cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ridge-based bias potentials to accelerate molecular dynamics

An effective way to accelerate rare events in molecular dynamics simulations is to apply a bias potential which destabilizes minima without biasing the transitions between stable states. This approach, called hyperdynamics, is limited by our ability to construct general bias potentials without having to understand the reaction mechanisms available to the system, a priori. Current bias potentials are typically constructed in terms of a metric which quantifies the distance that a trajectory deviates from the reactant state minimum. Such metrics include detection of negative curvatures of the potential, an energy increase, or deviations in bond lengths from the minimum. When one of these properties exceeds a critical value, the bias potentials are constructed to approach zero. A problem common to each of these schemes is that their effectiveness decreases rapidly with system size. We attribute this problem to a diminishing volume defined by the metrics around a reactant minimum as compared to the total volume of the reactant state basin. In this work, we mitigate the dimensionality scaling problem by constructing bias potentials that are based upon the distance to the boundary of the reactant basin. This distance is quantified in two ways: (i) by following the minimum mode direction to the reactant boundary and (ii) by training a machine learning algorithm to give an analytic expression for the boundary to which the distance can be calculated. Both of these ridge-based bias potentials are demonstrated to scale qualitatively better with dimensionality than the existing methods. We attribute this improvement to a greater filling fraction of the reactant state using the ridge-based bias potentials as compared to the standard potentials.
ATP-binding cassette transporter A1, fatty acids, and cholesterol absorption.

Purpose of reviewA significant advance in our understanding of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway occurred in 1999 with the identification of defects in the ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 gene as the cause of Tangier disease. Since this discovery, an overwhelming number of experiments ha
Essentials of Advocacy in Case Management: Part 1: Ethical Underpinnings of Advocacy-Theories, Principles, and Concepts.

Purpose/objectives This article describes the meaning and underpinnings of advocacy in the field of case management and shares essential principles and concepts for effective client advocacy. Primary practice setting(s) All practice settings across the continuum of health and human services and case managers of diverse professional backgrounds. Findings and conclusion Advocacy is vital to case management practice and a primary role of the professional case manager. It is rooted in ethical theory and principles. Successful case managers apply advocacy at every step of the case management process and in every action they take. Part I of this 2-part article explores the ethical theories and principles of advocacy, the perception of case management-related professional organizations of advocacy, and types of advocacy. Part II then presents a client advocacy model for case managers to apply in their practice, describes the role of advocacy in client engagement, and identifies important strategies and a set of essential competencies for effective case management advocacy. Implications for case management Acquiring foundational knowledge, skills, and competencies in what advocacy is equips case managers with the ability and confidence to enact advocacy-related behaviors in the provision of care to achieve desired outcomes for both the clients and health care agencies/providers alike. Case management leaders may use the knowledge shared in this article to develop advocacy training and competency programs for their case managers.
THE INTERACTION PRINCIPLE

This chapter discusses the interaction principle. The point-level interpretation of the interaction principle subsists when the subset S is interpreted in the statement of the principle as either a point or as a scattering volume in a continuous optical medium X or as a point of a general space X. The surface-level interpretation of the interaction principle subsists when the subset S is interpreted in the statement of the principle as a subset of a space X that has one less dimension than X. The sequence of ascending interpretations of the interaction principle is interrupted by the apparent omission of a line-level interpretation that can normally occur at this point. The space-level interpretation of the interaction principle subsists when the subset S is interpreted in the statement of the principle as a subset of a space X that has the same dimension as X. For example, one particular space-level interpretation can center around a finite set of nonoverlapping spherical regions in Euclidean three-space.
A modified capillary suction time apparatus for measuring the filterability of super-flocculated sludges

The capillary suction time (CST) test provides a quantitative measure of the rate of water release from a sludge and has the advantage of being simple to run. The test consists of allowing sludge water to filter into and penetrate a filter paper by capillary force. Although the CST works well for the majority of sludges, it is not a useful test for measuring the filterability of highly flocculated sludges or sludges conditioned by other methods such as freeze-thaw. The escape of water from the sludge in such cases is too fast and the rate-limiting step becomes the movement of water through the filter paper instead of the release of water from the sludge. There is a need to improve the CST apparatus so it can be used to measure the degree of filterability for super flocculated sludges as well. Such a device is described in this paper. It consists of first draining the free water from the well-flocculated sludge and only then allowing the flocculated sludge to come in contact with the filter paper.The results of our study show that the filterability of super-flocculated sludges can be measured with acceptable precision using the modified CST apparatus.
Separation of Escherichia coli K12 from contaminated tap water using a single-stage, continuous flow dielectrophoresis (DEP) device

Abstract Dielectrophoresis (DEP) is a phenomenon that utilizes an electric field to induce a dipole moment in cells. By applying different fields of magnitude on each dipole, a DEP force is established that leads the cell towards a specific field gradient allowing separation of target cells from its liquid medium. The study explored the potential application of DEP to remove Escherichia coli K12 from tap water samples by observing the relationship among frequency, flow rate, media conductivity, and voltage. A millimeter-sized DEP device in a continuous flow was constructed using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as foundation with a piece of titanium sheet and several titanium wires serving as the electrodes. A frequency generator was paired with an amplifier moderated the frequency and voltage in the electrodes. The combination of 450 μS/cm and 1 MHz showed E. coli cells favoring the pin channel more than the base channel, thereby demonstrating the positive DEP movement. The highest separation efficiency was found to be 47% and 42% under the experimental parameters of 40 V at 100 μl/min and 60 V at 1 ml/min, respectively. With optimization of a scale up device, DEP can be potentially used an alternative and additional step to conventional water treatments.
Treatment of chronic and refractory pouchitis

Abstract Chronic and refractory pouchitis are the most challenging phenotypes of pouch inflammation, which represent the worst end of the disease spectrum of pouchitis. There are multiple factors are associated with the development and disease course of chronic and refractory pouchitis. Those factors include the use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Clostridium difficile infection, cytomegalovirus infection, presence of concurrent immune-mediated disorders, and pouch ischemia. The identification of those factors helps direct proper therapy.
Effect of transcervical arterial ligation on the severity of postoperative hemorrhage after transoral robotic surgery.

Background The value of transcervical arterial ligation during transoral robotic surgery (TORS) as a measure to decrease postoperative bleeding incidence or severity is unclear. Methods A retrospective single institution study was performed to identify risk factors for hemorrhage after TORS for oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Results Overall, 13.2% of patients (35/265) experience postoperative hemorrhage. T classification, perioperative use of anticoagulants, surgeon experience >50 cases, and tumor subsite were not predictors of postoperative hemorrhage. Of this cohort, 28% underwent prophylactic arterial ligation. The overall incidence of bleeding was not significantly decreased in patients who underwent arterial ligation (12.1% vs 13.6%; p = .84). However, arterial ligation significantly reduced the incidence of major and severe bleeding events (1.3% vs 7.8%; p = .04). Radiation before TORS was a risk factor for major and severe postoperative hemorrhage (p < .02). Conclusion Transcervical arterial ligation during TORS may reduce the severity of postoperative hemorrhagic events. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2017
“There’s always stomach on the table and then I gotta write!”: Physical space and learning in fat college women

ABSTRACTDominant “obesity” discourse research shows a strong correlation between fatness and poor academic outcomes among fat female learners at the postsecondary level. Little attention has been paid, however, to understanding the experiences of fat female learners from their own perspective. Interviews with 13 undergraduate women suggest that fat college women students experience the interactions of their fat bodies with the physical learning environment negatively. Classroom design and furniture contribute to fat women learners experiencing themselves as judged, devalued bodies and incapable learners.
Ranibizumab-induced retinal reperfusion and regression of neovascularization in diabetic retinopathy: An angiographic illustration.

Abstract Purpose To report regression of neovascularization and reperfusion of ischemic areas of the retina on Wide-field Digital Fluorescein Angiography following anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections in a patient with active Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy. Observations Case report of sixty-one-year-old male patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema documented on wide field digital fluorescein angiography. The patient was treated with three intravitreal injections of ranibizumab given at monthly intervals. Repeat angiography after third intravitreal injection revealed complete regression of new vessels. Moreover, there was evident improvement in perfusion in the previously noted ischemic areas of the retina. Conclusion and importance Intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections are a valuable treatment option for reversing neovascularization in eyes with proliferative diabetic retinopathy with fewer side effects when compared to standard pan-retinal photocoagulation. Additionally, we also illustrate restoration of retinal perfusion post anti-VEGF therapy indicative of pre-existingsalvageableischemic retina tissue.
Unified computational model of transport in metal-insulating oxide-metal systems

A unified physics-based model of electron transport in metal-insulator-metal (MIM) systems is presented. In this model, transport through metal-oxide interfaces occurs by electron tunneling between the metal electrodes and oxide defect states. Transport in the oxide bulk is dominated by hopping, modeled as a series of tunneling events that alter the electron occupancy of defect states. Electron transport in the oxide conduction band is treated by the drift–diffusion formalism and defect chemistry reactions link all the various transport mechanisms. It is shown that the current-limiting effect of the interface band offsets is a function of the defect vacancy concentration. These results provide insight into the underlying physical mechanisms of leakage currents in oxide-based capacitors and steady-state electron transport in resistive random access memory (ReRAM) MIM devices. Finally, an explanation of ReRAM bipolar switching behavior based on these results is proposed.
Optical model of the murine lung to optimize pulmonary illumination.

We describe a Monte Carlo model of the mouse torso to optimize illumination of the mouse lung for fluorescence detection of low levels of pulmonary pathogens, specifically Mycobacterium tuberculosis. After validation of the simulation with an internally illuminated optical phantom, the entire mouse torso was simulated to compare external and internal illumination techniques. Measured optical properties of deflated mouse lungs were scaled to mimic the diffusive properties of inflated lungs in vivo. Using the full-torso model, a 2 × to 3 × improvement in average fluence rate in the lung was seen for dorsal compared with ventral positioning of the mouse with external illumination. The enhancement in average fluence rate in the lung using internal excitation was 40 × to 60 × over external illumination in the dorsal position. Parameters of the internal fiber optic source were manipulated in the model to guide optimization of the physical system and experimental protocol for internal illumination and whole-body detection of fluorescent mycobacteria in a mouse model of infection.
Participation in active play of children who use lower extremity prostheses: An exploratory questionnaire

Background:Through play, children develop motor, cognitive, social, and other life skills. Play barriers can impede physical and psychosocial benefits.Objectives:We describe participation in active...
Second-Order Sensitivity Analysis of Uncollided Particle Contributions to Radiation Detector Responses

This work presents an application of Cacuci’s Second-Order Adjoint Sensitivity Analysis Methodology (2nd-ASAM) to the simplified Boltzmann equation that models the transport of uncollided particles...
Microfluidic generation of transient cell volume exchange for convectively driven intracellular delivery of large macromolecules

Efficient intracellular delivery of target macromolecules remains a major obstacle in cell engineering and other biomedical applications. We discovered a unique cell biophysical phenomenon of transient cell volume exchange by using microfluidics to rapidly and repeatedly compress cells. This behavior consists of brief, mechanically induced cell volume loss followed by rapid volume recovery. We harness this behavior for high-throughput, convective intracellular delivery of large polysaccharides (2000 kDa), particles (100 nm), and plasmids while maintaining high cell viability. Successful proof of concept experiments in transfection and intracellular labeling demonstrated potential to overcome the most prohibitive challenges in intracellular delivery for cell engineering.
Medical Students’ Attitudes Toward Psychiatry and Psychiatrists

We conducted a survey study of medical students attending the 1980 American Medical Student Association (AMSA) Convention to determine what their attitudes were toward psychiatry and psychiatrists. A sample group of 103 participants were given a two part survey, consisting of a verbal interview portion and a written portion, that utilized a 1–5 scale where 1 was positive and 5 negative. Our data showed that a majority of respondents, in both the verbal and written portion of the survey, had a positive attitude toward psychiatry. Though a positive attitude existed toward psychiatrists it was not as strong as toward psychiatry.
Modeling and Control of Fuel Cells as Distributed Generators in Smart Grids

In this chapter a detailed solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) dynamic model is developed, and its Simulink model is given. This model is compared to an existing dynamic model of a Polymer Exchange Membrane (PEM) fuel cell, and the differences between the two models are pinpointed. Inverter power flow control strategies for a SOFC, both in grid-connected and standalone modes, are developed. The fuel cell (FC) provides power to its local load when operating in a standalone mode. The inverter uses a Phase Locked Loop (PLL) signal to synchronize the FC to the grid. The fuel cell active and reactive power flows to the grid are controlled after synchronization. Controller schemes are developed in MATLAB and tested using the Simpower Toolbox. Simulation results for several scenarios are presented to illustrate the models and their controls.
Sociosexual Development of Preadolescents

Preadolescence is not a latent period but an active one, both biologically and socially. This span, from roughly 9 to 12 years of age, is characterized by progression in both sexual maturation and sociosexual interaction. Biologically, the early signs of the progression of sexual maturation toward the adult state occur in a somewhat predictable sequence (Tanner, 1978). However, the timing of these sequential events spans a broad normative range. Socially, it is a time span during which same- and opposite-sex peers enhance and solidify sex-role learning (Goldberg and Deutsch, 1977), and much clearer indications of sociosexual awareness begin to emerge (see Hill and Lynch, Chapter 10). The impact of the biological changes on the social changes has been the focus of considerable speculation and is being studied intensively by social and behavioral scientists.
Efficacy of a nitric oxide dressing in decreasing bacterial counts on human skin

Objective: Inhibiting the proliferation of skin bacteria, using nitric oxide (NO), is a potential strategy to prevent infections. This study evaluated the efficacy of using a new NO releasing film dressing to decrease resident human bacterial skin flora compared with the measured microbial activity underneath control sterile Tegaderm transparent dressings. Methods: A within-subjects design using a sample of convenience compared the bacterial counts under the skin of experimental dressings to those under control dressings. NO releasing film dressings (three) and control dressings (three) were applied without antiseptic preparation to the intact skin on the backs of 67 healthy volunteers. Subsequent skin cultures were obtained from underneath dressing pairs (one experimental and one control) on days three, five, and seven after application. Baseline microflora bacterial counts from uncovered skin was obtained on day three of the study. Comparisons of bacterial counts were analysed. Results: On days three, f...
The Double-Bitted Axe: A Study of Toxicity of Interferon Releasers

The simplistic belief concerning the interferon system may be stated as: (1) Interferon, an inducible protein, specifically acts on cells to render them resistant to virus; (2) interferon itself is not antiviral but acts as a trigger for the synthesis of a protein by the affected cell which inhibits replication of virus; (3) viruses induce interferon production because the double-stranded replicative form of RNA, being foreign, “alerts” the cell to produce interferon; (4) nonviral inducers of interferon stimulate cells to produce interferon through some particular chemical grouping or property; (5) interferon inducers or interferon itself offer hope as prophylaxis or therapy against diseases caused by viruses, oncogenic or otherwise, tumors, virus-induced or otherwise, protozoa, fungi, and so on, and indeed any change in cellular homeostasis mediated by any foreign nucleic acid; and (6) there is enough knowledge extant concerning interferon induction so that these inducers may be used in human clinical trials. There are, of course, many sets of data that partially substantiate many of these beliefs but there are also results of studies that do not fit into this simplistic scheme. We believe, as do many workers, that much more basic work on all aspects of the interferon problem is needed. This paper is concerned with one of the most pressing problems in clinical application of the interferon system, that is, mode of action of interferon inducers in the intact animal.
What is Orientation in Sinking

In the wake of NASSR’s 2018 conference theme—the Open—this essay attempts to think in open water by examining two literary accounts of dread and disorientation at sea. In Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Cr...
Electric-field-induced optical hysteresis in single-layer WSe2

We demonstrate that the exciton energy of a monolayer of tungsten diselenide on an SiO2/Si substrate can be tuned by an applied in-plane electric field for two samples with different dielectric capping materials. The exciton energy can be either red- or blue-shifted by up to 20 meV based on the polarity of the applied electric field. We argue that a piezoelectric effect creates a large internal electric field, which is either partially aligned or partially antialigned with the external electric field. Additionally, optical hysteresis is observed on cycling of the external electric field due to trapped charges.
Decentralised self-organising maps for the online orienteering problem with neighbourhoods

This extended abstract presents a new coordination algorithm for decentralised multi-robot information gathering. We consider planning for an online variant of the multi-agent orienteering problem with neighbourhoods. This formulation closely aligns with a number of important tasks in robotics, including inspection, surveillance, and reconnaissance. We propose a decentralised variant of the self-organising map (SOM) learning procedure, named Dec-SOM, which efficiently finds plans for a team of robots in a non-myopic manner. Decentralisation is achieved by performing a distributed allocation scheme jointly with the SOM adaptations. Preliminary simulation results indicate that Dec-SOM outperforms baseline methods and is a viable solution for decentralised, online, and non-myopic information gathering.
SPECTRAL INTERMEDIATES OBSERVED IN THE CUMENE HYDROPEROXIDE-DEPENDENT HYDROXYLATION OF TOLUENE CATALYZED BY P-450 LM2

The mechanism of the P-450 LM 2 -catalyzed, cumene hydroperoxide-dependent hydroxylation of toluene has been studied by stopped flow spectrophotometry. Addition of cumene hydroperoxide to purified P-450 LM 2 in the absence of toluene caused a pseudo first-order change in the absorbance of the enzyme. Observation of changes at various wavelengths provided the difference and absolute spectra of the intermediate formed. Addition of both cumene hydroperoxide and toluene to P-450 LM 2 produced a type I spectral change in the dead time of the instrument, followed by a pseudo first-order change in the absorbance of the enzyme to give the same spectral intermediate. In these and other studies we have seen no evidence of a classical Compound I of the type seen with peroxidases. In contrast, with P-450 LM 2 the intermediate is formed reversibly and the spectrum varies with the organic moiety of the peroxy compound.
A Peek Behind the Scenes of the American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education.

During the Journal ’s search for a new associate editor, we realized how much of a mystery the editorial process may be to other members of the Academy. As scholarly publication is part of the mission of almost every faculty member, we felt readers might also want to know what goes on behind the
Neuroticism Predicts Reasoning Performance in Young but Not Older Adults

Objective: This study was designed to explore age differences in the relationship of neuroticism with reasoning performance in a representative adult sample.Method: A probability sample of 242 adul...
Embracing Difficulty across the Disciplines: The Difficulty Paper as a Tool for Building Disciplinary Literacy

Students face challenging texts and concepts across the disciplines in higher education, and many students lack the reading skills and strategies to make sense of them. The aim of the small study described in this article was to explore the benefits, if any, of the difficulty paper, a written formative assessment that asks students to explore their difficulties with challenging texts. An inductive analysis of student difficulty papers in a multidisciplinary “Great Works” course suggests that the paper encouraged students to address their confusion without dismissing it and helped students to model the processes of good reading. Findings also suggest that the assignment may be a useful tool to develop disciplinary habits of mind. The article concludes with an example of how educators might use the difficulty paper in science and mathematics courses.
Gastroparesis from other causes

Abstract Beyond the most common etiologies of gastroparesis, there are several rarer causes that merit consideration in the appropriate clinical context. These include medications with deleterious effects on gastric motility (e.g. opiates, cannabinoids, anticholinergic agents), distal obstruction, connective tissue disorders, autoimmune autonomic neuropathy, malignancy and paraneoplastic syndromes, systemic neurologic disorders, pancreatitis, ischemia, non-diabetic endocrinopathy, and renal failure. Some of these associations are tenuous and/or governed by speculative mechanistic explanations that may be clarified through future investigation. Recognizing a rare or unusual cause of gastroparesis can offer up unique pathways toward effective symptom management.
Quantitative segmental pulse volume recorder: a clinical tool.

A quantitative segmental pulse volume recorder (PVR) has been described which is (1) simple, reliable, and reproducible, (2) capable of standardization, (3) easily employed by paramedical personnel, and (4) adaptable to measurements taken after exercise. The components of the electronic package have been tested in terms of frequency response, linearity, and calibration. It has been used in over 300 patients during the past two years to measure pulse volume amplitudes, pulse contours, and limb pressures. Preoperatively, the PVR provided a measure of the functional severity of the occlusive disease as well as an objective base line for later comparisons. Operative mbnitoring with the PVR can be easily carried out and was particularly valuable in patients undergoing proximal arterial reconstructions in the presence of distal occlusive disease. With this method, early postoperative limb monitoring in patients without palpable pulses can be carried out in the recovery area by nursing personnel. The PVR has contributed to the long-term follow-up study of patients with vascular disease by documenting the adequacy of arterial reconstructions, the progression of underlying disease, or the development of collateral circulation.
A Rule-Based System for Estimating High-Temperature Fatigue Life

A rule-based expert system for high-temperature fatigue life estimation (HTF) is currently under development. This system will augment a designer's ability to make preliminary engineering decisions on the durability of high-temperature components. It may also be used as a verification tool, to establish bounds for fatigue life estimates performed using other, perhaps more sophisticated, methods. The system uses an expert system shell (C Language Production System-CLIPS). The rules in the system select appropriate fatigue life models based on the available material properties and the application. The rules and functions in the HTF system incorporate materials property data (sufficient for the fatigue life models used) for a small group of aerospace materials. If the system cannot find the user-specified material in the rule base, the user is queried for the materials property data. The program calculates (or approximates) the required fatigue life model parameters and performs the appropriate life calculation. The lower bound on the predicted life, based on the estimated error in the material properties, boundary condition data, and on experience with the fatigue life model, is determined via a direct Monte Carlo simulation. Fatigue life models incorporated into the system make allowances for the influence of multiaxial stress/strain states and creep-fatigue-environment interactions. The scope of this project is limited to alloys used in high-temperature, high mechanical/thermal stress applications.
Organometallic derivatives of the transition elements: IX. Polynuclear π-complexes

Abstract The synthesis and characterization of several mono- and di-substituted bis(diarene)chromium-[tricarbonylchromium] complexes is described, where the diarene is a biphenyl-like ligand. A number of carbon based groups incorporating different hydridizations are used as spacers between the π-coordinated rings in the diarene moiety. The effect of the spacing group upon the inductive and resonance effects on electronic communication between metal sites in these systems is discussed using data from infrared and 1 H NMR spectroscopy.
Ralstonia solanacearum Pectin Methylesterase Is Required for Growth on Methylated Pectin but Not for Bacterial Wilt Virulence

Ralstonia (Pseudomonas) solanacearum causes bacterial wilt, a serious disease of many crop plants. The pathogen produces several extracellular plant cell wall-degrading enzymes, including polygalacturonases (PGs) and pectin methylesterase (Pme). Pme removes methyl groups from pectin, thereby facilitating subsequent breakdown of this cell wall component by PGs, which are known bacterial wilt virulence factors. R. solanacearum PGs could not degrade 93% methylated pectin unless the substrate was first demethylated by Pme, but as the degree of methylation of the pectin substrate decreased, PG activity increased. Primers derived from a published pme sequence generated an 800-bp DNA probe fragment, which identified Pme-encoding plasmids from a R. solanacearum genomic library. A pme chromosomal mutant had no detectable Pme activity in vitro and no longer grew on 93% methylated pectin as a carbon source. Curiously, the pme mutant, which had no detectable PG activity on highly methylated pectin, was just as virulent as the wild-type strain on tomato, eggplant (aubergine), and tobacco. Since PG activity is required for full virulence, this result suggests that the pectin in these particular hosts may not be highly methylated, or that the breakdown of highly methylated pectin is not a significant factor in the disease process in general. A positive response regulator of PG production called PehR was not required for wild-type Pme production. However, a mutant strain lacking PhcA, which is a global regulator of several virulence genes, produced no detectable Pme activity. Thus, pme expression is directly or indirectly regulated by PhcA but not by PehR.
INSECT SEX ATTRACTANTS. IV. THE DETERMINATION OF GYPLURE IN ITS MIXTURES BY ADSORPTION AND GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY.

Abstract Adsorption and gas-chromatograhic methods are described for determining the content of cis -gyplure in samples of gyplure prepared in the laboratory and the pilot plant, as well as for separating the cis isomer from its contaminats.
A new multilevel codebook searching algorithm for vector quantization

A new multilevel codebook searching (MCS) algorithm for vector quantization is presented. Although it belongs to the category of the fast nearest neighbor searching (FNNS) algorithms for vector quantization, the new MCS algorithm is not a variation of any existing FNNS algorithms (such as k-d tree searching algorithm, partial distance searching algorithm, triangle inequality searching algorithm...). The searching strategy involves several search levels. Each level stores a certain size codebook. Searching starts from the stage containing the smallest size (lowest bitrate) codebook to the level containing largest size (highest bitrate) codebook. The searching paths between any two adjacent levels are built by using training sets. The simulation result of applying MCS algorithm to image VQ shows that the MCS algorithm can reduce searching complexity to less than 3% of an exhaustive searching VQ (ESVQ) (codebook size of 4096) while introducing negligible error (0.064 db degradation from ESVQ). A comparison between the MCS algorithm and several k-d binary tree searching algorithms is presented too. The MCS algorithm fits very well into multilevel codebook VQ in the vector transform and vector sub-band domains.
What Do Male Nonworkers Do

Although male nonworkers have become a larger fraction of the population since the late 1960s, labor economists know very little about them. Using data from several sources--the March CPS, the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, and the 1992-94 University of Maryland Time Diary Study--this paper fills that void. The picture that emerges is that there is a small cadre of marginal workers who often do not work for periods of a year or more and tend to work relatively few weeks in the years that they do work. The vast majority of nonworking men (men who do not work at all during the year) receive unearned income from at least one source, and the amount of unearned income received varies significantly by reason for not working. Family members provide an important alternative source of support for nonworking men who have little or no unearned income of their own. For the most part, these nonworking men are not substituting nonmarket work for market work. Most of the time that is freed up by not working is spent in leisure activities and sleep.
Dissemination of spatial-temporal information in mobile networks with hotspots

In this paper we examine the dissemination of reports about resources in mobile networks with hotspots, where hotspots, vehicles and sensors communicate with each other via short-range wireless transmission. Each disseminated report represents information about a spatial-temporal event, such as the availability of a parking slot at a particular time or the detection of an injured in an earthquake damaged building. We propose an opportunistic dissemination paradigm, in which a moving object transmits the reports it carries to encountered peers and obtains new reports in exchange. We address two issues in such an environment. First, we develop an architecture that allows a moving object to receive resource reports opportunistically. Second, we study how the received reports are used by a consumer to reduce resource discovery time. The proposed system has the potential to create a completely new information marketplace.
Civil War Finance: Lessons for Today

INTRODUCTION Randolph Bourne was a young Progressive radical during World War I.1 Viewing the grotesque excesses of Woodrow Wilson’s wartime administration, he wrote an essay in which he coined the maxim: “War is the health of the State.”2 The essay was only published posthumously, because Bourne himself became a victim of the war-induced flu epidemic.3 Economists and historians have confirmed the validity of Bourne’s maxim in two major respects. First, during war itself, there is a surge in government power, as it increases in scope, size, and intrusiveness.4 The war brings about higher taxes, wider conscription, more regulation of the economy, and suppression of civil liberties.5 Governments tend to spend more on war and preparing for war than on anything else.6 Indeed, prior to the advent of the modern welfare State in the twentieth century, governments usually spent more on war and preparing for war than all other things combined.7 The State was essentially a war making institution that did a few other things on the side.8
Speciation in experimental C-O-H fluids produced by the thermal dissociation of oxalic acid dihydrate☆

Abstract Fluid speciations and their related reaction pathways were studied in C-O-H-system fluids produced by the thermal dissociation of oxalic acid dihydrate (OAD: H 2 C 2 O 4 · 2H 2 O) sealed in silica glass capsules. Experiments were conducted in the temperature range 230–750°C, with bulk fluid densities in the range 0.01–0.53 g/cm 3 . Pressure was controlled by temperature and density in the isochoric systems. The quenched products of dissociation experiments were an aqueous liquid and one (supercritical fluid) or, rarely, two (vapor plus liquid) carbonic phase (s). In-situ Raman microanalyses were performed on the quenched carbonic phases at room temperature, at which fluid pressures ranged from about 50 to 340 bars. Bulk fluid speciations were reconstructed from the Raman analyses via mass balance constraints, and appear to monitor the true fluid speciations at run conditions. In experiments from the lowtemperature range (230–350°C), fluid speciations record the dissociation of OAD according to the reaction OAD = CO 2 + CO + 3 H 2 O . A process of the form CO + H 2 O = CO 2 + H 2 is driven to the right with increasing temperature. The hydrogen gas produced tends to escape from the sample systems via diffusion into/through the silica glass capsules, shifting bulk compositions toward equimolar binary H 2 O-CO 2 mixtures. The speciations of fluids in experiments with minimal hydrogen loss show poor agreement with speciations calculated for equilibrium fluids by the corresponding-states model of Saxena and Fei (1988). Such disagreement suggests that the formations of CH 4 and graphite are metastably inhibited in the current experiments, which correlates with their absence or trivial abundances in experimental products. Moreover, calculations in which the stabilities of methane and graphite are suppressed suggest that such metastable equilibrium is approached only in experiments at temperatures greater than about 600–650°C. These results have applications to fluid processes in geological environments, in addition to considerations of using oxalate compounds as volatile sources in experimental studies. It is possible that disequilibrium or metastable fluids may be entrapped as inclusions; re-speciation (toward metastable or stable equilibrium) during P-T evolution of a given terrain would place the fluid inclusion on a new isochore that would not project through the original conditions of entrapment. Moreover, the disequilibrium to metastable nature of dissociation reactions, coupled with the diffusional mobility of hydrogen gas observed in the current experiments, suggests that the predominance of binary H 2 O-CO 2 fluid mixtures in natural inclusions from medium- to high-grade metamorphic terrains may be more than a coincidence of similar initial bulk compositions.
Characterization of SONOS oxynitride nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices

Abstract We present results on scaled silicon–oxide–nitride–oxide–silicon (SONOS) nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices with oxygen-rich ‘oxynitride’ charge storage layers. SONOS devices are designed specifically for high-density EEPROMs operating at high temperatures. We describe scaling considerations and process optimization to achieve low-voltage operation (+7 V write for 2.5 ms/−7 V erase for 7.5 ms) with 10-year retention at 150 °C. Memory transistors are programmed, erased, and read at elevated temperatures in order to observe thermal excitation of electrons from traps in oxynitride charge storage layers. The density of traps in the oxynitride is extracted using charge decay rates of programmed transistors at elevated temperatures. Trap density profiles for oxynitride films are compared with trap density profiles for silicon-rich nitride films.
Pyramidal neurons: dendritic structure and synaptic integration

Pyramidal neurons are characterized by their distinct apical and basal dendritic trees and the pyramidal shape of their soma. They are found in several regions of the CNS and, although the reasons for their abundance remain unclear, functional studies — especially of CA1 hippocampal and layer V neocortical pyramidal neurons — have offered insights into the functions of their unique cellular architecture. Pyramidal neurons are not all identical, but some shared functional principles can be identified. In particular, the existence of dendritic domains with distinct synaptic inputs, excitability, modulation and plasticity appears to be a common feature that allows synapses throughout the dendritic tree to contribute to action- potential generation. These properties support a variety of coincidence-detection mechanisms, which are likely to be crucial for synaptic integration and plasticity.
An experimental study of humor and ethos

Conflicting results have been obtained both within speech and between speech and psychology concerning the ethos of the user of humor in a speaking situation. The present study suggests the speaker who uses humor may actually decrease his ethos.
Modulation of cell function by small transmembrane proteins modeled on the bovine papillomavirus E5 protein.

Viruses have been subjected to intense study because of their medical importance and because they can provide fundamental insights into normal and pathological cellular processes. Indeed, much of our knowledge about basic cellular biology and biochemistry was acquired through the study of viruses, and some of medicine's greatest triumphs and challenges involve viruses. Since viruses have evolved to exploit important cell processes, they can provide tools and approaches to manipulate cell function. The small transmembrane E5 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 1 transforms cells by a unique mechanism involving ligand-independent activation of the platelet-derived growth factor β receptor. Experiments summarized in this review suggest that it may be possible to use the E5 protein as a model to design an entirely new class of small, modular transmembrane proteins with novel biological activities.
Vinca alkaloids. XXXII. Microbiological conversions of vindoline, a major alkaloid from Vinca rosea L.

Vindoline, a major alkaloid from Vinca roseaL was subjected to microbiological conversion using Streptomyces cultures. Several new metabolites were isolated and their structures elucidated.
A Resolution Between Mentalism and Teleonomy, or Fodder for a Continuing Dialogue?

Scientists, including psychologists, are often disturbed by the psychological interpretation of animal behavior. Nick Thompson offered a teleonomic approach to the use of psychological terms to describe behavior that avoided the assumption that mental states (or other entities or processes) caused the behavior. I describe tensions between teleonomic and mentalistic conceptualizations of animals by some early comparative psychologists, and offer our skill at kinesthetic-visual matching as an explanation as to why humans so often assume that mental states cohere with behavior. My explanation elucidates why mentalistic interpretations of behavior remain after teleonomic description.
An analytic model of pinhole aperture penetration for 3D pinhole SPECT image reconstruction

Photons penetrate the attenuating material close to the aperture of pinhole collimators in nuclear medicine, broadening the tails of point spread functions (PSFs) and degrading the resolution of planar and SPECT images. An analytic approximation has been developed that models this penetration contribution to the PSF for knife-edge point pinhole apertures. The approximation has the form , where r is the distance on the detector surface from the projection of the point source through the pinhole. The rolloff coefficient is a function of the photon energy, point source location and the design parameters of the collimator. There was excellent agreement between measured values of from photon transport simulations of I-131 point sources (364 keV emission only) and theoretical predictions from the analytic formula. Predicted values from the analytic formula averaged 25% greater than measured values from experimental I-131 point source acquisitions. Photon transport simulations were performed that modelled the 364 keV and less abundant 637 and 723 keV emissions and scatter within the scintillation crystal. Measured values from these simulations averaged 12% greater than the experimental values, indicating that about half of the error between the analytic formula and the experimental measurements was due to unmodelled 637 and 723 keV emissions. The remaining error may be due in part to scatter in the pinhole region and backscatter from gamma camera components behind the scintillation crystal. The analytic penetration model was used in designing Metz filters to compensate for penetration blur and these filters were applied to the projection data as part of 3D SPECT image reconstruction. Image resolution and contrast were improved in simulated and experimental I-131 tumour phantom studies. This analytic model of pinhole aperture penetration can be readily incorporated into iterative 3D SPECT pinhole reconstruction algorithms.
Etiology and treatment of arterial ischemic stroke in children and young adults.

Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide (Go et al. Circulation 129:e28–292, 2014) and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Compared with older adults, arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) is relatively uncommon in children and young adults, comprising 5-10 % of all stroke (Biller Nat Rev Cardiol 6:395–97, 2009), but is associated with significant cost. In contrast to the declining overall incidence of stroke, some early studies suggest that the rate of stroke hospitalizations in children and young adults is rising (George et al. Ann Neurol 70:713–21, 2011; Kissela et al. Stroke 41:e224, 2010; Nguyen-Huynh et al. Stroke 43, 2012), emphasizing the importance of understanding the similarities and differences in etiology and treatment of AIS across the age spectrum. Among the most common causes of AIS in children are cardioembolism (often related to congenital heart disease), cervicocephalic arterial dissections, focal arteriopathy of childhood and several genetic and metabolic disorders, such as sickle cell disease (SCD). AIS in young adults is less well understood, but likely overlaps in etiology with both children and older adults. Young adults with AIS often have classic atherosclerotic risk factors similar to older adults, but are also more likely to have thrombophilias, cervicocephalic arterial dissections and cardioembolism, similar to children with AIS. Since little evidence exists regarding both acute treatment and secondary prevention after AIS in children and young adults, standard treatment practices are mainly extrapolated from research done in older adults. In most cases we recommend treating young adults per the guidelines published by the American Heart Association for adults with stroke (Jauch et al. Stroke 44:870–947, 2013; Kernan et al. Stroke 45:2160–2236, 2014) and children per the equivalent guidelines regarding pediatric stroke (Roach et al. Stroke 39:2644–91, 2008). It is also important in children and young adults to consider less common structural, metabolic and genetic risk factors for stroke, which may require more specific treatment. Other standard risk factors for stroke, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes mellitus should also be addressed, but are less likely in children and young adults. Given the lack of data and possibility of rare underlying etiologies such as Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome or Ehlers–Danlos syndrome, we recommend including multiple specialists in the care of these patients, such as hematologists and vascular neurologists.
Design and integration of multi-scale structures

Abstract The design and manufacturing of a chemical product and its process involve a spectrum of physical and chemical phenomena, over characteristic scales that cover many orders of magnitude, from molecular design at 0.1 nm to global warming at 10 4 km . An individual chemical engineer may specialize in the science and engineering of only one of these scales, such as mixing and uniformity; however the design team must have experts to provide an appropriately designed structure at each of the six scales. The leadership of the entire enterprise must provide the skillful integration of all these multi-scale structures together. The challenge to the chemical engineering curriculum is the preparation of students for such leadership positions.