cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Design and implementation of a framework for efficient and programmable sensor networks

Wireless ad hoc sensor networks have emerged as one of the key growth areas for wireless networking and computing technologies. So far these networks/systems have been designed with static and custom architectures for specific tasks, thus providing inflexible operation and interaction capabilities. Our vision is to create sensor networks that are open to multiple transient users with dynamic needs. Working towards this vision, we propose a framework to define and support lightweight and mobile control scripts that allow the computation, communication, and sensing resources at the sensor nodes to be efficiently harnessed in an application-specific fashion. The replication/migration of such scripts in several sensor nodes allows the dynamic deployment of distributed algorithms into the network. Our framework, SensorWare, defines, creates, dynamically deploys, and supports such scripts. Our implementation of SensorWare occupies less than 180Kbytes of code memory and thus easily fits into several sensor node platforms. Extensive delay measurements on our iPAQ-based prototype sensor node platform reveal the small overhead of SensorWare to the algorithms (less than 0.3msec in most high-level operations). In return the programmer of the sensor network receives compactness of code, abstraction services for all of the node's modules, and in-built multi-user support. SensorWare with its features apart from making dynamic programming possible it also makes it easy and efficient without restricting the expressiveness of the algorithms.
Predictor based control for linear systems with both state and input delays

In this paper we develop a predictor based controller for linear systems with state and input delays. This predictor is formulated recursively over the prediction time by partitioning the input delay into sections smaller than the state delays. The partitioning of the input delay ensures that the resulting predictor equation only depends on the past values of the state and input. When the past state and input information is available within a moving time window, it is shown that this predictor gives an exact prediction of the future states. This recursive predictor is then reformulated into a cascade form in order to reduce the number redundant computation and simplify the predictor equation for practical implementation. It is demonstrated that the state prediction becomes exact, i.e., the prediction error is zero in a finite time. In order to construct a predictor feedback control law, we show that the spectrum of the closed-loop delay system under a proposed predictor feedback control is equal to the spectrum of an equivalent delay system without input delay and under the nominal state feedback control. The theoretical derivation is verified through numerical examples.
Collective Oscillations of Strongly Correlated One-Dimensional Bosons on a Lattice

We study the dipole oscillations of strongly correlated 1D bosons, in the hard-core limit, on a lattice, by an exact numerical approach. We show that far from the regime where a Mott insulator appears in the system, damping is always present and increases for larger initial displacements of the trap, causing dramatic changes in the momentum distribution, ${n}_{k}$. When a Mott insulator sets in the middle of the trap, the center of mass barely moves after an initial displacement, and ${n}_{k}$ remains very similar to the one in the ground state. We also study changes introduced by the damping in the natural orbital occupations, and the revival of the center-of-mass oscillations after long times.
Compensation for channel dispersion by nonlinear optical phase conjugation.

It is proposed that the process of nonlinear optical phase conjugation can be utilized to compensate for channel dispersion and hence to correct for temporal pulse broadening. Specifically, a four-wave nonlinear interaction is shown to achieve pulse renarrowing. Spectral bandwidth constraints of the input pulse are presented for typical phase-conjugate interaction parameters.
Convergence rates in the implicit renewal theorem on trees

We consider possibly nonlinear distributional fixed-point equations on weighted branching trees, which include the well-known linear branching recursion. In Jelenkovic and Olvera-Cravioto (2012), an implicit renewal theorem was developed that enables the characterization of the power-tail asymptotics of the solutions to many equations that fall into this category. In this paper we complement the analysis in our 2012 paper to provide the corresponding rate of convergence.
Investigation of aqueous biphasic systems for the separation of lignins from cellulose in the paper pulping process.

Abstract In efforts to apply a polymer-based aqueous biphasic system (ABS) extraction to the paper pulping process, the study of the distribution of various lignin and cellulosic fractions in ABS and the effects of temperature on system composition and solute partitioning have been investigated. The partitioning of three lignin species (Indulin AT, Indulin C, and Reax 85A) have been studied in ABS prepared from stock solutions of 40% (w/w) poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG)-2000 and increasing concentrations of K 2 CO 3 , (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 , and NaOH. The partitioning of these lignins is affected by the free energy of hydration of the salt forming the ABS, the tie line length, and the dissociation of the sulfonic acid and hydroxyl groups of the distributed solutes. The partitioning of fibrous cellulose and diethylaminoethyl cellulose have been studied in 40% (w/w) PEG-2000–(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ABS. The hydrophilic nature of these species is important in terms of their phase preference when designing a polymer-based aqueous biphasic extraction process for use in a paper pulping process. Both cellulosic samples do not dissolve, but rather report to the salt-rich phase of an ABS. In both chemical pulping and Organosolv pulping, temperatures in excess of 120°C are needed to solubilize the lignin from the cellulose fraction of wood. To study the effects of temperature on the phase diagram and solute partitioning, phthalic acid and NH 4 99 TcO 4 (as system probes) have been partitioned in 40% (w/w) PEG-2000–(NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 ABS at known tie line lengths as a function of temperature. Temperature does not appear to affect the partitioning results beyond the expected increase in phase divergence as temperature is increased. The PEG-2000 polymer itself appears to be stable to chemical pulping conditions.
Text and context in imaginative play and the social sciences

We stand at the threshold of an intrusion into social science by modes once known as literary or esthetic or ludic.
Corticotropin-releasing factor mRNA is expressed in the inferior olives of rodents and primates

Immunohistochemical studies have suggested that corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) was a transmitter of the olivocerebellar projection. We used in situ hybridization histochemistry with a 35S-labeled oligodeoxyribonucleotide probe for CRF mRNA to show that inferior olivary neurons of rats, baboons, and humans synthesize CRF.
Explosive shock processing of Pr2Fe14B/α-Fe exchange-coupled nanocomposite bulk magnets

Explosive shock compaction was used to consolidate powders obtained from melt-spun Pr2Fe14B/α–Fe nanocomposite ribbons, to produce fully dense cylindrical compacts of 17–41-mm diameter and 120-mm length. Characterization of the compacts revealed refinement of the nanocomposite structure, with approximately 15 nm uniformly sized grains. The compact produced at a shock pressure of approximately 1 GPa maintained a high coercivity, and its remanent magnetization and maximum energy product were measured to be 0.98 T and 142 kJ/m3, respectively. The compact produced at 4–7 GPa showed a decrease in magnetic properties while that made at 12 GPa showed a magnetic softening behavior. However, in both of these cases, a smooth hysteresis loop implying exchange coupling and a coercivity of 533 kA/m were fully recovered after heat treatment. The results illustrate that the explosive compaction followed by post-shock heat treatment can be used to fabricate exchange-coupled nanocomposite bulk magnets with optimized magnetic properties.
Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Acetaminophen via Suppression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Induction by Group B Streptococci

Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Acetaminophen via Suppression of Nitric Oxide Synthase Induction by Group B Streptococci
Contrasting Strategic Response to Economic Recession in Start‐Up versus Established Software Firms*

Economic recessions represent a period of greatly reduced environmental munificence that threatens the survival of all firms. This is especially the case for smaller, start‐up firms, which have bee...
Equivalence of concentration–response relationships in aquatic toxicology studies: Testing and implications for potency estimation

The purpose of this study was to describe statistical procedures to test the equivalence of concentration-response relationships in acute toxicology studies and to illustrate the implications of nonequivalence on potency endpoints such as LC10, LC50, or LC90. A logistic regression model for binary response endpoints such as mortality that allowed for the examination of equivalence of slopes and intercepts of the responses between populations is described. Test statistics were derived from comparing nested regression models. This procedure was used to test the equivalence of concentration versus acute mortality response relationships between two nonpolar, narcotic chemicals in a single population of fish and between two populations of fish with different exposure histories to a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. These case studies illustrate different outcomes in the comparison of concentration-response relationships and demonstrate the need to consider more than a single endpoint (e.g., LC50) in a risk assessment context when nonparallel concentration-responses are observed.
Heart Failure Is a Major Contributor to Hospital Readmission Penalties

Abstract Background The Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program provides incentives to hospitals to reduce early readmissions for heart failure (HF), acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and pneumonia (PNE). Methods and Results To examine the contribution of each diagnosis to readmissions penalty size, data were obtained from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, American Hospital Association, and United States Census Bureau including number of cases; readmissions payment adjustment factor (values Conclusion HF ERR, not the number of cases, was related to penalty magnitude. These findings have implications for the design of hospital-based quality initiatives regarding readmissions.
Effectiveness of chlorine and nisin-edta treatments of whole melons and fresh-cut pieces for reducing native microflora and extending shelf-life

Efficacy of nisin-EDTA treatments as a sanitizing treatment for reducing native microflora of whole melons and extending shelf-life of fresh-cut pieces was compared to chlorine treatments. Whole cantaloupe and honeydew melons were washed with water, nisin (10 μg/mL)-EDTA (0.02 M), or 200 ppm chlorine for 5 min at ∼ 20C before fresh-cut preparation and storage at 5C for 15 days with periodic microbiological sampling. In addition, some fresh-cut pieces were washed with 10 μg/mL nisin-EDTA or 50 ppm chlorine for 1 min before storage. Changes in appearance, odor, overall acceptability and the shelf-life of the minimally processed fresh-cut melons were investigated. Preliminary studies indicated that water washes, EDTA (0.002 to 0.2 M) or nisin (5 to 10 μg/mL) were not effective in reducing the microflora of whole melon when used individually. Nisin-EDTA and chlorine treatments were significantly (P 0.05) different from each other throughout the storage period (15 to 21 days). However, both treatments led to significantly (P < 0.05) improved ratings compared to the controls for the fresh-cut pieces at 9 to 12 days of storage and thereafter. The results of this study suggest that treatments with nisin-EDTA before and after fresh-cut processing would improve the quality and extend the shelf-life of fresh-cut melon.
Indomethacin-sensitive suppressor cells regulate the cell-mediated cytotoxic response to SV 40-induced tumor-associated antigens in mice.

Specific secondary cytotoxic reactivity (as measured by 51Cr-release assay) against SV 40-induced tumor-associated antigens was generated in vitro in spleen cells of tumor-free (BALB/c × C57 BL/6)F1 (CBF1) mice immunized against a syngeneic SV 40-induced tumor of BALB/c origin (mKSA), following in vitro sensitization for 5 days with the relevant antigens in mixed lymphocyte-tumor cell cultures. In contrast, spleen cells of CBF1 mice bearing the SV 40-induced tumor demonstrated suppressed specific secondary cytotoxic reactivity following incubation with the corresponding antigens. Spleens from tumor-bearing mice contained 4 times the number of mononuclear cells and 3 times the percentage of macrophages, as compared to spleens of normal mice. The percentage of B cells was also elevated in spleens of tumor-bearing mice. There was a slight reduction in the percentage of T cells. The cytotoxic reactivity of spleen cells of tumor-bearing mice was restored following removal of macrophages by either rayon adherence columns or iron and magnet, or incubation on plastic petri dishes. No such effect was seen with spleen cells of tumor-free or normal mice. Spleen cells of tumor-bearing mice inhibited the in vitro generation of secondary cytotoxic reactivity of spleen cells of tumor-free mice, sensitized in vitro with SV 40-induced tumor cells by mixing experiments. The suppressor cells were found to be macrophages by the 3 techniques for removal of macrophages described above. The addition of indomethacin (1–10 μg/ml), a noncompetitive irreversible prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, to cultures of responding spleen cells from tumor-bearing mice and stimulating SV 40-induced tumor cells resulted in marked augmentation of spleen cells responsiveness. With higher indomethacin concentrations (100 μg/ml), no enhancement was seen. The augmenting effect was noted only when indomethacin was present during the initial 24 h of the 5-day culture. Indomethacin at 1–10 μg/ml had no effect on cytotoxic reactivity of spleen cells of tumor-free mice, whereas at higher concentrations (100 μg/ml) it had a strong suppressive effect. Preincubation of spleen cells of tumor-bearing mice with indomethacin for 3 days abrogated their ability to suppress the generation of secondary cytotoxic reactivity of spleen cells of tumor-free mice. It is hypothesized that indomethacin-sensitive suppressor macrophages regulate the immune responsiveness in tumor-bearing mice.
Effects of Acute Tryptophan Depletion on Three Different Types of Behavioral Impulsivity

Introduction: While central nervous system serotonin has been implicated in a variety of problematic impulsive behaviors, biological manipulation of brain serotonin using acute tryptophan depletion for studying changes in impulsive behavior has received little attention. Methods: Using identical treatment conditions, we examined the effects of reduced serotonin synthesis for each of three matched groups using acute tryptophan depletion. Thirty healthy men and women (ages 18–45) were assigned to perform one of three tasks assessing different types of behavioral impulsivity: response initiation, response inhibition, and consequence sensitivity (N = 90). Participants completed two experimental days during which each consumed either a tryptophan-depletion or balanced-placebo amino-acid formulation and completed 5 sessions of their respective tasks at 0.25 h before and 1.5, 4.0, 5.0, and 6.0 h after beverage consumption. Results: During peak effectiveness (5.0 h to 6.0 h following amino-acid consumption), depletion produced selective differences dependent on the type of impulsivity being tested. Specifically, relative to baseline testing (pre-depletion), response initiation impulsivity was significantly increased during the peak effects of depletion. And, when compared to placebo control, both response initiation and consequence sensitivity impulsivity were increased during the peak effects of depletion. Conclusion: Though response initiation and consequence sensitivity impulsivity were affected by tryptophan depletion, response inhibition impulsivity was not, suggesting that other biological processes may underlie this specific component of impulsivity. Future research in other populations or using different pharmacological agents is warranted to further examine the biological processes underlying these components of impulsivity.
Crystal Structure of Rsr, an Ortholog of the Antigenic Ro Protein, Links Conformational Flexibility to RNA Binding Activity

Ro ribonucleoproteins are a class of antigenic ribonucleoproteins associated with rheumatic autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus erythematosus and Sjogrens syndrome in humans. Ro ribonucleoproteins are mostly composed of the 60-kDa Ro protein and small cytoplasmic RNAs, called Y RNAs, of unknown function. In eukaryotes, where Ro has been found to associate with damaged or mutant RNAs, it has been suggested that Ro may play a role in RNA quality control. In the radiation-resistant bacterium Deinococcus radiodurans and some eukaryotes, Ro has also been implicated in cell survival following UV damage. Here we present the first high resolution structure of a prokaryotic Ro ortholog, Rsr from D. radiodurans. The structure has been solved to 1.9 A resolution and shows distinct differences when compared with the eukaryotic apo- and RNA-bound Ro structures. Rsr is composed of two domains: a helical RNA binding domain and a mixed "von Willebrand factor A-like" domain containing a divalent metal binding site. Although the individual domains of Rsr are similar to the eukaryotic Ro, significantly large differences are seen at the interface of the two domains. Since this interface communicates with the conserved central cavity of Ro, which is implicated in RNA binding, changes at this interface could potentially influence RNA binding by Ro. Although the apo-Rsr protein is monomeric, Rsr binds Y RNA to form multimers of approximately 12 molecules of a 1:1 Rsr-Y RNA complex. Rsr binds D. radiodurans Y RNA with low nanomolar affinity, comparable with previously characterized eukaryotic Ro orthologs.
Application of Landsat thematic mapper to inlet dynamics, Old Drum Inlet, North Carolina

During the early morning hours of September 27, 1985, Hurricane Gloria crossed the North Carolina coast near Cape Hatteras, opening several new inlets on the Outer Banks barrier-island chain. Landsat thematic mapper (TM) imagery was used to watch the closure of one of the breaches, Old Drum Inlet, and to test the applicability of the TM sensor to small-scale, high-frequency processes such as inlet dynamics. By photographically enlarging the 1:1000 000 film negatives to a scale of 1:20 000, we were able to map the progressive infilling of Old Drum Inlet over a four-month period. Good spatial resolution (30-m pixel size) and a 16-day repetition rate are features that make the TM sensor particularly useful in inaccessible areas where aerial photography is acquired at irregular and infrequent intervals.
A case-matched molecular comparison of extraovarian versus primary ovarian adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND Extraovarian mullerian adenocarcinoma (EOM) resembles primary ovarian carcinoma (POC) both histologically and clinically, yet little is known regarding the molecular genetic characteristics of this entity. The objective of this study was to compare the expression of three molecular markers of tumor behavior in EOMs and POCs. METHODS Forty-four patients meeting strict criteria for EOM were identified and matched to POC controls for age, stage, tumor histology and grade, cytoreductive surgery, and survival. Immunohistochemistry was used to determine overexpression of p53 and HER-2/neu. DNA content was evaluated by flow cytometry. Direct DNA sequencing of exons 5-8 of the p53 gene was performed in nine EOM tumors. Statistical comparisons were made using chi-square, Kaplan-Meier, and Mantel-Cox log rank methods. RESULTS Overexpression of HER-2/neu was demonstrated in 59% (26 of 44) of the EOM group versus 36% overexpression (16 of 44) in the POC controls (P = 0.05). Overexpression of p53 was noted in 48% of the EOM cases, similar to the 59% incidence observed in the control group (P = 0.29). Missense mutations were found in 9 of 9 EOM tumors showing strong p53 nuclear immunostaining. No significant difference in the incidence of aneuploidy was observed when EOM cases were compared with POC controls (65% vs. 63%). High tumor grade was strongly associated with HER-2/neu overexpression in the EOM group (P = 0.002). None of the parameters studied were predictive of prognosis within the EOM and POC groups. CONCLUSIONS Although overexpression of p53 protein, p53 gene mutations, and abnormal DNA content were similar between EOMs and POCs, EOMs demonstrated almost twice the rate of HER-2/neu overexpression. This result suggests that distinct genetic events may be responsible for malignant transformation in EOMs versus POCs. Cancer 1997; 79:1587-94. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Initial condition effects on the time dependence of the signal in transient grating experiments

Abstract Transient grating and Ronchi ruling experiments, which constitute a powerful observational tool for the investigation of the motion of excitons in molecular crystals, are usually interpreted in terms of an analysis which assumes the initial density matrix of the exciton to be random. This assumption cannot be verified clearly on the basis of currently available experimental data. Recent work has shown that if the assumption is relaxed or changed, significant deviations can occur in the evolution of the signal. Interpretation of the experiments and extraction of exciton motion parameters could therefore be in serious error at least in principle. We carry out a detailed analysis of this initial condition effect on the theoretically predicted signal, present specific time dependences for the signal, and conclude that, at the present state of technology and experimentation, initial condition effects are negligible for most systems studied so far including pure anthracene crystals at 20 K and 10 K for which the motion is known to be quite coherent. The usual theory is therefore quite adequate in such situations. For pure anthracene at 1.8 K, we find that the effects of the deviations from a random initial density matrix are on the borderline of being discernible and, with improved experimentation, might be measurable in the future.
3-Aminopyridine 1,N6-ethenoadenine dinucleotide phosphate: A fluorescent reagent for NADP-requiring enzymes☆

Abstract 3-Aminopyridine 1, N 6 -ethenoadenine dinucleotide phosphate (ϵ-AADP) was synthesized from 3-aminopyridine adenine dinucleotide phosphate by reaction with chloroacetaldehyde. The reaction was monitored by high-pressure liquid chromatography. The product, ϵ-AADP, was purified by ion-exchange chromatography followed by a Sephadex G-10 desalting process. Spectrophotometric and fluorimetric properties of ϵ-AADP were obtained at neutral pH. Diazotization of ϵ-AADP was documented by azodye formation at pH values below 3 and the diazotized derivative was shown to react rapidly with sulfhydryl compounds at neutrality. As an analog of NADP, ϵ-AADP was demonstrated to be an effective NADP-competitive inhibitor of NADP-requiring dehydrogenases, reductases, and an NAD glycohydrolase.
The bioinorganic chemistry of zinc: synthetic analoguesof zinc enzymes that feature tripodal ligands

Zinc, as a constituent of more than 300 enzymes, plays essential roles in biological systems. The active sites of these enzymes feature a zinc center attached to the protein backbone by three or four amino acid residues, the nature of which influences the specific function of the enzyme. In order to understand why different zinc enzymes utilize different amino acid residues at the active site, it is necessary to understand how, and why, the chemistry of zinc is modulated by its coordination environment. Answers to these questions are being provided by a study of synthetic analogues of zinc enzymes, i.e. small molecules that resemble the enzyme active sites. This article provides an account of those studies that have specifically used tripodal ligands to mimic the active site protein residues in an effort to ascertain the bioinorganic chemistry of zinc.
On the distribution of recurrence times and the exact asymptotics of Lempel-Ziv coding

Let x=(...,x/sub -1/,x/sub 0/,x/sub 1/,...) be a realization from the discrete, stationary ergodic source X={X/sub n/;n/spl isin/Z}. We investigate the asymptotics of the recurrence time R/sub n/ defined as the first time that the n-block x/sub 1//sup n/=(x/sub 1/,x/sub 2/,..,x/sub n/) recurs in the past of x. We provide a natural framework for deducing the exact asymptotic behaviour of R/sub n/, and we extract from it precise information about the behaviour of the pointwise redundancy of an idealized version of Lempel-Ziv coding. Similar results are obtained for the waiting time W/sub n/ defined as the first time that the initial n-block x/sub 1//sup n/ from x occurs in an independent realization y.
Ancient Martian nitrogen.

The isotopic signatures and elemental ratios of nitrogen, argon and xenon determined in shock-melted glass in shergottite meteorites were found to closely resemble the Viking spacecraft data for the present Martian atmosphere. Searches for early signatures, before the Martian atmosphere was subjected to fractionation mechanisms, can be carried out on Martian meteorite ALH84001 and show that nitrogen signatures are incompatible with those of the present atmosphere. We report here the identification of two ancient, a distinctly light and an only slightly evolved, nitrogen isotopic signatures (δ15N = −30‰ and +4‰, respectively), as well as a correlation with the isotope ratio 129Xe/132Xe. Since this ratio evolved rapidly during the early history, due to the short (16 million year) half-life of the extinct precursor 129I, it serves as a useful time marker.
Control of Secondary Granule Release in Neutrophils by Ral GTPase

Neutrophil (polymorphonuclear leukocyte; PMN) inflammatory functions, including cell adhesion, diapedesis, and phagocytosis, are dependent on the mobilization and release of various intracellular granules/vesicles. In this study, we found that treating PMN with damnacanthal, a Ras family GTPase inhibitor, resulted in a specific release of secondary granules but not primary or tertiary granules and caused dysregulation of PMN chemotactic transmigration and cell surface protein interactions. Analysis of the activities of Ras members identified Ral GTPase as a key regulator during PMN activation and degranulation. In particular, Ral was active in freshly isolated PMN, whereas chemoattractant stimulation induced a quick deactivation of Ral that correlated with PMN degranulation. Overexpression of a constitutively active Ral (Ral23V) in PMN inhibited chemoattractant-induced secondary granule release. By subcellular fractionation, we found that Ral, which was associated with the plasma membrane under the resting condition, was redistributed to secondary granules after chemoattractant stimulation. Blockage of cell endocytosis appeared to inhibit Ral translocation intracellularly. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that Ral is a critical regulator in PMN that specifically controls secondary granule release during PMN response to chemoattractant stimulation.
Blind multiuser detection and interference cancellation in DS-CDMA mobile radio systems

This paper deals with blind adaptive multiuser detection and interference cancellation for direct sequence-CDMA wireless communication systems using antenna arrays. Such techniques have been considered as powerful methods for increasing the overall system quality, capacity and coverage. With a large number of adaptive weights, LMS type algorithms suffer from poor convergence while conventional least squares techniques can be computationally prohibitive. To mitigate these problems, this paper presents a two-stage blind adaptive receiver architecture which carries out multiuser detection using an optimal bounding ellipsoid (OBE) algorithm and direction-of-arrival estimation based beamforming using a novel, simple yet robust algorithm referred to as differential phase smoothing. The unique discerning update property of the OBE algorithms allows for a reduced complexity receiver. Furthermore, the adaptive multiuser detector also inherits improved convergence and tracking properties. Simulation results demonstrating its performance are presented.
Physiological correlates of the coronary-prone behavior pattern in women during examination stress

Abstract This research is an assessment of the physiological correlates of Type A behavior in college-aged women. Subjects were monitored while they took a midterm statistics examination; the dependent variables were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Type A or B behavior was assessed with the student from of the Jenkins Activity Survey. The results indicated that Type A women had higher levels of systolic blood pressure and heart rate, and lower levels of heart rate variability. Thus, when the stressor was a genuine examination, Type A behavior in young women was associated with increased physiological response levels compared to Type B's, a finding consistent with the hypothesis that Type A behavior is associated with sympathetic nervous system activity.
BRAT: BISULFITE-TREATED READS ANALYSIS TOOL

Summary: We present a new, accurate and efficient tool for mapping short reads obtained from the Illumina Genome Analyzer following sodium bisulfite conversion. Our tool, BRAT, supports single and paired-end reads and handles input files containing reads and mates of different lengths. BRAT is faster, maps more unique paired-end reads and has higher accuracy than existing programs. The software package includes tools to end-trim low-quality bases of the reads and to report nucleotide counts for mapped reads on the reference genome. Availability: The source code is freely available for download at http://compbio.cs.ucr.edu/brat/ and is distributed as Open Source software under the GPLv3.0. Contact: ude.rcu.sc@hanele
Repeated nocturnal sleep latencies in narcoleptic, sleepy and alert subjects

Abstract Objectives : The purpose of this study was to assess nocturnal sleep latencies among narcoleptics. Methods : Thirteen narcoleptics and matched sleepy and alert controls participated in this study. Subjects were awakened three times on each of two experimental nights. The latencies to sleep and rapid eye movement sleep were evaluated at the beginning of the night and following each experimental awakening. Results : The alert group (AG) had a significantly longer mean nocturnal sleep latency than the narcoleptic (NG) and sleepy groups (SG). The sleep latencies at 23:00 and 01:10 h were significantly longer than the latencies at 03:10 and 05:10 h. The interaction between group and time of night demonstrated longer latencies at 23:00 and 03:10 h for the AG when compared to the SG and the NG. At 01:10 and 05:10 h all groups had comparable latencies. The number of subjects in the NG who had multiple sleep onset REM periods (SOREMPs) was significantly higher than in either the AG or the SG. Conclusions : Narcoleptics were found to have a heightened propensity to fall asleep and increased number of SOREMPs during nocturnal sleep opportunities. These characteristics are consistent with the daytime polysomnographic findings known in this patient population.
Vaccine storage practices in primary care physician offices: assessment and intervention

Abstract Purpose To assess the proportion of primary care physician (PCP) offices meeting vaccine storage guidelines, identify factors associated with low compliance, and evaluate whether a quality improvement (QI) activity improves compliance. Methods We examined compliance with guidelines of 721 PCP offices contracted with a national managed care organization in four cities. A QI activity (educational materials, written feedback, and distribution of thermometers) was conducted at baseline and a follow-up assessment occurred within 3 months. Results Baseline compliance was relatively high, with >80% adherence to most guidelines. For example, 89% of offices had a thermometer; and 83% of temperatures were appropriate. Most units did not have vaccines stored in the door or food/biological materials in the unit (80% and 96%, respectively). Almost all vaccines had not expired. Multivariate analysis indicated that practice location, type of physician, participation in vaccine programs, and using guidelines were associated with compliance. For most of the compliance measures, pediatric offices had the highest compliance. Adherence to guidelines improved after the QI activity; the net change between pre- and post-intervention ranged from +1% to +19%. Measurements most impacted included temperature log posted (19% improvement in refrigerator; 16% improvement in freezer) and no vaccine stored in refrigerator door (14% improvement). Conclusion Despite generally high compliance, there are some opportunities for improvement in how PCPs store vaccines. Incorporating an intervention program in existing practice activities can improve storage practices. Further research is needed to determine the possible benefits of targeting interventions to certain types of providers who may be less knowledgeable about recommended guidelines.
A hard-constraint time-stepping approach for rigid multibody dynamics with joints, contact, and friction

We present a method for simulating rigid multibody dynamics with joints, contact, and friction. In this work, the nonsmooth contact and frictional constraints are represented by hard constraints. The method requires the solution of only one linear complementarity problem per step and can progress at much larger time steps than explicit penalty methods, which are currently the method of choice for most of these simulations.
Neural Differentiation of Expected Reward and Risk in Human Subcortical Structures

In decision-making under uncertainty, economic studies emphasize the importance of risk in addition to expected reward. Studies in neuroscience focus on expected reward and learning rather than risk. We combined functional imaging with a simple gambling task to vary expected reward and risk simultaneously and in an uncorrelated manner. Drawing on financial decision theory, we modeled expected reward as mathematical expectation of reward, and risk as reward variance. Activations in dopaminoceptive structures correlated with both mathematical parameters. These activations differentiated spatially and temporally. Temporally, the activation related to expected reward was immediate, while the activation related to risk was delayed. Analyses confirmed that our paradigm minimized confounds from learning, motivation, and salience. These results suggest that the primary task of the dopaminergic system is to convey signals of upcoming stochastic rewards, such as expected reward and risk, beyond its role in learning, motivation, and salience.
Developing federation object models using ontologies

The reuse of existing simulations in multiple federations is an important goal of distributed simulation frameworks. However, in order to reuse a federate, its simulation code often has to be modified so as to comply with the object and interaction representations defined in a corresponding federation object model (FOM). Such modifications imply added time and effort, which diminishes the efficacy of reuse in federation development. In this paper, we present an ontology-based framework for modeling federates and supporting their reuse in multiple federations. Ontologies are used to specify the semantics of objects and interactions in federate domains in a formal, computer-sensible fashion. Using these formal semantics the relationships between federate simulation concepts are described in a reusable fashion. In doing so, a suitable federation representation for a set of related federate concepts and the required set of transformations between federate and federation representations are automatically derived.
Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy – A Type I Polypoidal Subretinal Neovasculopathy

This 47 year old female developed the new onset of a polypoidal subretinal neovascular membrane in the left eye 13 years after having polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) treated in the right eye. The indocyanine green (ICG) angiography of the left eye at initial presentation showed a normal choroidal vascular pattern without PCV. The new development of a PCV complex on ICG angiography demonstrates that PCV is truly a type of subretinal neovascularization, and not a choroidal vascular abnormality. The optical coherence tomography shows that the polypoidal vascular complex lies above Bruch's membrane and beneath the retinal pigment epithelium, and not within the choroid. Treatment with high dose ranibizumab (2.0 mg) resulted in excellent polyp closure and regression of the branching vascular network. The documented new development of polypoidal subretinal vessels on ICG angiography and the response to ranibizumab supports that PCV is a polypoidal neovasculopathy (PNV).
Near-Zero Shift Attachment for Optoelectronic Components

High performance laser-based optoelectronic devices commonly feature the use of free-space optical coupling between the laser diode and optical elements such as filters, secondary harmonic generators and optical fibers. A critical challenge in the assembly of such components is maintaining the required optical alignment precision during attachment of the optical subcomponents to a common platform. In the case of devices based on single mode waveguides, the post-attach shift must often be held to less than a few hundred nanometers to achieve the desired optical coupling efficiency. Historically, these tight tolerances have required the use of costly post-work operations such as laser hammering or re-bend to achieve performance objectives. Over the course of designing several such optoelectronic components, we have used and developed a variety of design concepts and assembly processes which have allowed us to achieve these demanding tolerances, often without the use of post-work. UV-curable structural adhes...
Total cross sections for collisions of H − and D − with various molecules

Absolute cross sections for electron detachment and charge transfer (or dissociative charge transfer) have been measured for collisions of H/sup -/ and D/sup -/ ions with N/sub 2/, CO, O/sub 2/, CO/sub 2/, and CH/sub 4/. The relative collision energies investigated range from a few eV up to several hundred eV. Electron detachment is found to be the dominant process for all the molecular targets except O/sub 2/ for which charge transfer dominates. Isotope effects are observed in all the cross sections. Isotopic substitution reveals that the detachment cross sections scale with relative collision energy at low collision energies and with relative collision velocity at high collision energies. The general features of the charge-transfer cross section for the O/sub 2/ target are in agreement with the ideas of a simple two-state collision model. The cross sections for charge transfer (or dissociative charge transfer) are found to be small for all targets except O/sub 2/.
Editors' Note to the Special Issue-Critical Multicultural Citizenship Education: Student Engagement Toward Building an Equitable Society

In this special issue we call attention to the role of "Critical Multicultural Citizenship Education" (CMCE) in schools, societies and global contexts. The fundamental goal of CMCE is to increase not only the students’ awareness of, and participation in, the political aspects of democracy, but also students’ abilities to create and live in an ethnically diverse and just community. CMCE challenges and transforms existing ways in which students engage civically and democratically in local, national, and global contexts. Ten articles in this special issue are grouped by three categories: (1) social studies classrooms and citizenship; (2) community and citizenship; and (3) global contexts and citizenship.
Leukostasis in adult acute hyperleukocytic leukemia: a clinician's digest

Leukostasis is a poorly understood and life-threatening complication of acute hyperleukocytic leukemia. The incidence of hyperleukocytosis and leukostasis differs among various subtypes of leukemias. While the pathophysiology of leukostasis is not fully understood, recent research has elucidated many novel pathways that may have therapeutic implications in the future. Respiratory and neurological compromise represents the classical clinical manifestations of leukostasis. If it is not diagnosed and treated rapidly, the one-week mortality rate is approximately 40%. Targeted induction chemotherapy is an important component of the successful treatment of leukostasis, although other modalities of cytoreduction are being used and investigated. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sensitivity Analysis and Verification of a 1-D Surface Solid Combustion Model for a Fire CFD Boundary Condition.

Predicting the behavior of solid fuels in response to a fire is a complex endeavor. Heterogeneity, charring, and intumescence are a few examples of the many challenges presented by some common materials. If one desires to employ a 3-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for fire, an accurate solid combustion model for materials at the domain boundary is often desirable. Methods for such modeling are not currently mature, and this is a current topic of research. For some practical problems, it may be acceptable to abstract the surface combustible material as a 1-dimensional reacting boundary condition. This approach has the advantage of being a relatively simple model, and may provide acceptably accurate predictions for problems of interest. Such a model has recently been implemented in Sandia’s low-Mach number CFD code for reacting flows, the SIERRA/FUEGO code. Theory for the implemented model is presented. The thermal transport component of the model is verified by approximating a 1-D conduction problem with a closed form solution. The code is further demonstrated by predicting the fire behavior of a block of burning plexiglas (PMMA). The predictions are compared to the reported data from a corresponding experimental program. The predictions are also used to evaluate the sensitivity of model parameters through a sensitivity study using the same test configuration.
The Vaporization Enthalpy and Vapor Pressure of Fenpropidin and Phencyclidine (PCP) at T/K = 298.15 by Correlation Gas Chromatography

Vaporization enthalpies and liquid vapor pressures, have been evaluated at T/K = 298.15 for phencyclidine, a hallucinogen (PCP, Angel Dust) and fenpropidin, a fungicide by correlation gas chromatography. Both substances are aliphatic tertiary amines. Vapor pressures of liquid fenpropidin and subcooled liquid phencyclidine have been evaluated over a T/K = 30 temperature range. The fusion enthalpy of phencyclidine has been estimated by a group method and together with its vaporization enthalpy and subcooled liquid vapor pressure at Tfus, a sublimation enthalpy and vapor pressure of crystalline phencyclidine has also been estimated at both T/K = (Tfus and 298.15). A comparison of current results with limited amounts of both experimental and estimated data from the literature is quite good.
Survey on status of protective training and implement of protective measures received by nurses contacting ionizing radiation

Objective To investigate the status of protective training and implement of protective measures received by nurses contacting ionizing radiation. Method Investigate 50 nurses on protection knowledge on ionizing radiation by self-designed ionizing radiation injury questionnaire.Result Only 2 in 50 nurses have received protection related training and education.No one can take protective measures completely.25 nurses have symptoms of ionizing radiation injury.Conclusion Nursing staff have poor self-protection from ionizing radiation.Nursing managers should enhance training and education on job injury knowledge.
COST-EFFECTIVENESS ANALYSIS OF SCREENING HEALTH CARE WORKERS FOR HIV

BACKGROUND Because of the public's concern regarding the possibility of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission from health care worker to patient, this study evaluated the cost-effectiveness of screening health care workers for HIV. METHODS The study examined a screening protocol that would include a sequence of antibody tests (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the Western blot) and culture for HIV. The incremental cost-effectiveness of applying this protocol as opposed to the status quo for the prevention of transmission of HIV from health care worker to patient was evaluated. Sensitivity analysis was performed on appropriate variables. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was then compared with that of other interventions. RESULTS The expected annual cost of screening to a large hospital was found to be $244,382 to prevent 0.02663 transmissions. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was $9,177,615 per transmission prevented. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio is relatively insensitive to the variability in the performance characteristics of the individual tests but highly sensitive to variance in HIV prevalence, estimated risk of transmission, and the number of exposure-prone procedures performed annually. Cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from $917,762 to $91,776,156 per transmission prevented. CONCLUSIONS Screening health care workers for prevention of potential HIV transmission to patients is an expensive use of health care resources.
The basis for gender effects in the connective tissue diseases.

La plupart des maladies du systeme immunitaire et, en particulier, les maladies rhumatismales predominent chez les femmes. Les raisons de cette difference sont variees. Cet article traite des differences du systeme immunitaire de l'homme et de la femme et de l'effet des hormones sexuelles et des gonadotrophines sur l'immunite. Dans le contexte du lupus, l'hydroxylation des oestrogenes est discutee et les effets de diverses hormones comme la progesterone et les androgenes sont compares, que ce soit chez le sujet normal et chez la femme malade.
Primary-care management of patients with congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries *

Congenital anomalies of the coronary arteries, although uncommon, have the potential to cause serious myocardial damage, ischaemic cardiomyopathy, and sudden cardiac death. This article summarises aspects of care for these patients in the outpatient setting, including clinical history and physical examination findings, ancillary testing, decision-making regarding the need for surgical intervention, and recommendations for physical activity. Although there are limited data regarding some of these recommendations, it is hoped that these can be used as an initial benchmark against which further data will lead to a more evidence-based approach.