cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Lack of adverse effect of transovarially acquired La Crosse virus infection on the reproductive capacity of Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae).

The reproductive capacity of Aedes triseriatus transovarially (TO) infected with La Crosse (LAC) virus was compared to that of uninfected females. The TO-infected line was established from eggs of females that orally transmitted LAC virus to suckling mice (SM). Two adult body size classes, large and small, were produced by rearing larvae on either an optimal diet or under nutritionally stressed conditions. Several reproductive factors were then measured through 4 generations of each size class. Mean wing lengths of male and female mosquitoes in the large size (L) class were 2.89 and 3.74 mm, respectively, and in the small size (S) class were 2.59 and 2.85 mm, respectively. No significant differences were detected between TO-infected and control groups in duration of larval stage, sexratio, hatching success, time to ovarian maturation, fecundity, or adult survival through the 2nd oviposition in either the L or S classes. LAC virus infection and oral transmission rates were significantly affected by larval nutrition. Mean male and female TO infection rates were 55% (173/312) and 61% (201/333), respectively, for the L class and 69% (215/310) and 73% (224/307), respectively, for the S class. Mean oral transmission rates of LAC virus to SM by TO-infected Ae. triseriatus were also significantly higher for S females, 68% (208/307 and 181/268), than for L females, 53% (173/331 and 149/275), after the 1st and 2nd blood meals, respectively. Increased infection and transmission rates observed in S class Ae. triseriatus, however, may be negated by their reduced reproductive capacity. The mean number of eggs for S females was 48.9 compared to 73.3 for L females. These data indicate that LAC virus infection did not exert an adverse effect on the net replacement rate of Ae. triseriatus.
Laboratory performance of spectrophotometers. Results of a national survey.

Absorbance readings of acid dichromate, alkaline potassium chromate, and Thomson’s solutions at various wavelengths on narrow half-bandwidth spectrophotometers by 132 participant and seven reference laboratories taking part in the 1973 Survey of the College of American Pathologists are presented and discussed from the point of view of interlaboratory and interreference variability, accuracy, and probable causes of error. Interlaboratory variability for readings in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum ranged from less than 5 to about 30%. Much of the variability is predictable from the stated manufacturers’ tolerances. It is greatest for low concentrations in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. Refined means of participants’ readings provide a useful estimate of the correct values. There appears to be significant bias among instruments from different manufacturers.
Resilience of internal medicine house staff and its association with distress and empathy in an oncology setting

Context Resilience is a beneficial trait for resident physicians who are exposed to adversity through their work with patients. Inpatient hematology–oncology produces vicarious trauma for physicians in training. Physician distress and empathy influence patient care and may be associated with respectively lower and greater levels of resilience. Methods We collected measures of resilience (Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale), distress (Impact of Events Scale – Revised), and rotation-specific information (e.g., number of death encounters, death stress, and meaning) at the end of a routine hematology–oncology ward rotation. Empathy (Interpersonal Reactivity Index) was measured both before and after the rotation. Results Fifty-six out of 96 residents completed the study with an overall response rate of 58%. Resilience was negatively correlated with distress (r = −0.306, p = 0.023) but not with empathy (r = 0.172, p = 0.204) and nor with change in empathy over the course of the rotation (r = −0.122, p = 0.374). When separated by sex, male resilience was negatively correlated with distress (r = −0.389, p = 0.04), but female resilience was not. Resident distress levels were in a clinically significant (76%) or posttraumatic stress disorder range (17%), and resident empathy decreased during the rotation (p = 0.018). Resilience levels were similar in those who reported that death events were the most stressful experiences of the rotation and those who derived a sense of meaning from working with dying patients. Conclusions Resident physicians experienced clinically relevant distress and a decrease in empathy. Resilient resident physicians were less likely to experience distress. This study provides evidence for the salutary effects of resilience on physician distress. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The acute and chronic effects of ethanol administration on bile secretion in the rat.

Abstract Either a 25 per cent solution of 95 per cent ethanol or isocaloric glucose in drinking water was pair-fed with lab chow to 300 Gram male Sprague-Dawley rats for 2 weeks. These diets allowed 28.4 per cent of calories as either ethanol or glucose and sustained growth. At the end of 2 weeks, bile secretory function was assessed. Liver and body weights were similar in the 2 pair-fed groups. When blood ethanol levels were negligible at the time of study, bile flow and bile salt secretion were significantly increased in the animals fed ethanol. Bile-to-plasma ratios of 14 C-erythritol approximated 1.0 in both pair-fed groups, and estimates of canalicular bile flow suggested that ethanol was stimulating a bile canalicular secretory mechanism. Comparison of regression lines of bile salt secretion vs. flow indicated that ethanol significantly increased the nonbile salt-dependent fraction of bile (p
Dynamics from Communications Data

We created numerical data from recorded conversations between patient and therapist, during therapeutic sessions. These were transformed into plots using computer graphics according to the algorith...
Characterization of Face-Selective Patches in Orbitofrontal Cortex.

Social animals are naturally drawn towards conspecifics: from birth onwards we orient towards other humans and we seek social interactions. In this paper we tested the hypothesis that a region in the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC), previously identified by electrophysiology and fMRI studies in non-human primates, is preferentially sensitive to faces due to their socially rewarding properties. Twenty healthy college students were scanned while viewing several categories of stimuli including social rewards (faces) and non-social rewards (appetizing foods). In addition, social motivation was measured with the Broader Autism Phenotype Questionnaire (BAP-Q). Results show that face-selective patches can be identified at the individual level and in the majority of participants. Medial portions of the OFC were face-selective, and activity in this region scaled individual differences in social motivation. In contrast, lateral portions of the OFC were responsive to faces and foods, indicating a domain-general value response in lateral OFC. Analysis of resting state scans showed positive functional connectivity between the amygdala, anterior temporal face patches, and medial OFC, regions that are linked by the a white matter tract called the uncinate fasciculus. These findings have implications for research on social motivation, which is highly relevant to understanding deficits in autism spectrum disorder.
The Identification and Application of Human System Integration Software Tools to Support the Systems Engineering Lifecycle and the Acquisition Process

This paper discusses the challenges associated with ensuring Human System Integration (HSI) efforts are performed throughout long-duration projects, including the systems engineering lifecycle and ...
The Invariants of 4-Moves

This paper introduces 4−moves, a class of tangle replacement moves called rational p q − moves. We demonstrate the strength of invariants of 4 − moves and make modification to some long standing 4 − moves problems like Nakanishi’s 4 − moves conjecture[11]. We present the results and examples to show that Nakanishi’s 4 − moves conjecture is true for all knots upto 12 crossings. We suggest that the link 9 ∗ . 2: . 2: .2 as a counter example to answer his conjecture.
Recurrence of Atrial Arrhythmias Despite Persistent Pulmonary Vein Isolation After Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation: A Case Series

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to categorize arrhythmia mechanisms and to summarize ablation strategies in patients with persistent pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) at the time of redo procedures. Background Persistent PVI is more frequently seen in patients undergoing redo procedures for recurrent atrial arrhythmias after catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods Consecutive patients who underwent their first AF ablation procedures at Brigham and Women’s Hospital were screened and included if they had persistent isolation of all pulmonary veins at the time of redo procedures. Results Of 300 consecutive patients undergoing first AF ablation procedures, redo procedures were performed in 63 (21%), and 26 patients (9%) had persistent PVI. Of those, 11 had recurred with AF and 15 with organized atrial tachycardia (AT). During the index procedure, linear ablation was performed in 46% of patients with recurrent AF and 93% with recurrent organized AT (p = 0.020). At the time of last follow-up, 2 of 10 patients (20%) in the AF group and 10 of 15 patients (67%) in AT group were in sinus rhythm, without class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs (p = 0.022). Conclusions Patients with recurrence of atrial arrhythmia despite persistent PVI frequently present with organized AT. Linear ablation during the index procedure is associated with recurrence of organized AT. Recurrence rates after redo procedures were higher if patients had recurrent AF after the index procedure, and these patients often presented with AF again. Patients with recurrent AF despite persistent PVI may represent a population with lower success rates of catheter ablation.
Recent Advances in High-Dimensional Clustering for Text Data

Clustering has become an important tool for every data scientist as it allows to perform exploratory data analysis and summarize large amounts of data. Specifically for text data, clustering faces other challenges derived from the high-dimensional space into which the data is represented. Furthermore and in spite of the fact that important contributions have already been made, scalability presents an important challenge when the whole-data-in-memory approach is no longer valid for real scenarios where data is collected in massive volumes. This chapter reviews the recent contributions on high-dimensional text data clustering with particular emphasis on scalability issues and also on the impact of the curse of dimensionality over the distance-based clustering methods.
Diagnosis and Medical Management of Ocular Surface Squamous Neoplasia.

ABSTRACTIntroduction: Topical chemotherapy has gained popularity among clinicians for the treatment of ocular surface squamous neoplasia (OSSN) . The principal topical chemotherapy agents used in the management of OSSN are interferon-α2b, 5-fluorouracil, and mitomycin C. High-resolution optical coherence tomography (HR-OCT) is a non-invasive technique that can differentiate OSSN from other ocular surface lesions.Areas covered: This review highlights the current regimens and diagnostic modalities used in managing OSSN. A review of the literature was performed using the keywords ‘conjunctival intraepithelial neoplasia’, ‘ocular surface squamous neoplasia’, ‘optical coherence tomography’, ‘interferon-α2b’, ‘5-fluorouracil’ and ‘mitomycin C’.Expert commentary: Topical chemotherapy for OSSN can be used as primary therapy, for chemoreduction prior to surgical excision, and postoperatively to prevent tumor recurrence. It has the advantage of treating microscopic disease as well as large tumors. HR-OCT provides a...
Glueball mass spectrum from supergravity

We review the calculation of the spectrum of glueball masses in nonsupersymmetric Yang-Mills theory using the conjectured duality between supergravity and large N gauge theories. The glueball masses are obtained by solving the supergravity wave equations in a black hole geometry. The glueball masses found this way are in unexpected agreement with the available lattice data. We also show how to use a modified version of the duality based on rotating branes to calculate the glueball mass spectrum with some of the Kaluza-Klein states of the supergravity theory decoupled from the spectrum.
Copper-Catalyzed Oxidation of Alkanes under Mild Conditions

The selective functionalization of C–H bonds is a critical step in the majority of synthetic organic pathways. Our research lab, among others, takes inspiration from the reactivity of Cu-dependent metalloenzymes to design catalytic systems for the C–H oxidation of challenging substrates (i.e., alkanes). In this Synpacts article, we summarize our recent findings on the Cu-catalyzed peroxidation of C–H bonds with H2O2 under mild conditions.
Second Order Training of a Smoothed Piecewise Linear Network

In this paper, we introduce a smoothed piecewise linear network (SPLN) and develop second order training algorithms for it. An embedded feature selection algorithm is developed which minimizes training error with respect to distance measure weights. Then a method is presented which adjusts center vector locations in the SPLN. We also present a gradient method for optimizing the SPLN output weights. Results with several data sets show that the distance measure optimization, center vector optimization, and output weight optimization, individually and together, reduce testing errors in the final network.
Internet-based Advertising Claims and Consumer Reasons for Using Electronic Cigarettes by Device Type in the US.

Author(s): Pulvers, Kim; Sun, Jessica Y; Zhuang, Yue-Lin; Holguin, Gabriel; Zhu, Shu-Hong | Abstract: ObjectivesImportant differences exist between closed-system and open-system e-cigarettes, but it is unknown whether online companies are marketing these devices differently and whether consumer reasons for using e-cigarettes vary by device type. This paper compares Internet-based advertising claims of closed- versus open-system products, and evaluates US consumers' reasons for using closed- versus open-system e-cigarettes.MethodsInternet sites selling exclusively closed (N = 130) or open (N = 129) e-cigarettes in December 2013-January 2014 were coded for advertising claims. Current users (≥18 years old) of exclusively closed or open e-cigarettes (N = 860) in a nationally representative online survey in February-March 2014 provided their main reason for using e-cigarettes.ResultsInternet sites that exclusively sold closed-system e-cigarettes were more likely to make cigarette-related claims such as e-cigarettes being healthier and cheaper than cigarettes (ps l .0001) compared to sites selling open systems. Many sites implied their products could help smokers quit. Exclusive users of both systems endorsed cessation as their top reason. Closed-system users were more likely to report their reason as "use where smoking is banned."ConclusionsAlthough promotion of e-cigarettes as cessation aids is prohibited, consumers of both systems endorsed smoking cessation as their top reason for using e-cigarettes.
Beyond the Insular Frontier

This chapter highlights insular frontier colonization, which is one of the dominant processes associated with the expansion of Europe and has potential usefulness in analyzing the development of most areas occupied by intrusive Old World populations. The insular frontier model is not intended to describe other types of colonization that accompanied European expansion. Cosmopolitan frontiers are regions of specialized economic activity that exhibit little of the fundamental change associated with insular frontiers. Instead they reflect the variability inherent in their specific functions. The need to describe and explain the range of variation encompassed by this phenomenon requires the creation of an additional frontier model or models. Unlike their agricultural counterparts, cosmopolitan frontiers arise to accommodate specialized, extractive economic activities in peripheral areas of the world economy. Because of their limited interests, these frontiers are often short term and impermanent. Their close economic ties with the homeland result in an absence of the insularity found in frontiers characterized by permanent settlement. Therefore, cosmopolitan frontiers experience little indigenous change. Cosmopolitan frontier change is an adaptation to the economic system in which it plays a major role rather than an adaptation to the economic and social milieu of peripheral areas. As a consequence, cosmopolitan frontiers exhibit a greater degree of cultural uniformity despite their varied environments.
Downscaling inductors with graphene

Spiral inductors that are made from intercalated multilayer graphene, and exploit the kinetic inductance of the material, could help deliver miniaturized radio-frequency integrated circuits.
A machine learning approach to classifying algae concentrations

Algal concentrations in marine environments are monitored regularly, as higher concentrations may lead to harmful algal blooms, which negatively impact coastal ecosystems. To identify algae concentration in the field, researchers have developed a handheld, low-cost in-situ device employing spectrophotometry and optical filtering. In an effort to better understand and evaluate the data collected, a pattern recognition method for automatic concentration detection was created. This method employs binary classification to differentiate low and high concentrations. Features for classification were defined by the spectral peaks evaluated, these include: RMS value, distance between edges, variance, and energy.
Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 Utilizes both Sodium- and Proton-Pumping NADH Dehydrogenases during Aerobic Growth.

ABSTRACT Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 is a metal-reducing bacterium with the ability to utilize many different terminal electron acceptors, including oxygen and solid-metal oxides. Both metal oxide reduction and aerobic respiration have been studied extensively in this organism. However, electron transport chain processes upstream of the terminal oxidoreductases have been relatively understudied in this organism, especially electron transfer from NADH to respiratory quinones. Genome annotation indicates that S. oneidensis MR-1 encodes four NADH dehydrogenases, a proton-translocating dehydrogenase (Nuo), two sodium ion-translocating dehydrogenases (Nqr1 and Nqr2), and an “uncoupling” dehydrogenase (Ndh), but none of these complexes have been studied. Therefore, we conducted a study specifically focused on the effects of individual NADH dehydrogenase knockouts in S. oneidensis MR-1. We observed that two of the single-mutant strains, the ΔnuoN and ΔnqrF1 mutants, exhibited significant growth defects compared with the wild type. However, the defects were minor and only apparent under certain growth conditions. Further testing of the ΔnuoN ΔnqrF1 double-mutant strain yielded no growth in minimal medium under oxic conditions, indicating that Nuo and Nqr1 have overlapping functions, but at least one is necessary for aerobic growth. Coutilization of proton- and sodium ion-dependent energetics has important implications for the growth of this organism in environments with varied pH and salinity, including microbial electrochemical systems. IMPORTANCE Bacteria utilize a wide variety of metabolic pathways that allow them to take advantage of different energy sources, and to do so with varied efficiency. The efficiency of a metabolic process determines the growth yield of an organism, or the amount of biomass it produces per amount of substrate consumed. This parameter has important implications in biotechnology and wastewater treatment, where low growth yields are often preferred to minimize the production of microbial biomass. In this study, we investigated respiratory pathways containing NADH dehydrogenases with varied efficiency (i.e., the number of ions translocated per NADH oxidized) in the metal-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. We observed that two different respiratory pathways are used concurrently, and at least one pathway must be functional for growth under oxic conditions.
Amphetamine improves mouse and human attention in the 5-choice continuous performance test.

Abstract Non-medical use of prescription stimulants amongst college students is common, with claims of cognitive and academic benefits. The mechanism, magnitude, and pervasiveness of the cognitive enhancing effects of stimulants in healthy adults remain poorly understood however. The present study determined the effects of dextroamphetamine (D-amp) on the 5-choice continuous performance test (5C-CPT) of attention in healthy young adult humans and mice. A mixed gender sample received placebo (n = 29), 10 (n = 17) or 20 mg D-amp (n = 25) in a double-blind fashion before 5C-CPT testing. In addition, male C57BL/6J mice were trained on a touchscreen adaptation of the 5C-CPT and tested after receiving saline or D-amp (0.1, 0.3, 1.0 mg/kg; n = 8/dose). In humans, D-amp significantly improved 5C-CPT performance. Both doses improved signal detection driven by increased hit rate (reduced omissions). Both doses also improved response accuracy and reduced hit reaction time (HRT) variability. In mice, similar effects (improved signal detection, hit rate, and response accuracy) were observed at the moderate dose (0.3 mg/kg). In contrast to human participants however, no effect on HRT variability was detected in mice, with no effect on HRT in either species. Human 5C-CPT performance was consistent with prior studies and consistent with alternative CPT paradigms. The performance of C57BL/6J mice on the touchscreen 5C-CPT mirrored performance of this strain on 5-hole operant chambers. Importantly, comparable facilitation of attention with D-amp was observed in both species. The 5C-CPT provides a cross-species paradigm by which the cognitive enhancing properties of stimulants and the neural underpinnings of attention can be assessed.
A Software System for PDE-Constrained Optimization Problems

Because of an increased desire to optimize the design of complex physical systems, optimization problems with constraints that include partial differential equations are arising more frequently. To deal effectively with such optimization problems, we propose a set of novel computational tools. The first is a highly flexible system, called Sundance, for specifying and applying differential operators. The next is a “proxy” linear algebra system that allows detailed control of Sundance by other programs running on other machines. Our optimization algorithms, Split and O3D, an SQP algorithm and a quadratic program solver, respectively, have been specially designed to work with the necessary abstractions to use the proxy system. Finally, two additional tools have been built: one (MAUI) to facilitate the construction of a general graphical user interface; and the second (IDEA) to allow asynchronous communication between Split and Sundance. We describe all of these components and discuss their application.
Chemical Carcinogenesis in Experimental Animals and Humans

The carcinogenic effect of exposure of humans to a mixture of chemical compounds (soot) was reported more than 200 years ago. By 1915, when Japanese research workers demonstrated the carcinogenicity of coal tar in rabbits, many cases of cancer had been noted in workers exposed to oil shales, coal tar, or dyestuff intermediates. In essence, exposed humans were the test organisms that indicated the deleterious effects of long exposure to certain substances. Unfortunately, more recent epidemiologic studies on exposed people have still been the initial indicators of carcinogenicity for some compounds.
Extension of the problem of extinction on Galton–Watson family trees

We review the existing and present new results on certain subtrees of the Galton-Watson family tree. For a positive integer N, define an N-ary subtree to be the tree of a deterministic N-splitting, rooted at the ancestor. Dekking (Amev. Math. Monthly 98:728–731, 1991) raised and answered the question how to compute the probability for a branching process to possess the binary splitting property, i.e., N = 2. Pakes and Dekking (J. Theor. Probab. 4:353–369, 1991) studied the general situation when N ≥ 2. Surprisingly, the case N ≥ 2 is studied so late, whereas the question for extinction of a branching process, i.e., non-existence of an infinite unary subtree (N = 1) has been studied extensively over the past 120–150 years.
Does public perception bias lead to more frequent reporting of adverse events: branded vs generic drugs.

Generic medicines generated $253 billion in savings for patients and taxpayers in 2016. In the last decade, the U.S. healthcare system has saved $1.67 trillion due to the availability of low-cost g...
Tools and techniques for troubleshooting remote access

For electronic resources and reference librarians, fielding eresource access problems is often a daily task. A library user clicks on a link to an electronic journal article, book, or primary sourc...
Quantifying sources of variability in neonicotinoid residue data for assessing risks to pollinators

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2014 guidance for assessing pesticide risks to bees relies on higher-tier studies of residues in pollen and nectar to refine pesticide exposure estimates obtained from lower tier information (e.g., default values and model-generated estimates). These higher tier residue studies tend to be resource intensive due to the need to address spatial and temporal factors which influence pesticide residues in pollen and nectar. Time and resource considerations restrict the number of samples, crops, and locations which can be studied. Given these resource constraints, questions remain on how to best optimize the design and number of residue studies for obtaining a robust dataset to refine exposure estimates of bees to pesticides. Factors to be optimized include the number of replicates in each sampling event, the number of sampling events over time, the number of sites/regions per study, and the number of crops to be assessed within and across crop groups. Using available field residue data for the neonicotinoid class of insecticides, we conducted an analysis of variability in residue data to address these and other study design elements. Comparisons of the magnitude of residues and variability are made across neonicotinoid chemicals (imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam and dinotefuran) as well as the variability associated with intra- and inter-crop group comparisons and regional and soil texture gradients. Additionally, this analysis includes consideration of bee-relevant toxic metabolites for imidacloprid and thiamethoxam. Results of these analyses of neonicotinoid residue data are presented in the context of optimizing field residue study designs for assessing pesticide risks to bees.
The Assessment and Plan

The assessment and plan is the culmination of the oral case presentation. It consists of a brief summary of the case, a discussion of the differential diagnosis, an argument for the leading diagnosis, a diagnostic testing strategy, and a treatment plan. The first step is to identify the key findings in the case and use them to formulate a differential diagnosis. The next step is to make an argument for the leading diagnosis and a testing strategy to eliminate other possibilities and confirm the diagnosis. When a patient presents with a clear diagnosis, the main focus of the assessment shifts to the treatment plan. Pertinent evidence from all available sources should be evaluated and used to support the diagnostic argument, testing strategy, and treatment plan. Several examples of effective oral assessments are presented, with references to the supporting literature.
Outpatient physical therapy for functional neurological disorder: A preliminary feasibility and naturalistic outcome study in a U.S. cohort

Objective:Despite promising research and consensus recommendations on the important therapeutic role of physical therapy for motor functional neurological disorder (FND), little is known about the ...
Visualizing System Latency: Heat maps are a unique and powerful way to visualize latency data. Explaining the results, however, is an ongoing challenge.

When I/O latency is presented as a visual heat map, some intriguing and beautiful patterns can emerge. These patterns provide insight into how a system is actually performing and what kinds of latency end-user applications experience. Many characteristics seen in these patterns are still not understood, but so far their analysis is revealing systemic behaviors that were previously unknown.
A Laboratory Investigation of Underside Shield Sprays to Improve Dust Control of Longwall Water Spray Systems

Researchers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) performed laboratory testing to improve longwall dust control by examining the use of underside shield sprays in conjunction with the longwall directional spray system. In a field survey of longwall operations, NIOSH researchers observed dust clouds created by the fracturing and spalling of coal immediately upwind of the headgate drum that migrated into the walkway, exposing mining personnel to respirable coal dust. The goal of this research was to create an effective traveling water curtain to prevent this dust from reaching the personnel walkway by redirecting it toward the longwall face. The location, orientation, and pressure of the water sprays were the primary testing parameters examined for minimizing dust exposure in the walkway. Laboratory testing indicates that the use of underside shield sprays on the longwall face may be beneficial toward reducing respirable dust exposure for mining personnel.
The Focused Assessment with Sonography in Cancer (FASC) Examination

Malignant effusions occur frequently in patients with cancer and are important to diagnose and treat. In this report, we describe a novel point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) protocol to rapidly identify pleural effusion, pericardial effusion, and ascites: The Focused Assessment with Sonography in Cancer (FASC). This protocol utilizes six standard sonographic positions to identify the presence of fluid in common anatomic spaces. The FASC examination is intended for widespread use by oncologists and other clinicians who treat patients with cancer.
Illuminating the complex role of the added mass during vortex induced vibration

The role of the added mass coefficient in vortex induced vibration (VIV) of the bluff body is complex and elusive. It is certain that decoding the relationship between the added mass and the vibration pattern will benefit the prediction and prevention of VIV. We present a study on VIV of a long flexible cylinder and forced vibration of a rigid cylinder, in a combination of experimental optical measurements and high-fidelity numerical simulation. We focus on uniform flow over a uniform cylinder at a fixed Reynolds number, Red = 900, but systematically varied the motion amplitude in the in-line ( Axd) and cross-flow direction ( Ayd), as well as the phase angle (θ) between the motions. We show that θ∈[π2,3π2] is associated with negative added mass coefficients in the cross-flow direction (Cmy < 0), and there is a strong correlation between the vortex shedding mode of “2P” or “P+S” and Cmy < 0.
"Don't Let Yourself Be Made Game Of": Yambo Ouologuem's Le Devoir de violence and the Game of Genre

Yambo Ouologuem knows the rules of postcolonial writing; he simply chooses to break all of them. This article about Ouologuem's key 1968 novel Le devoir de violence explores how Ouologuem manipulates existing ideological underpinnings of postcolonial genre use in order to undermine the project of postcolonial writing. He manipulates genre, orality and expectations in order to disorient the reader of his novel, exposing the theoretical ideology of postcolonial writing as just as much a fiction as colonial ideology.
Vendor screening in IT contracting with a pilot project

3Mike Keller, senior vice president of business and partner management at Bank One succinctly argues that contracting on specific performance measures “took a substantial amount of negotiating....It wasn’t so much that the providers were reluctant to do it, but that it’s fairly complex to compare pricing on one outsourcing arrangement to others, or to benchmark certain things like the efficiency of our IT infrastructure” (Violino and Caldwell 1998).
The Role of Industrial Schemes in ASEAN Countries Development: In the Context of New Scheme AFTA

The ASEAN countries have introduced many Industrial development schemes and free trade policies to improve their economic co-operation and strengthen their free trade market. These new schemes were introduced to promote the AFTA (ASEAN Free Trade) among the ASEAN countries, along with the objective of Industrial development between them. These schemes were exactly chartered out in early 1990 when the focus and motive of ASEAN countries, was to promote trade co-operation and achieve economic revolution.
Reasoning about Uncertainty in Fault-tolerant Distributed Systems

We present a temporal logic for reasoning about uncertainty in distributed systems that contain both probabilistic and nondeterministic transitions. Probabilistic transitions model randomness in the processes of the system and in the fault model. Nondeterministic transitions model lack of information about the true faulty behavior of the system and the progress of the computation. We demonstrate the naturalness of our approach by offering new analyses and solutions to some classical fault-tolerant distributed computing problems, namely the coordinated attack problem and authenticated Byzantine agreement problem.
An Analysis of Prospective Mathematics Teachers' Views on the Use of Computer Algebra Systems in Algebra Instruction in Turkey and in the United States

This study investigated the views of Turkish and U.S. prospective mathematics teachers on the use of advanced calculators with Computer Algebra Systems (CAS) in algebra instruction. The possible roles for CAS suggested by Heid and Edwards (2001), along with the black and white box dichotomy and Technological, Pedagogical, and Content Knowledge model were used as conceptual frameworks. An open-ended questionnaire and group interviews revealed participants' views and beliefs about why, when, and how they prefer to use CAS. Results revealed the similarities and differences in Turkish and U.S. participants' views regarding the use of CAS when teaching and learning of algebraic manipulation. Key Words: Mathematics education, teachers' views, technology
Ancient Reasons for Monsters

The First Fossil Hunters Paleontology in Greek and Roman Times. Adrienne Mayor. Princeton University Press, Princeton, NJ, 2000. 381 pp. $35, £21.95. ISBN 0-691-05863-6. Mayor, a classical folklorist, interprets Greek and Roman accounts of giant bones in light of modern vertebrate paleontology. She argues that many of the mythic monsters were grounded in the remains of long-extinct animals.
Risk Perception in Young Male Drivers: What Makes Them Different?

Younger drivers, particularly males, are greatly overrepresented in collisions and differ from adults in their evaluation of risks. Risky driving may relate to many points along a sequence of operations that includes hazard recognition/evaluation, assessed accident likelihood, judged ability to control emerging events, perceived vulnerability, global assessment of the level of risk, motives and influences, risk acceptability, and behavioral decisions. This experiment investigated the points in the sequence at which young males were most discrepant from other drivers. Participants viewed driver's-eye video of scenes that included numerous hazard types. For each scenario, they made a series of ratings and open-ended responses corresponding to various points along the risk behavior sequence. The results highlighted the perceived ability to control emerging hazard events through vehicle control skills as a key factor distinguishing young male drivers. This and other aspects of the findings suggest strategies ...
Single-frame super-resolution by a cortex based mechanism using high level visual features in natural images

Super-resolution is the creation of higher resolution views of pixel-based images through interpolating the original pixels. Natural images are highly redundant on a pixel-by-pixel scale due to local dependencies among pixels, such as lines and textures. Greater super-resolution can be achieved by taking advantage of these local features inherent in natural images. In order to discover and learn these statistically significant features, we used SINBAD method (Set of INteracting BAckpropagating Dendrites), which is a biologically inspired cortical model for perception. SINBAD method allowed us to infer missing pixel values better than standard backprop networks and polynomial interpolation techniques, which are insensitive to the lines or textures in the images. To further test which method preserves edges more accurately, we used Sobel edge detection. SINBAD cells picked local lines and edges as the easiest orderly features in un-preprocessed natural images. Thus, the SINBAD approach appears to follow the same route taken by the brain's processing of visual information.
Nonadiabatic, Nonradial Solar Oscillations

Solar gravity mode (g-mode) oscillations are not easy to detect and identify because their surface amplitudes are very small. However, since their largest amplitudes occur in the deep interior of the sun, their correct interpretation could be invaluable in unraveling the interior structure of the sun. Toward this end, some nonadiabatic, nonradial solar g-mode calculations, using the Lagrangian-based eigensolution program of Pesnell, are presented. 2 figs., 2 tabs.
REACTION OF SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS WITH LIGNIN: A MONTE CARLO SIMULATION

A Monte Carlo simulation of lignin depolymerization in supercritical water was developed. Transition probabilities derived through analysis of simple prototype reaction sequences were used to test reactive sites along a structural segment of a lignin macromolecule. This stochastic approach allowed facile accounting of the often confounding effects of unequal reactivity, nearest neighbor substituents and oligomers’ molecular weight distributions.
Dendritic Spikes Are Enhanced by Cooperative Network Activity in the Intact Hippocampus

In vitro experiments suggest that dendritic fast action potentials may influence the efficacy of concurrently active synapses by enhancing Ca2+ influx into the dendrites. However, the exact circumstances leading to these effects in the intact brain are not known. We have addressed these issues by performing intracellular sharp electrode recordings from morphologically identified sites in the apical dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons in vivo while simultaneously monitoring extracellular population activity. The amplitude of spontaneous fast action potentials in dendrites decreased as a function of distance from the soma, suggesting that dendritic propagation of fast action potentials is strongly attenuated in vivo. Whereas the amplitude variability of somatic action potentials was very small, the amplitude of fast spikes varied substantially in distal dendrites. Large-amplitude fast spikes in dendrites occurred during population discharges of CA3-CA1 neurons concurrent with field sharp waves. The large-amplitude fast spikes were associated with bursts of smaller-amplitude action potentials and putative Ca2+ spikes. Both current pulse-evoked and spontaneously occurring Ca2+ spikes were always preceded by large-amplitude fast spikes. More spikes were observed in the dendrites during sharp waves than in the soma, suggesting that local dendritic spikes may be generated during this behaviorally relevant population pattern. Because not all dendritic spikes produce somatic action potentials, they may be functionally distinct from action potentials that signal via the axon.
Single-stranded DNA Scanning and Deamination by APOBEC3G Cytidine Deaminase at Single Molecule Resolution

APOBEC3G (Apo3G) is a single-stranded (ss)DNA cytosine deaminase that eliminates HIV-1 infectivity by converting C → U in numerous small target motifs on the minus viral cDNA. Apo3G deaminates linear ssDNA in vitro with pronounced spatial asymmetry favoring the 3′ → 5′ direction. A similar polarity observed in vivo is believed responsible for initiating localized C → T mutational gradients that inactivate the virus. When compared with double-stranded (ds)DNA scanning enzymes, e.g. DNA glycosylases that excise rare aberrant bases, there is a paucity of mechanistic studies on ssDNA scanning enzymes. Here, we investigate ssDNA scanning and motif-targeting mechanisms for Apo3G using single molecule Forster resonance energy transfer. We address the specific issue of deamination asymmetry within the general context of ssDNA scanning mechanisms and show that Apo3G scanning trajectories, ssDNA contraction, and deamination efficiencies depend on motif sequence, location, and ionic strength. Notably, we observe the presence of bidirectional quasi-localized scanning of Apo3G occurring proximal to a 5′ hot motif, a motif-dependent DNA contraction greatest for 5′ hot > 3′ hot > 5′ cold motifs, and diminished mobility at low salt. We discuss the single molecule Forster resonance energy transfer data in terms of a model in which deamination polarity occurs as a consequence of Apo3G binding to ssDNA in two orientations, one that is catalytically favorable, with the other disfavorable.
Utility of Noninvasive Aneurysm Sac Pressure Measurement During and After Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

Abstract Purpose The utility of noninvasive pressure sensors in the intra- and postoperative settings is not entirely clear. The objectives of this study were to determine intraoperative pressure criteria in the setting of technically successful endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) and to evaluate pressure changes during follow-up. Materials and Methods A total of 55 patients (42 men) underwent attempted noninvasive sensor monitor placement within the aneurysm sac. Pressures were recorded before and after EVAR. Recordings were repeated at 1 day, 2 weeks, 3 months, and 1 year. Clinical data, pressure recordings, and computed tomography were retrospectively assessed. Results Noninvasive pressure sensors were successfully placed in 51 patients. The mean intraoperative decreases in pulse pressure (PP) and PP ratio (PPR) in the setting of technical success were statistically different versus (i) baseline recordings and (ii) pressures obtained in the setting of type I endoleak (74.2% vs 41.5% and 76.2% vs 46.5%, respectively). At follow-up, there were continued decreases in PP and PPR, with a decrease in mean pressure resuming at the 3-month interval. Four of 14 type II endoleaks were treated because of relatively increased pressure with stable or increased aneurysm size. Conclusions An intraoperative decrease in PP and PPR in the range of approximately 70% after EVAR was associated with successful aneurysm exclusion. Noninvasive sensors can provide useful ancillary information in confirming technical success intraoperatively. During follow-up, an increase in sensor pressure recordings may be suggestive of clinically significant endoleak; however, further research is necessary.
Fatty acids in fossil fruits

Abstract Fatty acids extracted from six fruit of Nyssa fissilis from the Early Tertiary Brandon Lignite, Vermont, include mainly palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, and oleic acids and a number of probable branched chain acids. Four unidentified ‘round fruit’ from the lignite contained the same acids in predominance. The two taxa were chemically indistinguishable because of wide intraspecific variation in percentage of each n -fatty acid present. ‘Fingerprint’ chromatograms of non-aromatic hydrocarbon extracts from two distinct taxa of fruit from an Eocene clay of Tennessee also showed no consistent interspecific differences. We conclude that degradation and removal of the seed food reserves and introduction of extraneous lipids limits the utility of fatty acids and hydrocarbons in chemosystematic study of fossil fruits at the species and genus levels.
TGF-β1 stimulates monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression in mesangial cells through a phosphodiesterase isoenzyme 4-dependent process

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 are critical mediators of renal injury by promoting excessive inflammation and extracellular matrix deposition, th...
PLA folding by simulated annealing

A simulated-annealing programmable-logic array (PLA) folding algorithm is presented for simple as well as multiple-column folding. Experimental results indicate that the algorithm performs very well. In many test problems, the results are superior to those produced by the well-known heuristic algorithm of G. De Micheli and A. Sangiovanni-Vincentelli (1983). It is also shown that the algorithm can be extended to handle constrained folding.
IR Studies on Carrageenan of Ahnfeltia concinna, a Marine Red Alga

Previous in situ studies showed that intestinal drug absorption is strongly influenced by intestinal pH. Three animal species considered for bioavailability testing were studied in situ to determine intestinal pH. Results from the rat and dog correlated well with results in humans, while results from the rabbit did not. The rabbit appears to be a poor candidate for attempted animal-human bioavailability correlations.
Trends in melanoma incidence and mortality.

Abstract Many years ago, as part of a general survey of mortality in the United States, 1 it was shown that mortality from all skin cancers combined was rising in the younger age groups. There was apparently an earlier perception in Australia that melanoma was more frequent in the 1930s than it had been in earlier decades, but this is difficult to document. At the time of the U.S. study, the current statistical classification did not separate the cutaneous melanomas from the other skin tumors. Once this separation had been made for a number of years, it was possible to confirm that the rise was due to melanoma. 2
Thermodynamics and the end of a closed Universe

If the Universe is closed and began with low entropy, it began without an initial singularity in an unstable de Sitter phase. Because of the irreversible nature of the processes, when this closed Universe ultimately contracts it will not bounce, but will go into a ‘final crunch’. In this final reheating, symmetry will be restored, but the contraction will never become deflationary. A closed Universe therefore lives only once, and can start with a whimper, but goes out with a bang.
Partial neutron cross sections for 64Zn, 66Zn, 67Zn and 68Zn between 14.2 and 18.2 MeV

Abstract Activation techniques have been used to measure the partial neutron cross sections for the 64 Zn(n,p) 64 Cu reaction at neutron energies between 14.2 and 17.2 MeV, the 64 Zn(n,2n) 63 Zn, 66 Zn(n,p) 66 Cu and 67 Zn(n,p) 67 Cu reactions from 14.2 to 18.2 MeV, and the 68 Zn(n,p) 68m Cu and 68 Zn(n,α) 65 Ni reactions between 14.2 and 16.2 MeV. The mixed powder method and a Ge(Li) detector gamma-ray spectrometer were utilized in the measurements. Neutrons were produced by the 3 H(d,n) 4 He reaction, and the neutron flux was measured through the 27 Al(n,α) 24 Na reaction. The reactions, the measured cross sections and the respective neutron energies (each with a spread of ±0.2 MeV) are as follows: 64 Zn(n,p) 64 Cu, 180 ± 10, 152 ± 9, 116 ± 6 and 122 ± 8 mb at 14.2, 15.2, 16.2 and 17.2 MeV; 64 Zn(n,2n) 63 Zn, 121 ± 6, 176 ± 10, 222 ± 13, 267 ± 17 and 327 ± 27 mb at 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2 and 18.2 MeV; 66 Zn(n,p) 66 Cu, 76 ± 5, 72 ± 6, 71 ± 8, 62 ± 7 and 57 ± 7 mb at 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2 and 18.2 MeV; 67 Zn(n,p) 67 Cu, 82 ± 5, 106 ± 6, 125 ± 8, 141 ± 21 and 230 ± 30 mb at 14.2, 15.2, 16.2, 17.2 and 18.2 MeV; 68 Zn(n,p) 68m Cu, 5 ± 0.6, 6 ± 1 and 2 ± 1 mb at 14.2, 15.2 and 16.2 MeV; 68 Zn(n,α) 65 Ni, 10 ± 0.7, 9 ± 0.7 and 7 ± 1 mb at 14.2, 15.2 and 16.2 Mev.