cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motion Contrast Classification Is a Linearly Nonseparable Problem

Sensitivity to image motion contrast, that is, the relative motion between different parts of the visual field, is a common and computationally important property of many neurons in the visual pathways of vertebrates. Here we illustrate that, as a classification problem, motion contrast detection is linearly nonseparable. In order to do so, we prove a theorem stating a sufficient condition for linear nonseparability. We argue that nonlinear combinations of local measurements of velocity at different locations and times are needed in order to solve the motion contrast problem.
Potential Contribution of VH Gene Replacement in Immunity and Disease

VH replacement occurs through RAG-mediated recombination between a cryptic recombination signal sequence (cRSS) presented in a rearranged VH gene and a 23-bp RSS from an upstream VH gene. VH replacement renews the entire VH coding region and extends the immunoglobulin heavy-chain (IgH) CDR3 regions preferentially with charged amino acids. VH replacement occurs in bone marrow-immature B cells and contributes significantly to the primary B-cell repertoire in humans. However, the biological significance of VH replacement is not clear. Our recent studies revealed elevated frequencies of VH replacement products in different autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and Sjogren's syndrome. Moreover, elevated frequencies of VH replacement products were also found in patients with human immunodeficiency virus or hepatitis C virus infections. These results provide the first clue that VH replacement contributes to autoimmune disease and antiviral immunity, and they also suggest a potential link between viral infection and autoimmune disease.
Microbial processes affecting alanine and glutamic acid in anoxic marine sediments

Abstract The utilization of glutamic acid and alanine in anoxic marine sediments was studied using sediments collected from a tidal flat on the Atlantic Ocean side of Virginia's Eastern Shore (Bordens-take Bay) and a site in the mid-Chesapeake Bay. At both sites volatile fatty acids (VFAs) were produced as intermediates in the catabolism (or oxidation) of both amino acids. In contrast, methylated amines were not produced as metabolic intermediates from either amino acid. The addition of 20 mM molybdate to sediment slurries (to inhibit bacterial sulfate reduction) led to the continuous production of VFAs from both amino acids, indicating that the majority of this VFA production from these amino acids occurred by fermentative processes. Non-catabolic uptake of these amino acids (presumably into bacterial bio-mass) also appeared to be an important process in removing alanine and glutamic acid from these sediment slurries. A kinetic model used to analyze these data indicated that ∽ 85% of the alanine catabolism occurred by fermentative processes, with remineralization by sulfate reducing bacteria accounting for the difference. In contrast, all of the glutamic acid catabolism appeared to occur by fermentation. Calculations using data on VFA and ΣCO2 production in molybdate inhibited sediments also suggested that acetate and formate were the predominant VFAs produced by the fermentation of alanine, and perhaps glutamic acid as well. The oxidation of dissolved, free amino acids appeared to account for a significant fraction of the ammonium production in these anoxic marine sediments, although amino acids represented less than ∽ 2% of the carbon sources/electron donors used by sulfate reduction. These observations suggest that the general pathway of amino acid utilization in anoxic sediments involves their oxidation by fermentative bacteria to produce compounds such as VFA or H2 which are then themselves used as substrates by either sulfate reducing or methanogenic bacteria. As such, dissolved free amino acids appear to play an important role as intermediates in carbon and nitrogen cycling in these environments.
Canine tooth root infection as a cause of facial abscess in the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus)

Facial abscesses in a colony of common marmosets were found to be caused by abscessation of an upper canine tooth root. Trauma to the upper canine, resulting in exposure of the pulp cavity, was thought to be the mode of infection. Radiography was the most useful diagnostic aid in establishing the nature and extent of the lesion. Antibiotic therapy alone was inadequate, and provision of drainage by extracting the tooth, in conjunction with antibiotics, proved the most effective treatment.
Glucose Fermentation Products of Ruminococcus albus Grown in Continuous Culture with Vibrio succinogenes: Changes Caused by Interspecies Transfer of H2

The influence of a H2-utilizing organism, Vibrio succinogenes, on the fermentation of limiting amounts of glucose by a carbohydrate-fermenting, H2-producing organism, Ruminococcus albus, was studied in continuous cultures. Growth of V. succinogenes depended on the production of H2 from glucose by R. albus. V. succinogenes used the H2 produced by R. albus to obtain energy for growth by reducing fumarate in the medium. Fumarate was not metabolized by R. albus alone. The only products detected in continuous cultures of R. albus alone were acetate, ethanol, and H2. CO2 was not measured. The only products detected in the mixed cultures were acetate and succinate. No free H2 was produced. No formate or any other volatile fatty acid, no succinate or other dicarboxylic acids, lactate, alcohols other than ethanol, pyruvate, or other keto-acids, acetoin, or diacetyl were detected in cultures of R. albus alone or in mixed cultures. The moles of product per 100 mol of glucose fermented were approximately 69 for ethanol, 74 for acetate, 237 for H2 for R. albus alone and 147 for acetate and 384 for succinate for the mixed culture. Each mole of succinate is equivalent to the production of 1 mol of H2 by R. albus. Thus, in the mixed cultures, ethanol production by R. albus is eliminated with a corresponding increase in acetate and H2 formation. The mixed-culture pattern is consistent with the hypothesis that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form), formed during glycolysis by R. albus, is reoxidized during ethanol formation when R. albus is grown alone and is reoxidized by conversion to nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide and H2 when R. albus is grown with V. succinogenes. The ecological significance of this interspecies transfer of H2 gas and the theoretical basis for its causing changes in fermentation patterns of R. albus are discussed.
Space-time relations: The effects of variations in stimulus and interstimulus interval duration on perceived visual extent ☆

Abstract Three experiments were performed to study several variables influencing spatio-temporal relationships in the perception of visual extent (tau phenomenon). Ss were required to equate two visual extents demarcated by three temporally successive and spatially discrete flashes of light. All three experiments demonstrated that a larger spatial extent demarcated in a shorter time interval appeared equal to a shorter spatial extent demarcated in a longer time interval. The first experiment represented an attempt to supplement the findings of an earlier experiment by exploring the upper and lower temporal limits of this phenomenon. Utilizing interstimulus intervals (ISIs) ranging from 0.1 to 10 sec continued tau effects were observed. The results of the second experiment showed that it was the absolute difference (S-V) rather than the ratio difference (S/V) in variable and standard ISIs that governs the resulting tau effect. The third experiment demonstrated the significant effects of delimiting stimulus duration on the tau phenomenon. A relatively brief, i.e., 0.1 sec, stimulus duration significantly heightens the phenomenon in comparison to a relatively long, i.e., 4 sec., stimulus duration. These studies yield additional findings regarding the roles of order of variable and standard presentation and initial variable extent size. New directions for research in this area are discussed.
The design and usage of tentative events for time-based social coordination in the enterprise

Existing enterprise calendaring systems have suffered from problems like rigidity, lack of transparency, and poor integration with social networks. We present the system design and rationale for a novel social coordination mechanism, called "Suggestions," that addresses these issues. Our system integrates ideas drawn from designs of lightweight polling systems and one's social network into an open calendar tool, providing a space for users to coordinate, socialize around, or negotiate the "what" and the "when" of their events. Suggestions was released inside a large enterprise setting, where initial interviews revealed users' thoughts on transparent scheduling, reaching wider audiences and task appropriateness, and suggested ways to improve our design.
Constrained Delaunay triangulations

Given a set of n vertices in the plane together with a set of noncrossing edges, the constrained Delaunay triangulation (CDT) is the triangulation of the vertices with the following properties: (1) the prespecified edges are included in the triangulation, and (2) it is as close as possible to the Delaunay triangulation. We show that the CDT can be built in optimal O(n log n) time using a divide-and-conquer technique. This matches the time required to build an arbitrary (unconstrained) Delaunay triangulation and the time required to build an arbitrary constrained (nonDelaunay) triangulation. CDTs, because of their relationship with Delaunay triangulations, have a number of properties that should make them useful for the finite-element method. Applications also include motion planning in the presence of polygonal obstacles in the plane and constrained Euclidean minimum spanning trees, spanning trees subject to the restriction that some edges are prespecified.
On the performance of COBOL programs in large vs. mini computers

The comparative performance characteristics of COBOL programs in a small versus large computer systems are investigated. The vehicle consists of a set of synthetic benchmark COBOL programs, each measuring a particular aspect of COBOL computations, data manipulation, and input/output is made on both a large scale computer (IBM 370/158) and a minicomputer (Texas Instruments TI980). Results of a number of such experiments are presented and comparisons made between results obtained from the two systems.
Onychomycosis: therapeutic update.

Abstract Onychomycosis is a common disease of the nail unit caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and molds. In more than 80% of cases, onychomycosis is caused by the dermatophytes Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes. The prevalence of onychomycosis in the world's population is 2% to 18% or higher and accounts for approximately 50% of all nail disorders. Until recently, available therapies were inadequate because of low cure rates, high relapse rates, and often dangerous side effects. An increased understanding of nail pharmacokinetics has led to the development of safer, more effective systemic therapies for onychomycosis, such as itraconazole, fluconazole, and terbinafine. These new oral antifungal agents allow shorter periods of treatment, provide rapid efficacy, and may improve patient compliance and attitudes regarding therapy. Treatment selection will depend on several factors, including appropriate spectrum of activity, adverse effects, and potential drug interactions plus patient preferences for specific dosing regimens. (J Am Acad Dermatol 1999;40:S21-6.)
Serial studies of carpal tunnel syndrome during and after pregnancy

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a frequent and underdiagnosed complication of pregnancy. Conservative therapies are common initial measures, but data on the course of improvement are limited. We report a case of pregnancy-associated CTS with unusually detailed serial electrophysiologic studies before and after wrist splinting. Physiologic measures reached a nadir and then rapidly improved following conservative therapy, paralleling clinical improvement. Responses took between 6 and 20 months postpartum to approach baseline values.
A computational study of ultra-wideband versus narrowband microwave hyperthermia for breast cancer treatment

We present a computational study comparing the performance of narrowband (NB) microwave hyperthermia for breast cancer treatment with a recently proposed ultra-wideband (UWB) approach. Space-time beamforming is used to preprocess input signals from both UWB and NB sources. The train of UWB pulses or the NB sinusoidal signals are then transmitted simultaneously from multiple antennas into the breast. Performance is evaluated using finite-difference time-domain electromagnetic (EM) and thermal simulations with realistic numerical breast phantoms derived from magnetic resonance images (MRIs) of the breast. We use three methods of mapping MRI data to complex permittivity data to account for uncertainty in the embodiment of the dielectric properties transitions in heterogeneous breast tissue. EM power-density deposition profiles and temperature profiles are compared for the UWB and NB cases in the three different breast phantoms. Dominant mechanisms that influence the efficacy of focusing UWB and NB signals in the breast are identified. The results of this study suggest that, while NB focusing performs reasonably well when the excitation frequency is optimized, UWB focusing consistently performs better, offering the potential for tighter focusing and greater reduction of hot spots, particularly in breast tissue, which exhibits distinct dielectric-properties boundaries within the tissue heterogeneity.
CTLA-4 suppresses the pathogenicity of self antigen–specific T cells by cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms

The inhibitory immunoregulatory receptor CTLA-4 is critical in maintaining self-tolerance, but the mechanisms of its actions have remained controversial. Here we examined the antigen specificity of tissue-infiltrating CD4(+) T cells in Ctla4(-/-) mice. After adoptive transfer, T cells isolated from tissues of Ctla4(-/-) mice showed T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-dependent accumulation in the tissues from which they were derived, which suggested reactivity to tissue-specific antigens. We identified the pancreas-specific enzyme PDIA2 as an autoantigen in Ctla4(-/-) mice. CTLA-4 expressed either on PDIA2-specific effector cells or on regulatory T cells was sufficient to control tissue destruction mediated by PDIA2-specific T cells. Our results demonstrate that both cell-intrinsic and non-cell-autonomous actions of CTLA-4 operate to maintain T cell tolerance to a self antigen.
Commentary on “The Human Mind: Building Bridges between Neuroscience and Psychiatry”. On Building a Clinical Cognitive Neuroscience

No one can or has doubted that the brain "lights up" in the context of normal and abnormal experience and behavior. The anatomy of the brain ensures that its regions, circuits, distributed pathways, and cell assemblies have to provide the "electricity" for the lights. Some of the relevant structures light up preferentially for some neurocognitive functions (e.g., language, attention and working memory, spatial orientation). However, many domains of experience and behavior relevant to mental health problems (e.g., motivation, attachment residuals, emotional responses) appear to have a different neural representation than traditional neurocognitive functions. At any rate, the preceding describes the territory that Strumwasser emphasizes should be taken into consideration in context of mental health problems. The territory he wants to connect with involves disturbances of experience and behavior, social inefficiency, behavioral breakdowns, and disordered thought, all of which demarcate the clinical domain. Strumwasser believes that a relevant and clinically useful bridge can be devised to cross and link together these territories in an effective way. He proposes and urges that attention be given to developing a frame of reference by means of which a solid correspondence can be established between the two territories. He provides a stimulating and provocative image of a future clinical cognitive neuroscience. His vision, however, raises many questions. Furthermore, whether future developments in the neural sciences will or can accommodate Strumwasser's wishes remains to be seen.
UV Multiphoton Dissociation of Group VIB Hexacarbonyls and Derivatives

Formation of electronically excited metal atoms via excimer laser multiphoton dissociation of Cr(CO) 6 , C 6 H 6 Cr(CO) 3 , and Mo(CO) 6 has been examined in the gas phase. The dissociation mechanism was studied by determining the laserfluence- dependence and buffer-gas-pressure dependence of the metal atom emission intensity. Each of these species was found to form metal atoms via two-photon and three-photon dissociation processes. The data suggest that dissociation occurs by both direct and sequential processes.
Thermal decomposition kinetics of iodine‐doped polyacetylene in vacuum

The thermal stability of iodine-doped polyacetylene films, (CHI/sub y/)/sub x/, has been studied by means of electrical conductivity measurements, measurements on weight loss, and mass spectrometric analysis of desorbing species. When heated between room temperature and 125/sup 0/C in vacuum, these films proved to be of poor thermal stability, being unstable at temperatures above 20/sup 0/C. During the thermal treatments, molecular iodine desorbs from the films, resulting in an appreciable dopant weight loss with accompanying decrease in the electrical conductivity. The decomposition process does not follow simple kinetics.
Aggressive versus conservative initiation of antimicrobial treatment in critically ill surgical patients with suspected intensive-care-unit-acquired infection: a quasi-experimental, before and after observational cohort study

Summary Background Antimicrobial treatment in critically ill patients can either be started as soon as infection is suspected or after objective data confirm an infection. We postulated that delaying antimicrobial treatment of patients with suspected infections in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU) until objective evidence of infection had been obtained would not worsen patient mortality. Methods We did a 2-year, quasi-experimental, before and after observational cohort study of patients aged 18 years or older who were admitted to the SICU of the University of Virginia (Charlottesville, VA, USA). From Sept 1, 2008, to Aug 31, 2009, aggressive treatment was used: patients suspected of having an infection on the basis of clinical grounds had blood cultures sent and antimicrobial treatment started. From Sept 1, 2009, to Aug 31, 2010, a conservative strategy was used, with antimicrobial treatment started only after objective findings confirmed an infection. Our primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Analyses were by intention to treat. Findings Admissions to the SICU for the first and second years were 762 and 721, respectively, with 101 patients with SICU-acquired infections during the aggressive year and 100 patients during the conservative year. Compared with the aggressive approach, the conservative approach was associated with lower all-cause mortality (13/100 [13%] vs 27/101 [27%]; p=0·015), more initially appropriate therapy (158/214 [74%] vs 144/231 [62%]; p=0·0095), and a shorter mean duration of therapy (12·5 days [SD 10·7] vs 17·7 [28·1]; p=0·0080). After adjusting for age, sex, trauma involvement, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, and site of infection, the odds ratio for the risk of mortality in the aggressive therapy group compared with the conservative therapy group was 2·5 (95% CI 1·5–4·0). Interpretation Waiting for objective data to diagnose infection before treatment with antimicrobial drugs for suspected SICU-acquired infections does not worsen mortality and might be associated with better outcomes and use of antimicrobial drugs. Funding National Institutes of Health.
High-performance transistor evaluation for low-cost embedded DRAM

High-speed and low-power logic compatible performance is in high demanded for embedded DRAM (eDRAM) and/or custom DRAM applications. However, it is a challenge to make it cost-effectively using the commercial DRAM process. In this paper, the feasibility of high-performance transistors is demonstrated using the commercial Micron Technology 95nm DRAM process and design targeted for low-cost eDRAM. Multiple process conditions were optimized in the commercial DRAM process to simultaneously achieve the target performance and minimize DRAM retention time degradation. A dual-EPI process-thin selective EPI growth in the peripheral source/drain and thick selective EPI growth in the DRAM cell array-was experimentally developed to improve DRAM retention time. Parametrically, the dual-EPI process was successful, but further optimization is required for good yield.
Two-dimensional recursive digital filtering: pipelining, one- and two-dimensional block processing

Unlike one-dimensional recursive systems, two-dimensional recursive digital filter algorithms possess a large amount of inherent concurrency which can be exploited for pipelining and/or parallelism. The locus of these concurrent computations is referred to as the concurrent computation region. The authors describe the use of this concurrency to derive pipelined and one-dimensional block architecture for implementation of two-dimensional recursive digital filters by appropriate interleaving (or indexing) of the input samples, without requiring any algorithm transformation and without any hardware overhead. They also derive a two-dimensional incremental block filter using look-ahead computation and incremental computation techniques. Pipelined two-dimensional block structures and the index mapping functions for various architectures are presented. Finally, it is shown that for an N-dimensional recursive filter, the concurrent computation region corresponds to an (N-1)-dimensional hyperplane. >
Measured microdosimetric spectra of energetic ion beams of Fe, Ar, Ne, and C: limitations of LET distributions and quality factors in space research and radiation effects

Microdosimetric spectra for energetic beams of Fe, Ar, Ne, N, and C with incident energies between 500 and 600 MeV/amu have been measured as a function of absorber thickness. The experiments were performed at the Bevalac Accelerator of the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, CA. Data obtained with two different types of detectors are compared in order to examine the production of delta rays by energetic heavy ions and their effect on distributions of energy deposition. Recent controversies in the literature are examined in terms of the present observations. Consequent limitations of LET distributions and/or single-hit-particle concepts in reference to personnel and equipment in space are discussed. >
Uremia in rats with normal kidneys: A model for the study of renal function in a uremic environment

Some of the alterations in renal excretory and endocrine function present in kidney failure are due to the loss of renal mass, while others may be caused by the uremic milieu per se. A model in which structurally intact kidneys are exposed to a uremic environment would help to distinguish between these pathogenetic mechanisms. In this paper we describe such a model in rats made uremic by the diversion of urine from the bladder to the superior vena cava. Experiments were performed on male rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain, weighing 180 to 350g. Under anesthesia (0.05 ml i.m. of InnovarVet®, PitmanMoore, Inc., Washington Crossing, NJ: contains 0.4 mg of fentanyl citrate and 20 mg of droperidol per ml), the right external jugular vein was cannulated with a 5-mm long catheter of 0.5 mm inner and 0.94 mm outer diameter (Silastic°, medical grade tubing, Dow Corning Corp., Midland, MI). The intravascular catheter portion had multiple perforations, while its proximal end was secured at the vessel insertion site through ligatures tied over a short 23-gauge stainless steel cannula segment. The remaining length of the venous conduit (Silastic® tubing, 1.0 mm I.D. and 2.16 mm O.D.) was looped under the mandibular angle, anchored to the salivary gland by ligatures tied over polyethylene sleeves, carried to the back subcutaneously along the left lateral neck region and exteriorized through a small midscapular skin incision. The end of this catheter was equipped with a one-way valve (Hakim miniaturized ball-in-cone ventricular shunt valve, Model 902-012, Cordis Corp., Miami, FL), which insured unidirectional
Graphical models for visual object recognition and tracking

We develop statistical methods which allow effective visual detection, categorization, and tracking of objects in complex scenes. Such computer vision systems must be robust to wide variations in object appearance; the often small size of training databases, and ambiguities induced by articulated or partially occluded objects. Graphical models provide a powerful framework for encoding the statistical structure of visual scenes, and developing corresponding learning and inference algorithms. In this thesis, we describe several models which integrate graphical representations with nonparametric statistical methods. This approach leads to inference algorithms which tractably recover high-dimensional, continuous object pose variations, and learning procedures which transfer knowledge among related recognition tasks. Motivated by visual tracking problems, we first develop a nonparametric extension of the belief propagation (BP) algorithm. Using Monte Carlo methods, we provide general procedures for recursively updating particle-based approximations of continuous sufficient statistics. Efficient multiscale sampling methods then allow this nonparametric BP algorithm to be flexibly adapted to many different applications. As a particular example, we consider a graphical model describing the hand's three-dimensional (3D) structure, kinematics, and dynamics. This graph encodes global hand pose via the 3D position and orientation of several rigid components, and thus exposes local structure in a high-dimensional articulated model. Applying nonparametric BP, we recover a hand tracking algorithm which is robust to outliers and local visual ambiguities. Via a set of latent occupancy masks, we also extend our approach to consistently infer occlusion events in a distributed fashion. In the second half of this thesis, we develop methods for learning hierarchical models of objects, the parts composing them, and the scenes surrounding them. Our approach couples topic models originally developed for text analysis with spatial transformations, and thus consistently accounts for geometric constraints. By building integrated scene models, we may discover contextual relationships, and better exploit partially labeled training images. We first consider images of isolated objects, and show that sharing parts among object categories improves accuracy when learning from few examples. Turning to multiple object scenes, we propose nonparametric models which use Dirichlet processes to automatically learn the number of parts underlying each object category, and objects composing each scene. Adapting these transformed Dirichlet processes to images taken with a binocular stereo camera, we learn integrated, 3D models of object geometry and appearance. This leads to a Monte Carlo algorithm which automatically infers 3D scene structure from the predictable geometry of known object categories. (Copies available exclusively from MIT Libraries, Rm. 14-0551, Cambridge, MA 02139-4307. Ph. 617-253-5668; Fax 617-253-1690.)
An Update on the Status of Sponsored Research in Counseling Psychology

Prior research has indicated that relative to other specialty areas in psychology, counseling psychology researchers are less likely to engage in research activities sponsored by external funding agencies. The primary purposes of this article were to address external funding in the counseling psychology profession and to compare the rates of articles published in the premier counseling psychology research journal (Journal of Counseling Psychology [JCP]) that reported external funding to other specialty areas’ premier research journals. Between 2007 and 2011, articles in JCP were less likely than those in other journals to report external funding and less likely to report research designs associated with external sponsorship. Post hoc analyses indicated that articles in a leading vocational research journal also had relatively low rates of external funding, and counseling psychology faculty members were less likely than peers in other programs to report external funding. The implications of these findings ...
Conclusion: Ethical Criticism and the Academic Novel beyond the Culture Wars

Despite the publication during the last decade of a number of volumes devoted to the humanistic study of literary works - a roster of monographs that includes David Parker’s Ethics, Theory, and the Novel (1994), Martha C" Nussbaum’s Poetic Justice: the Literary Imagination and Public Life (1995), Kim L" Worthington’s Self as Narrative: Subjectivity and Community in Contemporary Fiction (1996), Colin McGinn’s Ethics, Evil, and Fiction (1997), Robert Eaglestone’s Ethical Criticism: Reading after Levinas (1998), and Geoffrey Galt Harpham’s Shadows of Ethics: Criticism and the Just Society (1999) - ethical criticism must still successfully contend with several issues of historical and contemporary import in order to authenticate itself as a viable interpretive paradigm"
Transformations of the self: a narrative and poetic based autoethnography

ABSTRACTThis autoethnography explores the phenomenology of both the self and masculinities in a poetic and narrative inquiry. Using an autoethnographic approach as a legitimate means of documenting personal change is discussed. Additionally, the validity of writing, and poetry specifically, as inquiry and transformation is addressed. Its overall purpose is to document and explore changing modes of selfhood and masculinity through the use of original poems and accompanying narrative reflections about them. I hope to demonstrate, through the use of poems as data, that significant change can be accompanied by the act of writing poetry, and that such change has a developmental nature.
HOW PROVABLY GRACEFUL ARE THE TREES

Given the inability to prove that all trees are graceful, can we at least say something positive about their gracefulness? Two problems of this type are presented. DOI : http://dx.doi.org/10.22342/jims.0.0.25.133-136
Demographic Trends in Aging

Clearly the demographics of the United States and the world are changing. Not only is the population of the United States and Western Europe aging but it is becoming more racially, ethnically, and culturally diverse. Along with these demographic changes comes the real and perceived necessity to define and categorize individuals. At times, the terms employed might be inappropriate and incomplete. As such, a thorough understanding of these terms and definitional issues is integral to provide culturally competent care. With the changes in the demographic landscape comes an associated shift in socioeconomics, language, and religion. These forces can have strong influences on clinical practice, research design, and research outcomes. The goal of this chapter is to provide a broad overview of some key demographic trends occurring in geriatric populations.
Weak value measurements with pulse recycling

Recycling undetected photons in a weak measurement can substantially improve the signal-to-noise ratio. We demonstrate a preliminary improvement by a factor of 1.36 over a system with no recycling, potentially reaching a factor of 3.2.
Wireless Sensor Network for DC/AC homegrids

Rapidly falling costs of photovoltaic generation and electrical energy storage devices are prompting the proliferation of self-contained electricity systems in homes and buildings, that can be called homegrid, and several of these homegrids form a microgrid. The homegrid consists of local generation, storage and utilization devices, which may or may not interconnect to a central utility system. A critical challenge in operating a homegrid is the energy management of the electrical power system to ensure electricity availability and system stability while meeting customer needs. This paper proposes a wireless communication framework for energy management in homegrids using a Homegrid Sensor Network (HSN) which consists of the HEM (Homegrid Energy Manager) and Homegrid Nodes (HN) which are connected to the required loads/sources. HSN has been realized using an IEEE 802.15.4 based Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) with mesh capabilities for control and management of the electrical power system. The paper presents a design framework along with evaluation results using an IEEE 802.15.4 based commercial off the shelf radio chipset and a vendor-supplied cross-layer mesh networking protocol. The paper presents results from link quality estimation using hardware and software-based approaches.
Acetaminophen kinetics in acutely poisoned patients

A kinetic model of acetaminophen elimination over a wide dose range has been developed on the basis of (1) kinetic data from normal adults who received a usual dose (up to 2 gm) of the drug and (2) the composition of urinary metabolites of acetaminophen excreted within 24 hr by 29 patients who had ingested up to 26 gm of acetaminophen in suicide attempts (including 2 that were fatal and 5 with evidence of severe intoxication). The model consists of the following parallel pathways: conjugation with glucuronide by Michaelis-Menten kinetics, conjugation with sulfate by Michaelis-Menten kinetics, renal excretion of acetaminophen by apparent first-order kinetics, and formation of an oxidative metabolite (which is responsible for the hepatotoxicity of acetaminophen) by apparent first-order kinetics. There is good agreement between the model-predicted and actual urinary excretion of individual acetaminophen metabolites for doses of 0.8 to 26 gm and between model-predicted and actual plasma acetaminophen concentrations in both the low (normal subjects) and high (intoxicated subjects) concentration ranges. Computer simulations indicate that unsaturation of acetaminophen sulfate formation, previously shown to be feasible in vivo, should decrease the formation of the hepatotoxic metabolite. This prediction is consistent with experimental data obtained in preliminary studies on mice.
The maintenance and updating of representations of no longer visible objects and their parts

When an object partially or completely disappears behind an occluding surface, a representation of that object persists. For example, fragments of no longer visible objects can serve as an input into mid-level constructive visual processes, interacting and integrating with currently visible portions to form perceptual units and global motion signals. Remarkably, these persistent representations need not be static and can have their positions and orientations updated postdictively as new information becomes visible. In this chapter, we highlight historical considerations, behavioral evidence, and neural correlates of this type of representational updating of no longer visible information at three distinct levels of visual processing. At the lowest level, we discuss spatiotemporal boundary formation in which visual transients can be integrated over space and time to construct local illusory edges, global form, and global motion percepts. At an intermediate level, we review how the visual system updates form information seen at one moment in time and integrates it with subsequently available information to generate global shape and motion representations (e.g., spatiotemporal form integration and anorthoscopic perception). At a higher level, when an entire object completely disappears behind an occluder, the object's identity and predicted position can be maintained in the absence of visual information.
Marshall Dimockŉs deflective organizational theory

In a significant, but iconoclastic, approach to Public Administration Marshall Dimock introduced many sprawling concepts, approaches, and arguments to modern organization theory. Dimock, a contemporary of Herbert A. Simon, challenged traditional wisdom with his gradual deflection away from conventional organization and administrative theories. Contrary to Simon's opinions, Dimock linked Public Administration back to classical thought, and rejected the modernistsŉ definition of progress and the growth/decay explanations for organization development.
FFR-guided multivessel stenting reduces urgent revascularization compared with infarct-related artery only stenting in ST-elevation myocardial infarction: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Abstract Background Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have shown fractional flow reserve-guided (FFR) multivessel stenting to be superior to infarct-related artery (IRA) only stenting in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and multivessel disease. This effect was mainly driven by a reduction in overall repeat revascularization. However, the ability to assess the effect of this strategy on urgent revascularization or reinfarction was underpowered in individual trials. Methods We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Web of Science for RCTs of FFR-guided multivessel stenting versus IRA-only stenting in STEMI with multivessel disease. The outcomes of interest were death, reinfarction, urgent, and non-urgent repeat revascularization. Risk ratios (RR) were pooled using the DerSimonian and Laird random-effects model. Results After review of 786 citations, 2 RCTs were included. The pooled results demonstrated a significant reduction in the composite of death, reinfarction, or revascularization in the FFR-guided multivessel stenting group versus IRA-only stenting group (RR [95%, Confidence Interval]: 0.49 [0.33–0.72], p p =0.002) and non-urgent revascularization (0.31 [0.19–0.50], p p =0.28). Conclusions This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that a strategy of FFR-guided multivessel stenting in STEMI patients reduces not only overall repeat revascularization but also urgent revascularization. The effect on reinfarction needs to be evaluated in larger trials.
Directed Atom-by-Atom Assembly of Dopants in Silicon

The ability to controllably position single atoms inside materials is key for the ultimate fabrication of devices with functionalities governed by atomic-scale properties. Single bismuth dopant atoms in silicon provide an ideal case study in view of proposals for single-dopant quantum bits. However, bismuth is the least soluble pnictogen in silicon, meaning that the dopant atoms tend to migrate out of position during sample growth. Here, we demonstrate epitaxial growth of thin silicon films doped with bismuth. We use atomic-resolution aberration-corrected imaging to view the as-grown dopant distribution and then to controllably position single dopants inside the film. Atomic-scale quantum-mechanical calculations corroborate the experimental findings. These results indicate that the scanning transmission electron microscope is of particular interest for assembling functional materials atom-by-atom because it offers both real-time monitoring and atom manipulation. We envision electron-beam manipulation of a...
Entrapped: Visiting migrant detainees in western Massachusetts

“Entrapped: Visiting Migrant Detainees in Western Massachusetts” is a collectively written reflection by Mount Holyoke College faculty and students about our visit to and tour of the Franklin County Jail in Greenfield, Massachusetts. This visit was part of our effort to develop a permanent visitation program and learning community among immigrant detainees who are held at the county facility, the students, staff, and faculty at Mount Holyoke College, and local community organizations in our region. In this piece, we collectively comment on the experience of entering a carceral facility, engaging with staff at the jail, and understanding the nuances in the relationship between county and federal enforcement bureaucracies. Most importantly, we reflect on our interactions with largely (but not exclusively) Latino male detainees teetering on the verge of deportation.
Cholesterol in Human Milk

Cholesterol occurs in human milk as a result of the nature of the lactation process (1,2). When the fat globule is extruded from the mammary cell, it is enveloped by membranes from the endoplasmic reticulum of the cell. The membranes contain cholesterol and are the source of most of the cholesterol in milk. About 15% of the cholesterol is esterified as these compounds are nonpolar, they are found in the hydrophobic core of the fat globule. Cholesterol, relatively hydrophylic because of the free hydroxyl group, is found in the membrane enveloping the globule.
Enzymatic Incorporation of Prenyl Azides into Peptides and Proteins: Tools for Selective Protein Labeling

Introduction Protein prenylation consists of the attachment of 15 (farnesyl) or 20 (geranylgeranyl) carbon isoprenoids to proteins via a thioether linkage. The prenyl groups originate from the corresponding allylic diphosphates and are attached to their cognate target proteins by a class of enzymes called prenyltransferases (Fig. 1). This posttranslational modification has received considerable attention in recent years due to the fact that many proteins involved in signal transduction pathways including Ras are prenylated. Inhibition of protein prenylation can negate the effects of transforming mutations in Ras. This has resulted in significant interest in the prenyltransferase class of enzymes as potential targets for anticancer therapy [1].
Numerical Investigation of Time-Dependent Deformation in Rock Based on Numerical Manifold Method

In this paper, the extended Nishihara model (ENM) is incorporated into numerical manifold method (NMM) to study time-dependent deformation of stressed rock, this model uses a nonlinear viscoelastoplastic component to achieve the tertiary creep of rock by using ENM based on numerical manifold method. The improved NMM based creep model is a combination of creep theory for the time-dependent deformation of rock and traditional NMM. Using time step-initial strain method, the improved NMM program divides viscous strain and large creep time into a series of increment time-step values to calculate creep problems. Parameter sensitivity analysis is performed and the Improved NMM program is validated against experimental data. Meanwhile, the influence of axial stress and confining pressure on time-dependent deformation of rock is also investigated. The fact that numerical simulations agree well with experimental results shows that improved NMM program is suitable for modelling time-dependent creep deformation of rocks.
Finding Minimum Stopping and Trapping Sets: An Integer Linear Programming Approach

In this paper, we discuss the problems of finding minimum stopping sets and trapping sets in Tanner graphs, using integer linear programming. These problems are important for establishing reliable communication across noisy channels. Indeed, stopping sets and trapping sets correspond to combinatorial structures in information-theoretic codes which lead to errors in decoding once a message is received. We present integer linear programs (ILPs) for finding stopping sets and several trapping set variants. In the journal version of this paper, we prove that two of these trapping set problem variants are NP-hard for the first time. The effectiveness of our approach is demonstrated by finding stopping sets of size up to 48 in the (4896, 2474) Margulis code. This compares favorably to the current state-of-the-art, which finds stopping sets of size up to 26. For the trapping set problems, we show for which cases an ILP yields very efficient solutions and for which cases it performs poorly. The proposed approach is applicable to codes represented by regular and irregular graphs alike.
Extreme Energy Absorption in Glassy Polymer Thin Films by Supersonic Micro-projectile Impact

Abstract The nature of polymer deformation depends on the ability of the chain segments to respond to the applied load at the imposed loading rate. When the polymer response time is significantly longer than the loading duration, the polymer responds in a brittle manner. Polystyrene, for example, is a brittle, glassy solid at room temperature and absorbs very little energy during deformation. Here we show unexpected, thickness and strain-rate-dependent deformation processes in thin polystyrene films at extreme axisymmetric tensile deformation rates. The impact of a supersonic micro-projectile initiates crazing, yielding, and adiabatic heating leading to extensive plastic flow of a load-bearing viscoelastic melt prior to perforation and film rupture. The less entangled, more mobile near-surface regions of these freestanding films favorably modify these processes, increasing the specific energy absorption as thickness decreases at the highest impact velocity. This results in unprecedented energy absorption at extreme strain rates in what is normally considered a brittle material.
The Role of Teacher Education in Advancing Reform in Primary Science Education

In this chapter, East Asian country and territory reports are examined for productive intersections in understanding primary science in the context of contemporary reform in science education. The authors of these reports provide thoughtful considerations, insights, and advancements in curriculum, instruction, and assessment from which we all can learn. Three problems of practice shared across contributing countries include (a) student performance on international comparison tests, (b) the lack of hands-on investigation in primary science, and (c) primary teacher preparation in science. Discussion of reports is set against this backdrop and focuses on the challenges and promise of primary teacher education across the professional continuum (preservice to experience teachers), insights from research and practice focused on improving opportunities for teacher learning, and exemplar approaches in teacher education from contributing countries that are already underway. Moving forward, it is tempting to embrace new standards as a panacea for improving science education, especially at the primary level. In order to learn from past reforms, there is a vital need to consider the underlying research and conceptual framework, which calls for targeted shifts in the ways that science is taught and learned. Additionally, addressing complex systems of science education and creating more coherence among curriculum, instruction, assessment, and policy is needed.
A Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)-enabled Wireless Link for Bidirectional Communications with a Neural Microsystem

This paper reports on the design and implementation of a Bluetooth low energy (BLE)-enabled wireless link for bidirectional communications between a user base station (UBS) and a neural microsystem. The microsystem comprises a previously developed application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for activity-dependent intracortical microstimulation (ICMS), and the BLE link is dedicated to remote programming of the ICMS ASIC as well as to remote monitoring of several parameters such as the average stimulus rate, electrode site impedance, or power supply level. A prototype system is developed that incorporates the ICMS ASIC, SAMB11 BLE module, and peripheral electronics for supply management and ASIC monitoring, as well as a BLE user interface custom developed in C#. The end-to-end functionality of the BLE-enabled wireless link is experimentally demonstrated in representative benchtop tests in which several ASIC parameters are successfully programmed from the UBS over a distance of > 3.5m. The prototype system consumes ~6181μW from a 3.6V, 1.6Ah, lithium-ion battery and is estimated to feature a lifetime of> 8 months for continuous operation, making it suitable for longitudinal studies with the ICMS ASIC in a non-human primate model.