cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Re-engineering Intensive Care: The Role of Informatics

Managed care and quality improvement are two driving forces in the current health care environment. The pressure of capitation and the recent focus on outcomes of care have generated new incentives to restructure care delivery to control costs. Intensive care units, once revenue centers, are becoming cost centers. Re-engineering, or redesigning, the process of care entails examining premises for ability to provide services as well as considering how to do things more efficiently. The assumption is that all aspects of a process are legitimately subject to examination and restructuring. Information systems provide a powerful tool to support re-engineering. Nursing informatics, which pertains to nursing data, information, and knowledge has major implications for hospital information systems. This article explores possible changes in intensive care and the role of informatics in a changing health care environment.
Unilateral Double Plantaris Muscle: A Rare Anatomical Variation

Un segundo musculo plantar unilateral fue descubierto durante una diseccion anatomica de rutina, en una mujer de 47 anos de edad con Enfermedad de Huntington Chorea. En la cara medial de la piena derecha, el cadaver presentaba, bilateralmente, el musculo plantar y un musculo anomalo, morfologicamente distinto, que se asemejaba a un segundo musculo plantar. Los vientres medial y lateral del musculo plantar anomalo se originaban del condilo medial del femur y formaban un tendon corto que se fusionaba con el tendon del musculo plantar lateral.
Usefulness of Liquid-Water Potential Temperature in a Shallow-Cloud Model

Abstract The advantages of using Betts' (1973) liquid-water potential temperature (θl) and also a total moisture variable (qw) within a shallow-cloud numerical model are enumerated. The saturation condition is parameterized as a function of these two variables and pressure, and the subgrid-scale buoyancy flux is expressed in terms of the subgrid-scale vertical fluxes of θl and qw.
Combined-modality treatment of localized soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities

This focused review is designed to summarize state-of-the-art management for patients with localized soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities. The revised staging system of the International Union Against Cancer/American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) for this disease is described, along with recommendations for the diagnostic workup. Brief summaries of the roles of surgical therapy, pre- and postoperative radiotherapy, and pre- and postoperative chemotherapy in the management of extremity soft tissue sarcoma are provided. Staging The relative rarity of soft tissue sarcomas, the anatomic heterogeneity of these lesions, and the presence of more than 30 recognized histologic subtypes of variable grade have made it difficult to establish a functional system that can accurately stage all forms of soft tissue sarcoma. Currently, the most widely employed staging system for sarcoma is the sixth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging system [1]. The modifications to the previous version of the AJCC system include reclassifying T2b, G1-2, N0, and M0 lesions as stage I rather than stage II lesions. The sixth edition AJCC staging system applies to all soft tissue sarcoma subtypes, except angiosarcoma, malignant mesenchymoma, grade 1 fibrosarcoma (desmoid tumor), and dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. Histologic grade and tumor size are the primary determinants of AJCC stage (Table 1). Tumor size is subcategorized as ‘‘a’’ (superficial tumor arising outside the investing fascia) or ‘‘b’’ (a deep tumor that arises beneath the
Navigable waters: a different course in the American South.

When state legislatures in the American South defined navigable waters in the early nineteenth century, they followed prevailing notions that streams capable of carrying commerce were in fact navigable and also that such routes constituted public highways. State actions to define and maintain navigable waters led to environmental transformation and represent an early form of resource management. Unlike in New England, mills and other riparian activities made only modest inroads on the primacy of navigation in the American South—both in law and in court decisions. Early navigation improvements proved ephemeral during the antebellum period, but a second phase of federally financed waterway modifications that began in the late nineteenth century produced enduring environmental and legal impacts. Court decisions, where federal projects were involved, have reasserted the prominence of navigation interests. Ultimately, these decisions, along with other recent environmental statutes, have undermined the authority of states over their internal water resources.
Purification of glycoproteins by selective transport using concanavalin-mediated reverse micellar extraction.

A novel methodology for coupling liquid-liquid extraction with affinity interaction has been developed to selectively and efficiently purify and separate glycoproteins. The basis for the separation is the selective extraction of glycoproteins from an aqueous solution into a reverse micellar organic phase by using concanavalin A (a sugar-binding lectin) as a facilitative carrier. Specifically, horseradish peroxidase (a common glycoprotein) can be bound to concanavalin A in an aqueous phase and then extracted into an AOT-isooctane organic phase with negligible loss in enzyme activity. Virtually no extraction of peroxidase occurs in the absence of concanavalin A. Electron spin resonance studies have shown that the large lectin-glycoprotein complex (96 000 daltons) resides in a nonaqueous environment within the reverse micelle, perhaps at the surfactant, water-pool interface; hence, extraction of the large complex is feasible. The facilitative extraction has been extended to selective transport of peroxidase from a mixture of peroxidase and alkaline phosphatase (a nonglycosylated protein). This results in an efficient separation strategy with a separation factor of 16.
Statistical validation of simulation models

This paper investigates various statistical methodologies for validating simulation models in automotive design. Validation metrics to compare model prediction with experimental observation, when there is uncertainty in both, are developed. Two types of metrics based on Bayesian analysis and principal components analysis are proposed. The validation results are also compared with those obtained from classical hypothesis testing. A fatigue life prediction model for composite materials and a residual stress prediction model for a spot-welded joint are validated, using the proposed methodology.
Enhancement of murine susceptibility to oral lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus infection by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents, and antagonism by misoprostol

The murine lactate dehydrogenase-elevating virus (LDV) was used to study the effects of prostaglandin-acting agents on mucosal resistance to virus infection. Mice treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) prior to oral exposure to LDV demonstrated a reduction in the mucosal barrier to LDV infection. Histological studies indicated that these NSAID effects were not a result of gross or microscopic tissue damage. The effects of two NSAIDs, indomethacin and diclofenac, were inhibited by co-treatment of mice with misoprostol, a synthetic PGE1 analog. The ability of misoprostol to modulate NSAID effects was not due to direct antiviral activity or to actions on LDV-permissive macrophages. These results show that the mammalian mucosal barrier to virus infection is prostaglandin-sensitive, and provide a model for the study of resistance to viral infection.
Terrorism: The relevance of the rational choice model

Terrorism in general, and suicidal terrorism in particular, is popularly seen as "irra- tional," but many economists and political scientists argue otherwise. This paper distinguishes three different senses of irrationality: unresponsiveness to incentives, deviation from narrow self-interest, and failure of rational expectations. It concludes that an intermediate position on the rationality of terrorism is appropriate. The typical terrorist sympathizer deviates only slightly from homo economicus. But active terrorists arguably stray from narrow self-interest and rational expectations, and suicidal terrorists probably violate both. Deterrence remains a viable anti-terrorism strategy, but deviations from rational expectations increase the potential of persuasion and appeasement.
Dynamics of strongly nonlinear fingers and bubbles of the free surface of an ideal fluid

Abstract An analytical model is presented for the dynamics of fingers and bubbles of the free surface of an ideal fluid. A time-dependent conformal mapping similar to Zakharov–Dyachenko’s N-finger solution is used to describe the growth of fingers and bubbles. The time evolution of the conformal mapping is determined using a variational principle for the free surface dynamics of an ideal fluid. In the limit of strong nonlinearity, the dynamics reduces to simple integrable Hamiltonian systems. Exact solutions of these Hamiltonian systems are given in closed form.
Thermodynamic properties of the ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate from Monte Carlo simulations

We report results from the first molecular simulation study of 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [bmim][PF6], a widely studied ionic liquid. Monte Carlo simulations are carried out in the isothermal–isobaric (NPT) ensemble to calculate the molar volume, cohesive energy density, isothermal compressibility, cubic expansion coefficient and liquid structure as a function of temperature and pressure. A united atom forcefield is developed using a combination of ab initio calculations and literature parameter values. Calculated molar volumes are within 5% of experimental values, and a reasonable agreement is obtained between calculated and experimental values of the isothermal compressibility and cubic expansion coefficient. PF6 anions are found to preferentially cluster in two favorable regions near the cation.
Hematopoietic Derived Cell Infiltration of the Intestinal Tumor Microenvironment in ApcMin/+ Mice

Tumors consist of a heterogeneous population of neoplastic cells infiltrated by an equally heterogeneous collection of nonneoplastic cells that comprise the tumor microenvironment. Tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis depend on multiple interactions between these cells. To assess their potential as therapeutic targets or vehicles for tumor specific delivery of therapeutic agents, we examined the contribution of bone marrow derived cells (BMDCs) to the intestinal tumor microenvironment. Hematopoietic stem cells expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) were transplanted into lethally irradiated ApcMin/+ mice, and their engraftment was analyzed by confocal microscopy. The results showed abundant infiltration of eGFP cells into the small intestine, colon, and spleen compared to heart, muscle, liver, lung, and kidney. Within the intestine, there was a pronounced gradient of engraftment along the anterior to posterior axis, with enhanced infiltration into adenomas. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that osteopontin was expressed in tumor stromal cells but not in nontumor stromal populations, suggesting that gene expression in these cells is distinct. Tumor vasculature in ApcMin/+ mice was chaotic compared to normal intestinal regions. Our data suggest that BMDCs can be harnessed for tumor-targeted therapies to enhance antitumor efficacy.
Local Tree Based Geometric Routing

In this paper, we present a new geometric routing - local tree based greedy routing (LTGR) - for mobile ad-hoc networks. LTGR is stateless and overcomes shortcomings caused by planarization errors of previous geometric routing protocols. Local trees are constructed and their information is used to route packets bypassing void areas when the greedy geometric routing does not work. Simulation results show that LTGR outperforms GPSR (greedy parameter stateless routing) in terms of delivery ratio, routing overhead, and hop stretch. LTGR can reduce the routing overhead by 25 ~ 40% and hop stretch by 30 ~ 50% comparing to GPSR in our extensive simulation scenarios.
Distinct Networks of Leptin- and Insulin-Sensing Neurons Regulate Thermogenic Responses to Nutritional and Cold Challenges

Defense of core body temperature (Tc) can be energetically costly; thus, it is critical that thermoregulatory circuits are modulated by signals of energy availability. Hypothalamic leptin and insulin signals relay information about energy status and are reported to promote thermogenesis, raising the possibility that they interact to direct an appropriate response to nutritional and thermal challenges. To test this idea, we used an Nkx2.1-Cre driver to generate conditional knockouts (KOs) in mice of leptin receptor (L2.1KO), insulin receptor (I2.1KO), and double KOs of both receptors (D2.1KO). L2.1KOs are hyperphagic and obese, whereas I2.1KOs are similar to controls. D2.1KOs exhibit higher body weight and adiposity than L2.1KOs, solely due to reduced energy expenditure. At 20–22°C, fed L2.1KOs maintain a lower baseline Tc than controls, which is further decreased in D2.1KOs. After an overnight fast, some L2.1KOs dramatically suppress energy expenditure and enter a torpor-like state; this behavior is markedly enhanced in D2.1KOs. When fasted mice are exposed to 4°C, L2.1KOs and D2.1KOs both mount a robust thermogenic response and rapidly increase Tc. These observations support the idea that neuronal populations that integrate information about energy stores to regulate the defense of Tc set points are distinct from those required to respond to a cold challenge.
In Situ Hybridization Reveals Extensive Diversity of K+ Channel mRNA in Isolated Ferret Cardiac Myocytes

The molecular basis of K+ currents that generate repolarization in the heart is uncertain. In part, this reflects the similar functional properties different K+ channel clones display when heterologously expressed, in addition to the molecular diversity of the voltage-gated K+ channel family. To determine the identity, regional distribution, and cellular distribution of voltage-sensitive K+ channel mRNA subunits expressed in ferret heart, we used fluorescent labeled oligonucleotide probes to perform in situ hybridization studies on enzymatically isolated myocytes from the sinoatrial (SA) node, right and left atria, right and left ventricles, and interatrial and interventricular septa. The most widely distributed K+ channel transcripts in the ferret heart were Kv1.5 (present in 69.3% to 85.6% of myocytes tested, depending on the anatomic region from which myocytes were isolated) and Kv1.4 (46.1% to 93.7%), followed by kv1.2, Kv2.1, and Kv4.2. Surprisingly, many myocytes contain transcripts for Kv1.3, Kv2.2, Kv4.1, Kv5.1, and members of the Kv3 family. Kv1.1, Kv1.6, and Kv6.1, which were rarely expressed in working myocytes, were more commonly expressed in SA nodal cells. IRK was expressed in ventricular (84.3% to 92.8%) and atrial (52.4% to 64.0%) cells but was nearly absent (6.6%) in SA nodal cells; minK was most frequently expressed in SA nodal cells (33.7%) as opposed to working myocytes (10.3% to 29.3%). Two gene products implicated in long-QT syndrome, ERG and KvLQT1, were common in all anatomic regions (41.1% to 58.2% and 52.1% to 71.8%, respectively). These results show that the diversity of K+ channel mRNA in heart is greater than previously suspected and that the molecular basis of K+ channels may vary from cell to cell within distinct regions of the heart and also between major anatomic regions.
Association of implantable defibrillator therapy risk with body mass index in systolic heart failure.

Objectives To determine whether risk for implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy varies by body mass index (BMI) in systolic heart failure (HF). Background It is unknown whether obesity increases sudden death risk in patients with systolic HF. Methods Secondary analysis of patients with HF, left ventricular ejection fraction ≤0.40 and ICD (N = 464) was performed using Cox regression modeling to assess risk for first delivered ICD therapy, with patients grouped by BMI (kg/m2): normal (18.5 to <25), overweight (25 to <30), and obese (≥30). Results Overweight patients, compared with patients with normal BMI, had greater adjusted risk for first ICD therapy (HR 1.66; 95% CI 1.02–2.71; P = 0.04), whereas obese BMI was not associated with risk for first ICD therapy. Conclusions There was an inverted U-shaped relationship between BMI and risk for first ICD therapy among systolic HF patients, with highest risk in overweight BMI.
RAGs and Regulation of Autoantibodies

Autoreactive antibodies are etiologic agents in a number of autoimmune diseases. Like all other antibodies these antibodies are produced in developing B cells by V(D)J recombination in the bone marrow. Three mechanisms regulate autoreactive B cells: deletion, receptor editing, and anergy. Here we review the prevalence of autoantibodies in the initial antibody repertoire, their regulation by receptor editing, and the role of the recombinase proteins (RAG1 and RAG2) in this process.
Incentive scheduling for cooperative relay in WWAN/WLAN two-hop-relay network

Non-cooperative behaviors in communication networks can significantly adversely affect the entire network. The WWAN/WLAN two-hop-relay system (Wei, H.-Y. and Gitlin, R.D., 2004) integrates two types of wireless technologies to improve wireless access throughput and coverage. Relay nodes in the two-hop-relay system can be wireless relay routers deployed by wireless service providers, or dual-mode users who voluntarily relay traffic for other users. However, it is likely that all dual-mode terminals are selfish and are not willing to relay for other users without an incentive. We propose a proper scheduling algorithm as an incentive mechanism for the hybrid wireless relay network. We use the basic concepts of game theory, especially the Nash equilibrium concept, to design our scheduling algorithms. Several scheduling algorithms, including the maximum rate C/I scheduler, the proportional fair scheduler, and the round robin scheduler, are examined to understand performance while operating under the assumption that all users are selfish. Under the C/I scheduler or the proportional fair scheduler, Nash equilibriums exist at the operating points where no user relays for other users - an undesirable situation. Under the round robin scheduler, selfish users are indifferent on relaying voluntarily or not relaying. Therefore, we are inspired to design a novel incentive scheduling algorithm to encourage relay. By applying the proposed incentive scheduler at the base station, all selfish users relay cooperatively at the Nash equilibrium.
Evidence for the requirement of 14-3-3eta (YWHAH) in meiotic spindle assembly during mouse oocyte maturation

The 14-3-3 (YWHA) proteins are central mediators in various cellular signaling pathways regulating development and growth, including cell cycle regulation. We previously reported that all seven mammalian 14-3-3 isoforms are expressed in mouse oocytes and eggs and that, 14-3-3η (YWHAH) accumulates and co-localizes in the region of meiotic spindle in mouse eggs matured in vivo. Therefore, we investigated the role of 14-3-3η in spindle formation during mouse oocyte maturation. Examination of oocytes matured in vitro demonstrated that 14-3-3η accumulates in both meiosis I and II spindles. To explore if 14-3-3η interacts directly with α-tubulin in meiotic spindles, we performed an in situ proximity ligation assay that can detect intracellular protein-protein interactions at the single molecule level and which allows visualization of the actual interaction sites. This assay revealed a marked interaction between 14-3-3η and α-tubulin at the metaphase II spindle. To demonstrate a functional role for 14-3-3η in oocyte maturation, mouse oocytes were microinjected with a translation-blocking morpholino oligonucleotide against 14-3-3η mRNA to reduce 14-3-3η protein synthesis during oocyte maturation. Meiotic spindles in those cells were examined by immunofluorescence staining of 14-3-3η and α-tubulin along with observation of DNA. In 76% of cells injected with the morpholino, meiotic spindles were found to be deformed or absent and there was reduced or no accumulation of 14-3-3η in the spindle region. Those cells contained clumped chromosomes, with no polar body formation. Immunofluorescence staining of 14-3-3η and α-tubulin in control eggs matured in vitro from uninjected oocytes and oocytes microinjected with the ineffective, inverted form of a morpholino against 14-3-3η, a morpholino against 14-3-3γ, or deionized water showed normal, bipolar spindles. The results indicate that 14-3-3η is essential for normal meiotic spindle formation during in vitro maturation of mouse oocytes, in part by interacting with α-tubulin, to regulate the assembly of microtubules. These data add to our understanding of the roles of 14-3-3 proteins in mouse oocyte maturation and mammalian reproduction.
Intracerebroventricular administration of lipopolysaccharide induces indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase-dependent depression-like behaviors

Activation of the tryptophan degrading enzyme indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) is associated with the development of behavioral signs of depression. Systemic immune challenge induces IDO1 in both the periphery and the brain, leading to increased circulating and brain concentrations of kynurenines. However, whether IDO1 activity within the brain is necessary for the manifestation of depression-like behavior of mice following a central immune challenge remains to be elucidated. We investigated the role of brain IDO1 in mediating depression-like behavior of mice in response to intracerebroventricular injection of saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 10 ng). LPS increased the duration of immobility in the tail suspension test and decreased preference for a sucrose solution. These effects were associated with an activation of central but not peripheral IDO1, as LPS increased brain kynurenine but had no effect on plasma concentrations of kynurenine. Interestingly, genetic deletion or pharmacological inhibition of IDO1, using 1-methyl-tryptophan, abrogated the reduction in sucrose preference induced by intracerebroventricular LPS. 1-Methyl-tryptophan also blocked the LPS-induced increase in duration of immobility during the tail suspension test. These data indicate that activation of brain IDO1 is sufficient to induce depression-like behaviors of mice in response to central LPS.
Survival of southern pine seedlings after inoculations with Pythium and cold storage in the presence of peat moss

Summary Cold storing bareroot pine (Pinus spp.) seedlings grown in the southern U.S. for as little as 1 week in a cooler (just above freezing) in the fall (November to mid-December) has been shown to reduce seedling survival after outplanting. In contrast, survival of container-grown seedling is typically not affected when stored for 4 weeks in coolers in November and December. Wounds sustained by seedlings as they are lifted from nursery beds may allow Pythium spp. to infect bareroot seedling roots. Once in the cool, moist storage environment, Pythium multiplies and may result in seedling mortality after outplanting. Bareroot loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) and container-grown loblolly, longleaf (Pinus palustris), slash (Pinus elliottii) and shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata) seedlings were inoculated with either Pythium dimorphum or Pythium irregulare, cold stored with or without peat moss and monitored for survival after outplanting. Peat moss did not increase bareroot loblolly pine survival or reduce Pythium populations when seedlings were inoculated with Pythium prior to storage. Pythium irregulare reduced survival of longleaf and shortleaf pine grown in peat moss and perlite, respectively. Pythium did not affect loblolly or slash pine, but wounding their roots did reduce seedling survival when grown in containers.
Parametrizations of internal stability and performance applications to sub-optimal controller design

The use of a known controller parameterization to effect control system designs oriented toward classical frequency domain objectives is described. Although the approach is similar to the preliminary steps of certain H/sup infinity / optimal control approaches, the actual optimization step is omitted, leading to considerable simplification. The complete method, with examples of its use, is given for the single-output case. >
Multiproduct queueing networks with deterministic routing: decomposition approach and the notion of interference

Queueing networks have been used to model the performance of a variety of complex systems. Since exact results exist for only a limited class of networks, the decomposition methodology has been used extensively to obtain approximate results. In this paper, we consider open queueing networks with multiple product classes, deterministic routings and general arrival and service distributions. We examine the decomposition method for such systems and show that it provides estimates of key parameters with an accuracy that is not acceptable in many practical settings. Recognizing this weakness, we enrich the approach by modeling a phenomenon previously ignored. We consider interference among products and describe its effect on the variance of the departure streams. The recognition of this effect significantly improves the performance of this methodology. We provide extensive experimental results based on the data of a manufacturer of semiconductor devices.
Metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain: MR with pathologic correlation

PURPOSE To describe the appearance on T2-weighted scans of metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain and to show that the hypointensity frequently associated with these lesions is not related to the presence of mucin, blood products, iron, or calcium. METHODS The MR scans of 14 patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma to the brain were reviewed retrospectively. The signal intensity on T2-weighted scans of the solid enhancing portion of the tumors was compared with white matter. Histologic examination of the surgical specimens included special stains to search for calcium, mucin, and iron. RESULTS Eight of nine surgical and all six nonsurgical lesions were either iso- or hypointense to white matter on T2-weighted scans. There was no correlation with tumor histology or the presence of mucin, blood products, iron, or calcium. CONCLUSIONS The presence of a hypointense intraaxial mass on T2-weighted scans strongly suggests the possibility of metastatic adenocarcinoma. The MR appearance is not explained by the presence of mucin, blood products, iron, or calcium. This phenomenon most likely reflects the relaxation parameters of the tissue from which the metastasis arose.
The Effects of Explanation Type and User Involvement on Learning from and Satisfaction with Expert Systems

Four versions of an expert system were built to compare the relative effectiveness of different explanation types (rule traces or justifications) and level of user involvement on user learning. Subjects used the expert system to evaluate internal controls for a number of different scenarios. User satisfaction was measured immediately after the end of the session. Several days later, subjects were tested on their internal control knowledge. Explanation type did not affect either learning or user satisfaction. Level of involvement also failed to affect learning, but it did affect user satisfaction. Although all subjects expressed satisfaction with the version of the expert system they used, subjects who were required to explicitly evaluate and comment on the system's recommendations were less satisfied than were subjects who only read the system's recommendations.
The Seductions of Crimesploitation: The Apprehension of Sex Offenders on Primetime Television:

Reality television in the United States has often been understood to reinforce the punitive and neoliberal turns American political culture took in the late twentieth century. But in this article, ...
Firing behavior of brain stem neurons during voluntary cancellation of the horizontal vestibuloocular reflex. I. Secondary vestibular neurons

1. The single-unit activity of vestibular neurons was recorded in alert squirrel monkeys. The monkeys had been trained to track a small visual target by generating smooth pursuit eye movements and ...
Evaluation of a sleep switch device.

Study objective To evaluate the performance of a sleep switch device (held between finger and thumb) in normal sleepers and in insomniacs by comparing its performance to PSG data, wrist actigraphy, and subjective estimates. Design 19 insomniacs and 6 normal sleepers each spent one night in the sleep laboratory. Sleep latency and total sleep time were evaluated by the sleep switch device, polysomnography, wrist actigraphy, and subjective estimates. Setting NA. Patients or participants NA. Interventions NA. Results The sleep switch device correlated .98 with PSG sleep latency (to the onset of the first 10 minutes of solid sleep, stage 1 or deeper). Mean and standard deviations were almost identical between the two measures. The sleep switch was somewhat less accurate than the wrist actigraph in assessing total sleep time. Conclusions The sleep switch device is a very accurate and inexpensive tool when trying to assess sleep latency in insomniacs and in normals.
Penetration, Tissue Damage, and Lethality of Wood- Versus Lithic-Tipped Projectiles

Lithic projectile points are a universal component of the hunting tool kits of archeologically- and historically-known foragers. Recent experimental work with ballistic gelatin targets has shown that lithic-tipped projectiles do not have a marked penetration advantage over those with simple sharpened wooden points, leading to the suggestion that investment in the production of lithic points may serve social rather than economic motives. Here we report on experimental work with wood- and stone-tipped arrows fired into calibrated ballistic gel. While the stone-tipped arrows underperformed with respect to penetration, they far exceeded the wood-tipped arrows in the volume of gelatin destroyed. These results suggest that the total volume of tissue destroyed by a projectile is as or more important than its penetration depth, that adding a lithic point increases the lethality of a projectile, and that decisions about projectile armatures were motivated by economic rather than social concerns.
Narrative Conflict and Relationship in Ordinary People

Central to Ordinary People are the social aspects of narrative, a theme that is relevant but subordinate to the individual in our first two movies. The three members of the Jarrett family are struggling to create narratives for themselves and their family that will enable them to survive, if not thrive, in the wake of the family’s recent traumatic events. Friction in the household is interpreted as stemming from the different directions their respective stories take. The trope of narrative construction works as a useful perspective for interpreting Ordinary People. It makes sense of Conrad’s plight and what he must do to rehabilitate himself; he cannot heal until he fashions a new and viable account for, and about, himself. For the narrative to affirm rather than deny life, Conrad will have to reconceptualize his past.
Playing with your data: towards personal informatics driven games

Personal Informatics technologies and the quantified-self movement focus on helping people collect personally meaningful information to gain self-knowledge, which can go hand in hand with the drive to change behavior or improve oneself. The field of serious games examines how games can be used for purposes beyond entertainment, with common applications in areas such as education, training, or health care. This workshop paper overviews our research aimed at bridging and expanding the scopes of these fields through the design of personal informatics driven games: gameful and playful approaches to data capture, self-reflection, and behavioral intervention.
D-PUF: an intrinsically reconfigurable DRAM PUF for device authentication in embedded systems

Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) have proved to be an effective and low-cost measure against counterfeiting by providing device authentication and secure key storage services. Memory based PUF implementations are an attractive option due to the ubiquitous nature of memory in electronic devices and the requirement of minimal (or no) additional circuitry. DRAM based PUFs are particularly advantageous due to their large address space and multiple controllable parameters during response generation. However, prior works on DRAM PUFs use a static response generation mechanism making them vulnerable to security attacks. Further, they result in very slow device authentication, are not applicable to off-the-shelf DRAM modules, or require DRAM power cycling prior to authentication. In this paper, we propose D-PUF, an intrinsically reconfigurable DRAM PUF based on refresh pausing. A key feature of the proposed DRAM PUF is that it can be reconfigured by varying the refresh-pause interval, which changes it's challenge-response behavior, making it robust against various attacks. We use the PUF to design a secure, low-overhead methodology for performing device authentication. The design is implemented and validated using an Altera Stratix IV GX FPGA based Terasic TR4-230 development board and several off-the-shelf 1GB DDR3 DRAM modules. Our experimental results demonstrate a 4.3×–6.4× reduction in authentication time, compared to previous work. Using controlled temperature and accelerated aging tests, we also demonstrate the robustness of our authentication mechanism to temperature variations and aging effects.
Measurement of plastic scintillating fiber properties with avalanche photodiodes

Preliminary results of tests using avalanche photodiodes operated in the Geiger mode are presented. Light yields and attenuation lengths of plastic scintillating fibers of diameters 0.875 mm phi and 2 mm phi were measured with the avalanche photodiodes. The detection efficiency of the 1.5 mm phi fiber for ionizing particles is estimated based on these results. >
Dipodomys agilis perplexus (Agile kangaroo rat). Dipodomys micropus (Chisel-toothed kangaroo rat)

These karyotypes are the gifts of Dr. A. Dean Stock. The specimen of D. agilis belongs to subspecies D. a. perplexus. It was collected from San Bernadino County, California, USA. The specimen of D. micropus was collected from Washington County, Utah, USA.
MSC for Ex Vivo Expansion of Umbilical Cord Blood Cells

Ex vivo expansion of umbilical cord blood (UCB) has been proposed to increase the cell dose to enhance engraftment of UCB products used as a source of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant for hematological malignancies in adults. UCB offers several potential advantages over bone marrow from unrelated donors, including its ready availability, allowance of higher HLA disparity, and lower incidence of graft-versus-host disease which makes it an attractive source especially for minority populations. The major limitation to a wider use of this source of HSC is the relatively low number of progenitor cells in the graft. For this reason, adult UCB transplantation is usually associated with delayed engraftment and increased rates of infectious complications. UCB ex vivo expansion holds the promise of delivering higher cell doses and improved outcomes. Current approaches for expansion of UCB products involve initial isolation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells based upon expression of CD34 or CD133 prior to culture; however, this process results in variable recovery of CD34+ cells and variable purity resulting in poor expansion. We have developed methods for the expansion of UCB products which eliminate the requirement for positive selection and enable the expansion of mononuclear cells by coculture on mesenchymal stromal cells. Here we discuss different methods of expansion, their shortcomings, and future directions.
Associations between forest fire and Mexican spotted owls

In 1993, the US Fish and Wildlife Service listed the Mexican spotted owl (Strix occidentalis lucida) as threatened, in part because of the rising threat to its habitat from stand-replacing wildfires. In 1997, we surveyed 33 owl sites that, in the previous four years, had burned at various levels ranging from light controlled burns to stand-replacing fires. We compared owl occupancy and reproduction in these burned sites to 31 unburned owl sites with similar habitat and topography. Although unburned sites showed higher proportions of both occupancy and reproduction, the negative relationship observed between recent fire occurrence and owl occupancy rank was statistically weak (Test for Marginal Homogeneity, P = 0.110). Owls tended not to be present where pure pine stands (Pinus spp.) comprised a large proportion (38-85%) of burned sites, but no other factors relating to habitat or fire severity had a significant, biologically interpretable influence on occupancy rank. We suspect that relatively low-intensity ground fires, including most prescribed fires, probably have little or no short-term impact on Mexican spotted owl presence or reproduction, but we have no data on long-term effects of fire. We recommend proactive fuels-management treatments in areas not currently occupied by owls as a means of reducing fire risk in areas occupied by owls. Within areas occupied by owls, judicious treatments may be appropriate after case-by-case evaluations of potential benefits and risks within those sites.
Explaining the origin of fluting in North American Pleistocene weaponry

Clovis groups, the first widely successful colonizers of North America, had a distinctive technology, whereby manufacturers removed flakes to thin the bases of their stone projectile points, creating “flutes.” That process is challenging to learn and costly to implement, yet was used continent-wide. It has long been debated whether fluting conferred any adaptive benefit. We compared standardized models of fluted and unfluted points: analytically, by way of static, linear finite element modeling and discrete, deteriorating spring modeling; and experimentally, by way of displacement-controlled axial-compression tests. We found evidence that the fluted-point base acts as a “shock absorber,” increasing point robustness and ability to withstand physical stress via stress redistribution and damage relocation. This structural gain in point resilience would have provided a selective advantage to foragers on a largely unfamiliar landscape, who were ranging far from known stone sources and in need of longer-lasting, reliable, and maintainable weaponry.
Miscellaneous Grafted Copolymers

The first graft copolymers were synthesized in the 1930’s, and since then several different classes of materials have been developed. Chapter 3 considered graft copolymers designed for toughness and impact resistance. The present discussion centers on the synthesis, morphology, and physical and mechanical behavior of miscellaneous graft copolymers, with some emphasis on heavily grafted materials. In general, two major routes to grafting have been examined.
Precise half-life measurement of the superallowed {beta}{sup +} emitter {sup 26}Si

We measured the half-life of the superallowed 0{sup +{yields}}0{sup +} {beta}{sup +} emitter {sup 26}Si to be 2245.3(7) ms. We used pure sources of {sup 26}Si and employed a high-efficiency gas counter, which was sensitive to positrons from both this nuclide and its daughter {sup 26}Al{sup m}. The data were analyzed as a linked parent-daughter decay. To contribute meaningfully to any test of the unitarity of the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix, the ft value of a superallowed transition must be determined to a precision of 0.1% or better. With a precision of 0.03%, the present result is more than sufficient to be compatible with that requirement. Only the branching ratio now remains to be measured precisely before a {+-}0.1% ft value can be obtained for the superallowed transition from {sup 26}Si.
Evaluation of SW-846 Cold-Vapor Mercury Methods 7470 and 7471

The protocols for Methods 7470 and 7471 in the SW-846 methods manual are designed for the cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometric (CV-AAS) determination of total mercury in aqueous (extracts, wastewater, ground water, etc.) and solid (soils, sediments, sludges, etc.) materials, respectively. Aqueous samples are digested with a combination of nitric and sulfuric acid plus permanganate and persulfate solutions at elevated temperature; solid samples are heated either on a steam bath with aqua regia and permanganate, or in an autoclave with sulfuric acid, nitric acid and permanganate. The mercuric ions in the digests are then reduced with hydroxylamine, and the elemental mercury is aerated into the AAS cell, either in a closed (recirculating) or an open system, where the absorption at 253.7 nm is determined. The topics of this presentation are the results of a performance evaluation study of these methods conducted, without and with changes, by the Battelle Columbus Division Laboratory. The methods were evaluated using aqueous and solid environmental samples of homogeneous and known compositions in order to assess the accuracy and precision of the methods without introducing uncertainties due to sample inhomogeneities. The methods, as originally written, were satisfactory for the analyses of samples containing relatively high concentrations of mercury. However, the method quantification limits for the closed and open systems were inadequate for the determination of mercury in environmental samples such as ground-water samples, when low concentrations were encountered. Spectral interferences which are caused by nonspecific absorption of the analytical radiation degraded the accuracy of the recirculating CV-AAS method. The protocols in Methods 7470 and 7471 were modified to improve mercury detectability and to minimize the additive effect of nonspecific background absorption. The use of an amalgamation CV-AAS system operated in an open configuration resulted in an improvement of one order of magnitude in instrumental detection limit for mercury over the recirculating method. The results of the analyses of four reference sediment materials and a simulated aqueous waste sample by the amalgamation CV-AAS method indicated acceptable accuracy and precision for most of the environmental samples tested. As expected, the amalgamation CV-AAS method revealed no spectral interferences resulting from nonspecific absorption of the analytical radiation by organic vapors. The modified protocols are at present the subject of a multilaboratory evaluation with the Battelle Columbus Division Laboratory as the coordinating laboratory. Seven laboratories are participating in this study.
Markers of Difference or Makers of Difference? Atypical Practices at Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Satellite Sites, ca. 1650–1700

This article examines social pluralism within politically autonomous 17th-century Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) communities. Haudenosaunee groups are known to have incorporated significant numbers of outsiders by processes of individual and group adoption. This article assesses the dynamics of social difference by looking at atypical practices in satellite communities in Seneca, Cayuga, and Mohawk territories. While previous scholars equated such practices with the presence of outsiders, atypical practices and the identities and labor relations associated with them are worth considering in a more fluid sense. Who would have continued, discontinued, or adopted practices that stood out from those of the majority? What sort of social roles or inequities went along with these sorts of distinctions? Documentary and archaeological data from these satellite communities suggest that social difference was pronounced in mortuary ritual, but muted in domestic settings, and that these differences were unlikely to reflect substantial social inequality.
Impacts of variable soil drying in alternate wetting and drying rice systems on yields, grain arsenic concentration and soil moisture dynamics

Abstract Continuously flooded rice systems are a major contributor to global rice production and food security. Allowing the soil to dry periodically during the growing season (such as with alternate wetting and drying irrigation - AWD) has been shown to decrease methane emissions, water usage, and heavy metal accumulation in rice grain. However, the effects of AWD on rice yields are variable and not well understood. A two-year study was established to quantify the impacts of a range of treatments differing in AWD severity (degree of soil drying between flooding events) on yield (as well as factors that may affect yields), soil hydrology in the soil profile, and grain arsenic (As) concentrations relative to a continuously flooded control (CF). Three AWD treatments of increasing severity were imposed between full canopy cover (around 45 days after sowing) and 50% heading: AWD-Safe (field was reflooded when the perched water table reached 15 cm below the soil surface) and AWD35 and AWD25 (field was reflooded when the soil volumetric water content at 0–15 cm depth reached 35% and 25%, respectively). During the drying periods, the 0–15 cm soil layer in the AWD-Safe remained saturated, whereas in AWD35 and AWD25 the soil dried to the desired volumetric water contents. In contrast, soil moisture at 25–35 cm below the soil surface was similar across all treatments. Yield was not reduced in any of the AWD treatments, compared to the CF control. There were no consistent differences in yield components, 13C discrimination, and N dynamics. Results suggest that the availability of water and the presence of roots at the 25–35 cm soil depth during the drying periods ensured that the crop did not suffer drought stress and thus yields were maintained. Grain As concentration in the AWD-Safe treatment was similar to that in the CF control but decreased by 56–68% in AWD35 and AWD25. AWD-Safe is often promoted as a means of practicing AWD without reducing yields; however, in this study this practice did not reduce grain As concentration because the soil did not reach an unsaturated state. These findings demonstrate that knowledge of surface and subsurface hydrology, and the root system are important for understanding the potential of AWD.
Using the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) and Oncotype DX data to predict adjuvant therapy effect on overall survival (OS) of N0 & N1 breast cancer patients.

e12529Background: The newest 4.2017 version of the NCCN guidelines incorporates the Oncotype DX (ODX) breast cancer (BC) assay into the algorithm for utilization of systemic adjuvant therapy (tx) f...