension was reported for 46% of the studies and varied from 18% (Jordan) to 79.8% (Syria). The control rate varied from 56% (Tunisia) to 92% (Egypt and Syria). The prevalence of hypertension was found to increase with age, occurring more frequently in Arab women.
Differentiated multi-layer survivability in IP/WDM networks

As the Internet and network technologies evolve, the IP over WDM solution has been envisioned as the most promising solution for the next generation Internet architecture. So survivability in IP/WDM networks becomes critical for the success of the next generation Internet architecture. Considerable research efforts have been dedicated to studying the survivability in IP/GMPLS and WDM network respectively, but still remains the need for a better understanding of the interworking, coordination and functionality partitioning in survivability between IP and WDM. We explore the necessity, methods and advantages to coordinate multi-layer survivability in IP/WDM network. We especially focus on the study of the escalation method, multi-layer network spare capacity design and function partitioning. We study the use of differentiated survivability policies combined with a multi-layer survivability scheme for IP/WDM networks.
Noninvasive cardiac imaging in the evaluation of suspected acute coronary syndromes

Optimal management of patients presenting with chest pain to the emergency department is a major challenge, both in terms of a diagnostic dilemma and consumption of resources. The triage of such patients can be aided vastly by the appropriate use of noninvasive imaging. Noninvasive imaging modalities such as echocardiogram, radionuclide perfusion studies, positron emission tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography have all been demonstrated to have favorable diagnostic and prognostic value, with an enhanced sensitivity to detect acute ischemia. A normal noninvasive evaluation in the appropriate clinical setting presents a strong argument against acute ischemia as an etiology of the chest pain. Randomized trials of both rest and stress imaging in the emergency department have confirmed a reduction in unnecessary hospitalizations and cost savings without compromising the safety of the patient. Cardiac magnetic resonance and computed tomography would provide an insight into subendocardial ischemia, the detection of which has previously been difficult, using single-photon emission tomography and echocardiography. In this review, novel hot-spot imaging modalities are discussed including infarct-avid imaging agents and ischemia-avid imaging agents, thus elucidating the pathophysiology of reperfusion-induced cell death. These agents represent work in evolution and are likely to be used routinely in the future as understanding of coronary syndromes and coronary artery disease becomes clearer.
Computed Tomographic Angiography of Infants with Congenital Heart Disease Receiving Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation

Patients with respiratory and/or cardiac failure occasionally require the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), which presents an obstacle for standard imaging modalities. Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) can be used in patients with congenital heart disease, usually to define extra-cardiac anatomy in the chest. We describe the use of CTA to evaluate two infants with congenital heart disease while on ECMO. The first infant had totally anomalous pulmonary venous connection, and the second had a pulmonary sling that resulted in tracheal stenosis. The studies achieved high diagnostic quality with minimal radiation exposure. Subsequently, both infants had successful surgical repairs.
Nitrogen isotopic compositions of iron meteorites

Iron meteorites analyzed in this study have nitrogen concentrations 70 microg/g or less and delta N-15 from -90 to +150 percent. Although the iron meteorites have a large range of delta N-15, most have values more negative than -50 percent. The nitrogen isotopic compositions were established by cosmochemical processes and were little modified by fractional crystallization or other chemical processes within the parent bodies. The data do not suggest the existence of a well-mixed solar nebular reservoir for nitrogen, as was already inferred from data from stony meteorites. The range of greater than 1100 percent observed for delta N-15 in bulk meteorites is probably too large to be accounted for by physical and chemical mass-dependent fractionation processes in the solar nebula, and thus reflects nebular inhomogeneities of nucleosynthetic origin.
Energy Utilization by Laying Hens I. Energetic Efficiencies of Maintenance and Production

The energetic efficiency of metabolizable energy conversion to net energy for maintenance and/or production was determined in laying hens. The techniques employed indicated that maintenance and production had essentially the same efficiencies (.619 and .628, respectively). Fasting heat production was 69.28 kcal/Wkg75 (physiological body weight) and the maintenance requirement was 111.1 kcal/Wkg75. Limiting metabolizable energy intake in laying hens reduced both egg weight and hen-day production. Regression equations predicted a reduction of 1.53 g in egg weight and a reduction of 2.5% in egg production for each 10 kcal metabolizable energy reduction in intake. This paper reports techniques which may be employed for energetic efficiency evaluations of feedstuffs, mixed diets, and energy utilization by laying hens in short term studies.
Electron paramagnetic resonance measurements and transient effects of the phosphorescent state of 1, 3-diazaazulene

Abstract The zero-field splittings and g -tensors of the phosphorescent state of 1,3-diazaazulene imbedded in the naphthalene crystal have been measured at 77 K. The transient effect of the photoexcitation to the metastable triplet state is observed and the dynamics of the photomagnetization is deduced from the study.
Insulin-like growth factor 1 binding protein 3 synthesis by aortic endothelial cells is a function of cell density.

Abstract Proliferating bovine aortic endothelial cells in culture do not express the insulin-like growth factor 1 binding protein 3 gene, in contrast to the genes encoding binding proteins 2, 4, 5, and 6. The binding protein 3 gene is activated only at cell confluency with continual transcription thereafter, for at least an eight-day post-confluent period, both in the presence or absence of serum. Secretion of protein product into the medium parallels transcription. DNA synthesis is inversely related to the amount of total insulin-like growth factor 1 binding protein 3 in the culture medium. The addition of anti-binding protein 3 antibody to media significantly increases the rate of DNA synthesis by extensively post-confluent cells. These data suggest (1) aortic endothelial cells are an important source of circulating binding protein 3, (2) binding protein 3 has an inhibitory effect upon the growth of endothelial cells, (3) the triggering of binding protein 3 synthesis after confluency suggests a role in maintaining the growth-arrested monolayer state of the cells in vivo.
Solvolysis of a tetrahydropyranyl mesylate: mechanistic implications for the Prins cyclization, 2-oxonia-cope rearrangement, and Grob fragmentation.

A solvolysis reaction is used to demonstrate that a tetrahydropyranyl cation is a common intermediate for Prins cyclizations, 2-oxonia Cope rearrangements, and Grob fragmentations of tetrahydropyran rings.
Electron diffraction of Valonia cellulose. A quantitative interpretation

The crystal structure of native cellulose (Valonia) has been analyzed by electron diffraction. Possible models for the structure were refined by rigid-body least squares methods, which incorporated parameters defining the preferred orientation of the fibrils around their long axes in the cell wall lamellae. The structure was found to consist of an array of chains having the same sense (i.e., parallel), with packing parameters similar to those recently determined by X-ray diffraction. The eight-chain unit cell could be approximated adequately by a two-chain monoclinic unit cell with dimensions a = 8.18 A, b = 7.84 A, c = 10.38 A (fiber axis), and γ = 97.04°; the space group is P21.
Onset of superfluidity in random media.

The zero-temperature superfluid onset transition for a system of repulsively interacting bosons in a random potential is studied. The associated quantum critical behavior is characterized in d dimensions by exponents \ensuremath{\nu}\ensuremath{\ge}2/d, \ensuremath{\eta}, and a dynamic exponent z. Static and dynamic scaling laws are derived: Some measureable exponents, such as z=d, are predicted exactly. Applications to experiments on $^{4}\mathrm{He}$ absorbed in porous media are discussed.
Extended inflation with induced gravity.

We consider a recently proposed extended model of inflation which improves upon the original old inflation scenario by achieving a graceful exit from the false-vacuum phase. In this paper extended inflation is generalized to include a potential /ital V/(/phi/) for the Brans-Dicke-type field /phi/. We find that whereas a graceful exit can still be had, the inclusion of a potential places constraints on the percolation time scale for exiting the inflationary phase. Additional constraints on /ital V/(/phi/) and the false-vacuum energy density /rho//sub /ital F// from density and gravitational-wave perturbations are discussed. For initially small values of /phi/ the false vacuum undergoes power-law inflation, while for initially large values of /phi/ the expansion is exponential. Within true-vacuum regions slow-rolling inflation can occur. As a result, this model generically leads to multiple episodes of inflation. We discuss the significance these multiple episodes of inflation may have on the formation of large-scale structure and the production of voids.
Automated clustering of probe molecules from solvent mapping of protein surfaces: new algorithms applied to hot-spot mapping and structure-based drug design

Use of solvent mapping, based on multiple-copy minimization (MCM) techniques, is common in structure-based drug discovery. The minima of small-molecule probes define locations for complementary interactions within a binding pocket. Here, we present improved methods for MCM. In particular, a Jarvis–Patrick (JP) method is outlined for grouping the final locations of minimized probes into physical clusters. This algorithm has been tested through a study of protein–protein interfaces, showing the process to be robust, deterministic, and fast in the mapping of protein “hot spots.” Improvements in the initial placement of probe molecules are also described. A final application to HIV-1 protease shows how our automated technique can be used to partition data too complicated to analyze by hand. These new automated methods may be easily and quickly extended to other protein systems, and our clustering methodology may be readily incorporated into other clustering packages.
Progress in short-distance (0.5 m to 100 m) optical interconnects

Short distance optical interconnects, which has long promised to solve a number of problems assumed to exist in electronic systems, seems to be at the threshold of providing real value to future processing systems. In many cases, it has been the cost of optical interconnects which has prevented their widespread adoption. However, while data rates required in future computing systems are increasing, and fiber optic component costs have decreased, the distances over which optical interconnects become attractive have been shrinking. In addition the increasing demand for smaller footprints for the I/O at the card edge, plays into one of the strong advantages unique to optics. An effort called Optical Micro-Networks is underway, funded by DARPA, whose objective is to demonstrate cost effective system level benefits in parallel optics for intra- and inter-rack interconnects by leveraging recent advances in VCSEL arrays, high sped CMOS, and low cost glass fiber cabling, connectors and on-board fiber routing. The approach will integrate optical interconnect functionality directly into an ASIC package thus reducing size, cost, and power.
Autosomal dominant spondylarthropathy due to a type II procollagen gene(COL2A1) point mutation

Osteoarthrosis represents a very common disease with heterogeneous etiology. In some pedigrees linkage of the condition with the type II collagen gene (COL2A1) has been established, but information on the underlying gene defect is still incomplete as only one mutation causing this phenotype has been identified. We analyzed the COL2A1 gene in a 27-year-old woman and her 47-year-old mother presenting with severe premature osteoarthrosis and X-ray signs compatible with mild spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia. Examination of the complete gene in both patients was done by amplification of all 54 exons, screening of the PCR products by SSCP-analysis, and subsequent sequencing. In mother and daughter a G to A transition at the 5'-end of exon 21 was detected, leading to a substitution of serine for glycine at position 274 of the triple helical domain. The mutation was not present in unaffected family members or in healthy control individuals. The autosomal dominant spondylarthropathies may represent the less severe entities of the clinical spectrum of type II collagenopathies.
Transcription in Drosophila melanogaster salivary gland cells is altered following exposure to low frequency electromagnetic fields: analysis of chromosomes 3L and X

Abstract The precise chromosome location of nascent RNA chains can be identified in Drosophila salivary gland chromosomes using transcription autoradiographic techniques. Our research has used transcription autoradiography to identify changes in transcriptional activity following 20 min exposures of salivary glands to five extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields. Where possible, chromosome regions have been correlated with known gene sites using chromosome maps.
Picosecond photoconductivity in trans-polyacetylene

Abstract Fast transient photoconductivity measurements of trans - polyacetylene as a function of temperature and photon energy indicate a relatively high quantum efficiency for the photoproduction of mobile, charged, nonlinear excitations. Excitation by a 20ps pulse at 590nm with 1015 photons/cm2 results in a transient photoconductivity of ≈0.3 5/cm (at 50 ps) with time scale for decay similar to that measured in picosecond photoinduced absorption experiments. The temperature independence of the fast photoconductivity is interpreted in terms of the photoproduction of “hot” soliton excitations.
Reservoir evaporation in Texas, USA

Summary The role of reservoir surface evaporation in river/reservoir water budgets and water management is explored using a modeling system that combines historical natural hydrology with current conditions of water resources development and management. The long-term mean evaporation from the 3415 reservoirs in the Texas water rights permit system is estimated to be 7.53 billion m3/year, which is equivalent to 61% of total agricultural or 126% of total municipal water use in the state during the year 2010. Evaporation varies with the hydrologic conditions governing reservoir surface areas and evaporation rates. Annual statewide total evaporation volumes associated with exceedance probabilities of 75%, 50%, and 25% are 7.07, 7.47, and 7.95 billion m3/year, respectively. Impacts of evaporation are greatest during extended severe droughts that govern water supply capabilities.
Parietal generators of low- and high-frequency MN (median nerve) SEPs: data from intracortical human recordings.

Abstract Objective : To identify low and high-frequency median nerve (MN) somatosensory evoked potential (SEP) generators by means of chronically implanted electrodes in the parietal lobe (SI and neighbouring areas) of two epileptic patients. Methods : Wide-pass short-latency and long-latency SEPs to electrical MN stimulation were recorded in two epileptic patients by stereotactically chronically implanted electrodes in the parietal lobe (SI and neighbouring areas). To study high-frequency responses (HFOs) an off-line digital filtering of depth short-latency SEPs was performed (500–800 Hz, 24 dB roll-off). Spectral analysis was performed by fast Fourier transform. Results : In both patients we recorded a N20/P30 potential followed by a biphasic N50/P70 response. A little negative response in the 100 ms latency range was the last detectable wide-pass SEP in both patients. Two HFOs components (called iP1 and iP2) were detected by mere visual analysis and spectral analysis, and were supposed to be originated within the parietal cortex. Conclusions : This was the very first study that recorded wide bandpass and high frequency SEPs by electrodes, exploring both the lateral and the mesial part of the parietal lobe and particularly that of the post-central gyrus.
Measuring Crowdsourcing Effort with Error-Time Curves

Crowdsourcing systems lack effective measures of the effort required to complete each task. Without knowing how much time workers need to execute a task well, requesters struggle to accurately structure and price their work. Objective measures of effort could better help workers identify tasks that are worth their time. We propose a data-driven effort metric, ETA (error-time area), that can be used to determine a task's fair price. It empirically models the relationship between time and error rate by manipulating the time that workers have to complete a task. ETA reports the area under the error-time curve as a continuous metric of worker effort. The curve's 10th percentile is also interpretable as the minimum time most workers require to complete the task without error, which can be used to price the task. We validate the ETA metric on ten common crowdsourcing tasks, including tagging, transcription, and search, and find that ETA closely tracks how workers would rank these tasks by effort. We also demonstrate how ETA allows requesters to rapidly iterate on task designs and measure whether the changes improve worker efficiency. Our findings can facilitate the process of designing, pricing, and allocating crowdsourcing tasks.
Harmonic gauge in canonical gravity.

The Isham-Kucha\ifmmode \check{r}\else \v{r}\fi{} representation theory of the spacetime diffeomorphism group in canonical geometrodynamics is implemented in the context of harmonic coordinate conditions. The representation is carried by either an extended phase space, consisting of the cotangent bundle over the space of three-metrics, spacelike embeddings, and Lagrange multipliers which serve to enforce the harmonic gauge in the action, or by a reduced space in which the multipliers are eliminated. The approach used here is applicable to any generally covariant theory and to any coordinate conditions. The physical interpretation of the diffeomorphism Hamiltonians is discussed and compared with the analogous interpretation given by us elsewhere in terms of Gaussian coordinate conditions.
Adolescents earlier diagnosed as dyslexic show major IQ declines on the WISC-III

Adolescents (n=43) previously diagnosed as dyslexic/reading disabled had markedly lower IQ scores on the newly standardized Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-III) than on the earlier administered WISC-R. The declines for Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs were 10, 12, and 11 points, respectively, which were twice as great as in a subset of the standardization sample given both versions of the WISC. The adolescents did not show a significant decline in standard scores from the Wide Range Achievement Test (Level I to Level II). However, only two subjects had current reading and spelling standard scores above the 25th percentile. The impact of lower WISC-III IQs on guidelines for classification of students as learning disabled is discussed.
Longitudinal studies of acid-base status in infants with low birth weight

This study was designed to investigate a possible relationship between “late metabolic acidosis” of premature infants and the subsequent appearance of neuropsychological syndromes. Longitudinal studies of blood acid-base status during the first two months of life were carried out on 102 low-birth-weight (LBW) infants who had no apparent neonatal disorders and 29 healthy infants of normal birth weight. LBW infants differed from full-term infants primarily by frequency of failure to achieve normal adult pH and bicarbonate levels after the first week of life. The LBW infants who were acidotic rarely had unusual clinical features as determined by evaluation of spontaneous activity, muscle tone, sucking ability, reflex status, or rate of weight gain. In order to investigate the ultimate neurological and developmental outcome of premature infants who manifest “late metabolic acidosis” during the neonatal period, follow-up studies have been planned.
Non-orthogonal configuration interaction for the calculation of multielectron excited states

We apply Non-orthogonal Configuration Interaction (NOCI) to molecular systems where multielectron excitations, in this case double excitations, play a substantial role: the linear polyenes and β-carotene. We demonstrate that NOCI when applied to systems with extended conjugation, provides a qualitatively correct wavefunction at a fraction of the cost of many other multireference treatments. We also present a new extension to this method allowing for purification of higher-order spin states by utilizing Generalized Hartree-Fock Slater determinants and the details for computing ⟨S(2)⟩ for the ground and excited states.
Automated traffic surveillance using fusion of Doppler radar and video information

Current Continuous Wave (CW) Doppler radar speed measurement systems lack the ability to distinguish multiple targets. Most systems can only identify the strongest (closest) target or the fastest target. In this paper, a traffic surveillance system is presented that is capable of automatically monitoring all vehicle speeds on roadways using sensor fusion on data acquired from a video camera and a CW Doppler radar. First, a higher time-frequency resolution of the radar signal (than a standard FFT) is obtained by employing the method of time-frequency reassignment. Then, the 3D tracking information obtained from the calibrated video camera is fused with the more accurate information from the Doppler radar to produce a position and velocity track of the targets within the surveillance region.
Energy-efficient data representation and routing for wireless sensor networks based on a distributed wavelet compression algorithm

We address the problem of energy consumption reduction for wireless sensor networks, where each of the sensors has limited power and acquires data that should be transmitted to a central node. The final goal is to have a reconstructed version of the data measurements at the central node, with the sensors spending as little energy as possible, for a given data reconstruction accuracy. In our scenario, sensors in the network have a choice of different coding schemes to achieve varying levels of compression. The compression algorithms considered are based on the lifting factorization of the wavelet transform, and exploit the natural data flow in the network to aggregate data by computing partial wavelet coefficients that are refined as data flows towards the central node. The proposed algorithm operates by first selecting a routing strategy through the network. Then, for each route, an optimal combination of data representation algorithms i.e. assignment at each node, is selected. A simple heuristic is used to determine the data representation technique to use once path merges are taken into consideration. We demonstrate that by optimizing the coding algorithm selection the overall energy consumption can be significantly reduced when compared to the case when data is just quantized and forwarded to the central node. Moreover, the proposed algorithm provides a tool to compare different routing techniques and identify those that are most efficient overall, for given node locations. We evaluate the algorithm using both a second-order autoregressive (AR) model and empirical data from a real wireless sensor network deployment.
Persistent dystonia in a brain-damaged child after ingestion of phenothiazine

Persistent dystonia in a 10-year-old mentally retarded girl followed an assumedintoxication with trifluoperazine and chlorpromazine. It would appear that in children, as in adults, this infrequent event of irreversible neurotoxicity occurs almost exclusively in subjects with antecedent brain damage.
Let Us Stop Teaching Imaginary Languages

N OT long ago an advertisement in a magazine represented two "tough characters" burglarizing a warehouse in the middle of the night. The leader was demonstrating to his colleague that some of the merchandise bore the label of the advertiser's brand and some did not, and he was earnestly instructing the novice: "Don't take nuttin' widout dis label!" The advertisement carries, to teachers of languages, a message besides the one that the advertiser's brand is the best. Three words used by that burglar--nuttin', widout and dis-will not be found in any English dictionary. Oh, of course all Americans recognize them easily as merely substandard or "ignorant" pronunciations of nothing, without and this. But suppose English were not your native language and you had not been brought up in a place where the two forms of each word presented themselves in comparison for your unconscious assimilation. Would you identify them so easily? Suppose by dint of study and practice you had learned to comprehend the English words nothing, without and this; would you automatically understand nuttin', widout and dis? You certainly would not. For you they might as well be totally different words; and for all you could understand of the conversation of the "tough character" who used them, he might almost as well be talking Gaelic as English. These three words are, of course, merely symbolic of a whole system of pronunciation characteristic of the English of our "tough character" and people like him. Now, we who are in charge of foreign language instruction in schools seem always to have gone on the assumption that individuals who do not use the standard pronunciation of their language--the usage of the cultured and educated-are deservedly ignored. But the awkward fact is that what is called the "standard" pronunciation of a language is always the pronunciation of a very small minority of its native speakers. Listen to radio programs like "Candid Microphone" and "Vox Pop" and, comparing the talk of the speech-trained interviewers with that of the ordinary people interviewed, even a phonetically untrained ear will notice that the speech of the average American is amazingly different from even the American standard of English pronunciation. Now the points I want to emphasize are: first, even slight differences in pronunciation levels, of which the native is not even conscious, mean for the foreigner very appreciable differences in comprehension; second, the present tradition of attuning the student's ear only to the "standard" pronunciation