cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Implications for Occupational Therapy Practice: Does Botulinum Toxin Decrease Pain and Lessen Disability in the Hemiplegic Shoulder?

Date Presented 4/16/2015 This report describes a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial examining the efficacy of shoulder Botox® injections for reducing pain, impairment, and disability. Implications for occupational therapy practice are highlighted for best patient outcomes of the adult stroke survivor.
Flow Cytometry in the Clinical Laboratory

The use of flow cytometry to analyze cell populations has expanded rapidly in recent years. Flow cytometry has proven to be a valuable research tool in the study of leukemias, autoimmunity, cell cycle kinetics, and chromosomal markers. Only recently has this technique become practical for use in the clinical laboratory setting. Flow cytometric analysis yields quantitative data about the chemical and physical properties of thousands of cells within minutes. The sorting capacity of some flow cytometers permits further isolation and characterization of specific cellular subpopulations.Growing interest in the technique of flow cytometry and the clinical utility of the data generated has prompted the development of several commercial flow cytometers and cell sorters. This article reviews the advent of flow cytometry in the clinical laboratory, describes the principles of the analysis, and surveys the application of flow cytometry data in clinical practice.
Towards Direct Simulations of Counterflow Flames with Consistent Differential-Algebraic Boundary Conditions

Abstract : A new approach for the formulation of boundary conditions for the counterflow configuration is presented. Upon discretization of the steady-state Navier-Stokes equations at the inflow boundaries, numerically algebraic equations are imposed as boundary conditions, while upon discretization of the unsteady Navier-Stokes equations at the outflow, differential boundaries result. It is demonstrated that the resulting numerical differential-algebraic boundary conditions are suitable to account for the multi-directional character of the flow at the boundaries of the counterflow configuration.
Identification and culture of Kaposi's sarcoma-like spindle cells from the peripheral blood of human immunodeficiency virus-1-infected individuals and normal controls.

We examined 26 patients with human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1)- associated Kaposi′s sarcoma (KS), and 76 HIV-1-infected (HIV-1+) people without KS or uninfected (HIV-1-) controls for the presence of circulating KS-like spindle cells. Adherent cells that had spindle morphology and several characteristics of spindle cells of KS lesions (KS cells) were identified in the peripheral blood mononuclear cell fraction only after culture in the presence of conditioned medium (CM) from activated lymphocytes. The peripheral blood-derived spindle cells (PBsc) expressed a variety of endothelial cell markers, such as Ulex europaeus I lectin, EN4, EN2/3, EN7/44, CD13, CD34, CD36, CD54, ELAM-1, and HLA-DR. However, they were negative for CD2, CD19, PaIE, and factor VIII-related antigen. The PBsc produced angiogenic factors as evidenced by the ability of CM from these cells to promote growth of normal vascular endothelial cells. In addition, subcutaneously injected PBsc stimulated angiogenesis in vivo in athymic nude mice. We determined that the number of PBsc grown from the peripheral blood of HIV-1+ patients with KS or at high risk to develop KS were increased by 78- fold (P = .0001) and 18-fold (P = .005), respectively, when compared with HIV-1- controls. The number of spindle cells cultured from the HIV- 1+ patients at low risk for developing KS, eg, HIV-1+ injection drug users, showed no statistical increase when compared with HIV-1- controls. The presence of increased PBsc with characteristics of KS cells in HIV-1+ KS patients or patients at high risk for developing KS gives insights into the origin of KS cells and may explain the multifocal nature of the disease. In addition, this may be useful in predicting the risk of KS development.
Bladder perforation and urethral catheter extrusion: an unusual complication of cerebrospinal fluid-peritoneal shunting.

Abstract Complications of neurosurgical shunts are not uncommon. A previously unreported complication of cerebrospinal fluid-peritoneal shunting involving perforation of the bladder wall and extrusion of the catheter through the urethra is described.
Effect of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis on urinary free dopamine excretion in women.

1. The effect of inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis on urinary excretion of free dopamine, a catecholamine thought to act as a renal natriuretic hormone, was examined in six normal women. 2. The volunteer subjects were treated with indomethacin (2 mg day−1 kg−1) for 7 days. This regimen produced an immediate and significant but transient decrease in urinary sodium excretion, averaging about 80 mmol over a period of 3 days. 3. Urinary dopamine excretion during the control period was not different from that during the entire period of indomethacin treatment. 4. It is concluded that indomethacin does not affect urinary dopamine excretion. The change in intrarenal nervous release of dopamine in response to the sodium retention induced by indomethacin may have been too small to make a significant contribution to total urinary dopamine excretion.
Low-Energy Electron Irradiation of Preheated and Gas-Exposed Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes

Abstract We investigate the conditions under which electron irradiation at 2 keV of single-wall carbon nanotube (SWCNT) bundles produces an increase in the Raman D peak. We find that irradiation of SWCNTs that are preheated in situ at 600 °C for 1 h in ultrahigh vacuum before irradiation does not result in an increase in the D peak. Irradiation of SWCNTs that are preheated in vacuum and then exposed to air or gases results in an increase in the D peak, suggesting that adsorbates play a role in the increase in the D peak. Small diameter SWCNTs that are not preheated or preheated and then exposed to air show a significant increase in the D and G bands after irradiation. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows no chemical shifts in the C 1s peak of SWCNTs that have been irradiated versus SWCNTs that have not been irradiated, suggesting that chemisorption of adsorbates is not responsible for the increase in the D peak.
The middle-aged ovariectomized marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) as a model of menopausal symptoms: Preliminary evidence

Menopausal women often suffer from hot flashes and sleep disturbances that significantly impact their quality of life. Both human and animal studies suggest that loss of estrogens during menopause contribute to these symptoms. In the female rat, both core body temperature (CBT) and sleep are sensitive to 17β-estradiol (E2) levels, but important differences between the rat and the human patterns limit the interpretation of the results. The sleep and thermoregulation of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) more closely resemble human patterns. However, no study to date has examined whether E2 influences sleep and thermoregulation in this species. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the suitability of the ovariectomized (OVX) marmoset for studying two major menopausal symptoms experienced by women, sleep disturbance and thermodysregulation. Two middle-aged OVX marmosets (6years old) were implanted with a telemeter that records electroencephalograms (EEG), electromyograms (EMG), and CBT. Sleep patterns and CBT were recorded under baseline, two E2 replacement (6 and 12μg/kg/day, p.o.) conditions and two E2 withdrawal conditions. Relative to both baseline and withdrawal, high E2 replacement was associated with lower nighttime CBT. In addition, fewer nighttime arousals were observed under low E2 replacement compared to baseline. Higher delta power was observed under both E2 replacement conditions suggesting enhanced sleep quality. These preliminary results suggest that E2 modulates sleep and thermoregulation in the OVX marmoset, making it a promising model for studying menopausal symptoms.
ISQUA16-1363UTILIZING ELECTRONIC HEALTH RECORD DOCUMENTATION TO MEASURE VALUE FOR PROSTATE CANCER CLINICAL CARE

The increased adoption of electronic health records (EHRs) opens a new data source to facilitate the systematic, comprehensive assessment of quality metrics. However, barriers to generate quality evidence and value from EHRs are well known, such as organizing the data to facilitate research and extracting knowledge from free text. The aim of this project was to develop an EHR prostate cancer database linked to the state cancer registry and develop standardized electronic representations of quality metrics to aid in the extraction of knowledge from EHRs. We use ICD-9-CM diagnosis codes to identify …
On the properties of nonlinear POMDPs for active state tracking

The problem of active state tracking of a discrete-time, finite-state Markov chain is considered. To enhance state estimates, noisy observations are dynamically collected by exerting appropriate control over their information content. In our earlier work, a Kalman-like estimator was proposed and the optimal observation selection policy was derived via dynamic programming. The resulting partially observable Markov decision process proves to be nonlinear, thus challenging the design of the control policy. Herein, the focus is on deriving cost-to-go function' properties and characterizing sufficient conditions regarding the structure of the optimal control policy.
Platelet Release Occurs in the Bone Marrow Sinusoids and Spleen but Not in the Lungs Following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant in the Mouse.

The steps that lead to platelet production are poorly understood. Current theories suggest that megakaryocytes mature under the influence of contact with sinusoidal endothelium, and release platelets either in the sinusoids or in the lungs. We hypothesized that platelet release would be accentuated following hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and that sites of platelet release would be apparent during the period of platelet recovery. We transplanted highly purified hematopoietic stem cells based on lack of expression of markers for mature lineages (Linneg) and expression of Sca-1, c-kit, and Thy-1.1 (KTSL cells), and subfractionated these cells based on low expression of Rhodamine 1-2-3, into lethally irradiated hosts expressing an allelic version of glucose phosphate isomerase to identify donor and host-derived platelets. We collected bones, lungs, livers and spleens on day 7, 14, 21, and 28 post-tranplant, and stained formalin/fixed tissue with anti-Von Willebrand Factor antibody to identify megakaryocytes (5–10 animals per cohort, 2 separate experiments). We scored megakaryocytes based on their location relative to endothelial cells, and whether they were releasing platelets based on extension of proplatelet processes into the vascular spaces. Almost every megakaryocyte was associated with the endothelium during the period of platelet recovery, and we did not identify megakaryocytes that were migrating to the endothelium. We saw numerous megakaryocyte releasing platelets in both the bone marrow and the spleen during the time of platelet recovery, which occurred on days 13–28 following transplant of purified stem cells. Some of these megakaryocytes had disrupted the endothelium and were incorporated into the sinusoidal wall. Others were completely within the sinusoidal spaces. Between 30 and 50% of megakaryocytes were releasing platelets in the spleen and bone marrow at any given time following transplant, and platelet release did not correlate with the platelet counts. These levels were similar to levels of platelet release seen in healthy control mice. In contrast, we saw no identifiable megakaryocytes in the liver and lung during the period of platelet recovery. Our results suggest that in the mouse, the bone marrow and spleen, and not the lung, are major sites of platelet release following stem cell transplant.
Farmers' Market or Farmers Market? Examining How Market Ownership Influences Conduct and Performance

Over the last two decades, farmers markets have been widely recognized for their contributions to local economies, support of small-scale farmers, and ability to reconnect consumers and producers of food. Farmers markets vary substantially in both the goals they set and the outcomes they achieve. By conducting a comparative analysis, this study examines whether and how market ownership influences outcomes. Additionally, our study focuses not on determining which ownership type is "best," but on highlighting how markets differ, and more importantly, the limitations that need to be overcome for each type. The research uses Henry Hansmann's (1996) ownership of enterprise framework and Muhammad Yunus's (2010) social business framework to analyze whether differences in ownership lead to variations in market governance, conduct, and performance. Interviews were conducted with managers of Oregon farmers markets representing various ownership structures. Data were analyzed using the inductive thematic analysis approach to understand how ownership influences market goals and mission, general operations, and performance outcomes. The three major market ownership types, vendor-led, community-led, and subentities, have distinct benefits and challenges associated with them. Our findings indicate that vendor-led markets have strong ties back to their vendors but have weaker links to the communities that host the market and are less able to enhance the market by adding activities and pursuing additional fundraising. We found that community-led markets benefit from strong community ties and are often able to draw upon the energy and expertise of board members and volunteers. Their links back to producers depend on vendor representation on the governing body. Finally, markets that function as subentities of broader organizations have the potential for access to greater financial and managerial resources but are often relatively poorly linked to their vendors. These results provide useful insights both for those who are considering starting a market and for those who wish to improve the performance of existing markets. See the press release for this article.
When the Researcher Becomes the Caregiver.

My aunt, Jill,1 is sitting on her bed, furiously zipping and unzipping the three compartments of her blue nylon purse. She is agitated, searching for something she cannot find. “I don’t have any mo...
Which material design is possible under additive manufacturing: A fuzzy approach

Additive manufacturing — also known as 3-D printing — is a very promising new way to generate complex material designs. However, even with the modern advanced techniques, some designs are too complex to be implemented. There exist an empirical formula that describe when the design is implementable. In this paper, we use fuzzy ideas to provide a theoretical justification for this empirical formula.
Disruptive Philanthropy: Zuckerberg, the Limited Liability Company, and the Millionaire next Door

Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Dr. Priscilla Chan, announced they would give 99% of their net worth to – in their words – “advance[e] human potential and promot[e] equal opportunity.” To make good on this promise, however, they did not set up a traditional nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Instead, they founded the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, a for-profit, limited liability company. The bulk of this Article provides the definitive explanation for this seemingly bizarre choice. Most importantly, the philanthropy LLC structure offers donors the flexibility to bolster charitable grantmaking with impact investment and political advocacy, free of the restrictions, penalties, and transparency requirements applied to tax-exempt vehicles. In addition, the LLC form provides donors complete control over the organizations they found, including an ability to reclaim donated assets that is absolutely prohibited in nonprofit forms. With careful planning, all of these advantages can be gained at relatively little tax cost. The philanthropy LLC is poised to spread far beyond Silicon Valley to the millionaire next door, a development with the potential to do both good and harm. In its concluding section, the Article explores how a turn to for-profit philanthropic vehicles can both unleash tremendous capital for solving society’s most challenging problems and magnify the influence of our most powerful elites.
Surveillance of the armed forces as a sentinel system for detecting adverse effects of dietary supplements in the general population

Objective Half the US population takes dietary supplements, but surveillance systems available to regulatory and public health authorities to determine whether specific dietary supplements present a risk are inadequate and numerous severe injuries and deaths have occurred from their consumption. Uniformed military personnel regularly use dietary supplements and are more likely to use potentially dangerous supplements than civilians. Recently, the supplement 1,3-dimethylamylamine (DMAA) was marketed for physical performance-enhancement and weight loss. However, after over 100 reports of illness attributed to DMAA, including six deaths, the Food and Drug Administration issued a warning to cease its sale. Design When DMAA was legal (2010–2011), we conducted, using convenience samples, supplement surveys of service members and determined prevalence of use and self-reported symptoms of DMAA use. Subjects We surveyed 4374 armed forces personnel using a standardized dietary supplement survey administered by local health-care professionals. Results Overall, 11 % of survey respondents used dietary supplements labelled as containing DMAA at least once/week. Regular users were over two times more likely to report tachycardia (P<0·0001), tremors (P<0·0001) and dizziness (P=0·0004), and over three times more likely to report numbness/tingling (P<0·0001) than non-users. Conclusions Military services could readily monitor adverse events associated with dietary supplements using electronic surveys and medical records. Since armed forces personnel are much more likely than civilians to use potentially dangerous dietary supplements like DMAA, near real-time surveillance of them using electronic surveys and medical records would provide early warning to regulatory agencies and the medical and public health communities when high-risk dietary supplements are introduced.
Childhood-onset schizophrenia: brain MRI rescan after 2 years of clozapine maintenance treatment.

Objective : The effect of clozapine on striatal morphology was examined in adolescents with childhood-onset schizophrenia. Method : Eight adolescent patients with onset of psychosis before age 12 and eight matched comparison subjects had initial and 2-year follow-up brain magnetic resonance imaging scans. Basal ganglia and lateral ventricle volumes were measured. The patients were on a clozapine regimen during the 2-year interim. Results : Caudate volume was larger in the patients at the initial scanning, decreased in the patients between scans, and did not differ significantly between the patients and the comparison subjects at the second scanning. Conclusions : Caudate enlargement in patients with childhood-onset schizophrenia who are taking typical neuroleptics appears to be secondary to medication exposure. Rescanning to examine basal ganglia morphology is indicated for these patients when they are taking an atypical neuroleptic.
The Somatic Cell Genetics Conferences

In 1962, I was invited to present a seminar and to stay for a few days to visit various laboratories of the Biology Division of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. I was pleased to make that trip to one of the centers of modern biological sciences. The laboratory is located a few miles outside Oak Ridge, but I stayed in a motel in town. Every morning Michael Bender and Ernest Chu came to pick me up to go to the laboratory. It was one of the most enjoyable visits I have had. One morning, on our way to the lab, I commented that we should have this type of gathering more often, perhaps with a few more people to stimulate discussion and exchange of ideas. Mike and Ernie asked me whether I knew of the Drosophila meetings. I said no. They told me it was unintentionally started by Dan Lindsley, then also working in Oak Ridge.
Substitutional transition metal doping in MoS2: a first-principles study

Single-layer MoS2 is a direct-gap semiconductor whose band edges character is dominated by the d-orbitals of the Mo atoms. It follows that substitutional doping of the Mo atoms has a significant impact on the material's electronic properties, namely the size of the band gap and the position of the Fermi level. Here, density functional theory is used along with the G0W0 method to examine the effects of substituting Mo with four different transition metal dopants: Nb, Tc, Ta, and Re. Nb and Ta possess one less valence electron than Mo does and are therefore p-type dopants, while Re and Tc are n-type dopants, having one more valence electron than Mo has. Four types of substitutional structures are considered for each dopant species: isolated atoms, lines, three-atom clusters centered on a S atom (c3s), and three-atom clusters centered on a hole (c3h). The c3h structure is found to be the most stable configuration for all dopant species. However, electronic structure calculations reveal that isolated dopants are preferable for efficient n- or p-type performance. Lastly, it is shown that photoluminescence measurements can provide valuable insight into the atomic structure of the doped material. Understanding these properties of substitutionally-doped MoS2 can allow for its successful implementation into cutting-edge solid state devices.
Application of Chimera/unstructured hybrid grids for conjugate heat transfer

A method is presented that computes the conjugate heat transfer problem using a hybrid overset grid system. The hybrid grids for the fluid and solid structure regions use Chimera overset structured grids and unstructured grids, respectively. The numerical analyses require the flowfield solution and material thermal response to be obtained simultaneously. A continuous transfer of temperature and heat flux is enforced at the interface, which combines the solid structure and the fluid flow regions into an integral system. Numerical results are compared with analytical and experimental data for a flat plate and a C3X cooled turbine cascade. A simplified drum-disk system is also simulated to show the effectiveness of this hybrid grid system.
Investigating the Effects of Stealthing Justifications on Rape Perceptions

The current research aimed to investigate justifications behind the perception of stealthing-the act of nonconsensual condom removal in previously consented intercourse. Based upon an article by Brodsky that conducted real-life interviews of stealthing activities, justifications for the act were experimentally manipulated after the participants read a scenario involving a depiction of stealthing. A four (Justification: Control, Instinct, Right, Pleasure) × two (Participant Gender: female, male) multivariate analysis on the assessment of various criminality, morality, harm, blame/responsibility items yielded a significant difference in terms of rape determination, but not other criminality measures. Implications for future research are discussed.
Camera-Array 25-Plane Multifocus Microscope for Ultrafast Live 3D Imaging

We demonstrate an ultrafast Multifocus 25-camera-array microscope (M25) for truly simultaneous 3D imaging of 25 focal planes of a living specimen. Customized for functional neural circuit imaging, our M25 prototype captures 130×130×50um 3 volumes at >100Hz.
Mental Health and the Field Research Team

Due to the intellectual, physical, and emotional demands of field research, those doing this work need to strategies to monitor and maintain their own mental health before, during, and after a field season. Moreover, they should have a framework for supporting their colleagues. This review article will present a framework for assessing the mental health hazards and the reactions, both positive and negative, to fieldwork. First, it will use U.S. epidemiology to show that most field teams are at risk. Second, it will frame the field season both as a workplace and wilderness exposure event and discuss the elements of the field research environment that can be therapeutic for some but toxic for others. Third, it will discuss the psychological impacts of travel and reintegration as they are pertinent to the practice of archaeology. Research will be presented in order to guide evidence-informed policies for the field research team to improve the mental-health readiness and resiliency of the research team. Last, it will provide guidance on how to manage the anxiety caused by separating from social media platforms.
[18F]MAGL-4-11 positron emission tomography molecular imaging of monoacylglycerol lipase changes in preclinical liver fibrosis models

Abstract Monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL) is a pivotal enzyme in the endocannabinoid system, which metabolizes 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG) into the proinflammatory eicosanoid precursor arachidonic acid (AA). MAGL and other endogenous cannabinoid (EC) degrading enzymes are involved in the fibrogenic signaling pathways that induce hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and ECM accumulation during chronic liver disease. Our group recently developed an 18F-labeled MAGL inhibitor ([18F]MAGL-4-11) for PET imaging and demonstrated highly specific binding in vitro and in vivo. In this study, we determined [18F]MAGL-4-11 PET enabled imaging MAGL levels in the bile duct ligation (BDL) and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) models of liver cirrhosis; we also assessed the hepatic gene expression of the enzymes involved with EC system including MAGL, NAPE-PLD, FAAH and DAGL that as a function of disease severity in these models; [18F]MAGL-4-11 autoradiography was performed to assess tracer binding in frozen liver sections both in animal and human. [18F]MAGL-4-11 demonstrated reduced PET signals in early stages of fibrosis and further significantly decreased with disease progression compared with control mice. We confirmed MAGL and FAAH expression decreases with fibrosis severity, while its levels in normal liver tissue are high; in contrast, the EC synthetic enzymes NAPE-PLD and DAGL are enhanced in these different fibrosis models. In vitro autoradiography further supported that [18F]MAGL-4-11 bound specifically to MAGL in both animal and human fibrotic liver tissues. Our PET ligand [18F]MAGL-4-11 shows excellent sensitivity and specificity for MAGL visualization in vivo and accurately reflects the histological stages of liver fibrosis in preclinical models and human liver tissue.
Amino acid divergence in the ligand-binding pocket of Vibrio LuxR/HapR proteins determines the efficacy of thiophenesulfonamide inhibitors.

The quorum-sensing signaling systems in Vibrio bacteria converge to control levels of the master transcription factors LuxR/HapR, a family of highly conserved proteins that regulate gene expression for bacterial behaviors. A compound library screen identified 2-thiophenesulfonamide compounds that specifically inhibit Vibrio campbellii LuxR but do not affect cell growth. We synthesized a panel of 50 thiophenesulfonamide compounds to examine the structure-activity relationship effects on Vibrio quorum sensing. The most potent molecule identified, PTSP (3-phenyl-1-(thiophen-2-ylsulfonyl)-1H-pyrazole), inhibits quorum sensing in multiple strains of V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. campbellii at nanomolar concentrations. However, thiophenesulfonamide inhibition efficacy varies significantly among Vibrio species: PTSP is most inhibitory against V. vulnificus SmcR, but V. cholerae HapR is completely resistant to all thiophenesulfonamides tested. Reverse genetics experiments show that PTSP efficacy is dictated by amino acid sequence in the putative ligand-binding pocket: F75Y and C170F SmcR substitutions are each sufficient to eliminate PTSP inhibition. Further, in silico modeling distinguished the most potent thiophenesulfonamides from less-effective derivatives. Our results revealed the previously unknown differences in LuxR/HapR proteins that control quorum sensing in Vibrio species and underscore the potential for developing thiophenesulfonamides as specific quorum sensing-directed treatments for Vibrio infections.
Miniaturized Thermoelectric Power Sources

Advanced thermoelectric microdevices integrated into thermal management packages and low power, electrical power source systems are of interest for a variety of space and terrestrial applications. By making use of macroscopic film technology, microgenerators operating across relatively small temperature differences can be conceptualized for a variety of high heat flux or low heat flux heat source configurations. The miniaturization of state-of-the-art thermoelectric module technology based on Bi2Te3 alloys is limited due to mechanical and manufacturing constraints for thermoelement dimensions (100-200μm thick minimum) and number (100-200 legs maximum). We are developing novel thermoelectric microdevices combining high thermal conductivity substrate materials such as diamond or even silicon, thin film metallization and patterning technology, and electrochemical deposition of 10-50μm thick thermoelectric films. By shrinking the size of the thermoelements and increasing their number to several thousands in a single structure, these devices can generate high voltages even at low power outputs that are more compatible with electronic components. Miniature power systems taking advantage of waste heat sources or organic fuel heat sources and combined with energy storage devices for enhanced performance are particularly attractive for terrestrial applications. Some details about the fabrication of the miniature devices are described.
1) Oxygen Anomalies in Meteorites - 2) The 15N/14N Ratio in the Solar Wind

The meteorites have long served as the most diverse collection of samples of the solar system available for detailed analysis in the laboratory. Their isotopic composition has been thoroughly studied recently. Indeed as We will show here, they may provide some insight on the way that material which has formed the solar system has been homogenized.
Remapping Hyperspace During Genetic Search: Canonical Delta Folding

Delta coding, an iterative strategy for genetic search, has been empirically shown to improve genetic search performance for some optimization problems. However, detailed analyses reveal that the remapping of hyperspace produced by delta coding is rudimentary. The underlying mechanisms of delta coding are examined and a more robust remapping method is introduced. Canonical delta folding provides a canonical ordering of the strings in the search space and then employs a powerful folding mechanism for remapping hyperspace. The behavior of canonical delta folding for remapping deceptive functions is examined using a set of exact equations for modeling the computational behavior of a simple genetic algorithm.
Optimization of Ga-67 imaging for detection and estimation tasks: dependence of imaging performance on choice of energy windows

We have compared the use of two (93 and 185 keV) and three (93, 185, and 300 keV) photopeaks for Ga-67 tumor imaging and optimized the placement of each energy window. The figures of merit were a Bayesian signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for detection of spheres embedded in a realistic anthropomorphic digital torso phantom and an ideal SNR for estimation of their size. Seven spheres of radii ranging from 1 to 3 cm, located at several sites in the torso, were simulated using a realistic Monte Carlo program. We also calculated the detection metric from simple phantom acquisitions. For detection and estimation tasks, the optimum windows were similar for all sphere sizes and locations. For the 93 keV photopeak, the optimal window width for detection and estimation tasks was 87-102 keV. This window is slightly narrower than the usual 20% window used in the clinic (83-101 keV). For the 185 keV photopeak, the optimal window was 170-215 keV for detection and estimation tasks; this is substantially different than the 15% window used in our clinic (171-199 keV). For the 300 keV photopeak, the optimal window was 280-330 keV for detection and estimation tasks, substantially wider than the 15% window (278-323 keV) used in our clinic. Using the three optimized, rather than the two lower-energy, windows yielded a 9% increase in SNR for detection of the 3 cm-radius sphere and a 7% increase in SNR for estimation of its size. Detection SNR calculated from the acquired phantom data increased by 9% when three optimized, rather than two, energy windows were used. Using three, rather than two, Ga-67 photopeaks should yield better performance in both detection and quantitation tasks.
Proceedings of the 5th ACM workshop on Networked systems for developing regions

Welcome to the 5th ACM Workshop on Networked Systems for Developing Regions (NSDR'11). NSDR has emerged as one of the leading venues for reporting early results in applying technology towards the challenges of developing regions. Starting in 2010, NSDR came to encompass WiNSDR, a prior workshop at MobiSys that also focused on developing regions. The NSDR workshop reflects a growing interest on the part of many computer science researchers to do work that is relevant to the poorest communities around the world. As technologies such as the mobile phone are penetrating even the most remote and economically disadvantaged regions, there is a large potential to utilize technology to provide services that were previously out of reach. However, developing regions often have unique constraints, spanning connectivity, power, affordability, as well as non-technical factors such as language and literacy. For these reasons, the technologies used to address developing regions often need to be different than those for rich countries. While applying technology towards development goals is a richly interdisciplinary field, spanning economics, sociology, political science, and other disciplines, NSDR focuses specifically on the technical problems in this realm, and what we as computer scientists can contribute to the picture. This year's workshop drew 21 submissions, and we selected 11 papers for presentation. Mobile technology accounts for approximately half of the papers, with a focus both on core infrastructure as well as new applications in the space of healthcare and education. Other papers focus on computer security in the developing world, as well as new techniques for accelerating Web access from lowbandwidth environments. We are also very fortunate to have a keynote address from Joel Selanikio, M.D., who is co-founder and CEO of DataDyne, a pioneering social venture in this space.
The Limiting Effects of Paradigms on the Concept of Traumatic Stress

Paradigms provide a world view. They organize observations, theories, and facts about a given subject into a cohesive working model. Paradigms can shift but not so easily or so often. A momentous discovery is not, in itself, a paradigm shift. When Fleming realized that a certain kind of mold could inhibit bacterial growth, he made an important discovery. The subsequent technical development of penicillin and other highly effective antibiotics led to a stunning and permanent change in the role of the doctor. When the practice of medicine was transformed from caring for dying patients in their homes into prescribing life-saving pills in the office, that was a paradigm shift.
Precision-time tradeoffs: a paradigm for processing statistical queries on databases

Conventional query processing techniques are aimed at queries which access small amounts of data, and require each data item for the answer. In case the database is used for statistical analysis as well as operational purposes, for some types of queries a large part of the database may be required to compute the answer. This may lead to a data access bottleneck, caused by the excessive number of disk accesses needed to get the data into primary memory. An example is computation of statistical parameters, such as count, average, median, and standard deviation, which are useful for statistical analysis of the database. Yet another example that faces this bottleneck is the verification of the truth of a set of predicates (goals), based on the current database state, for the purposes of intelligent decision making. A solution to this problem is to maintain a set of precomputed information about the database in a view or a snapshot. Statistical queries can be processed using the view rather than the real database. A crucial issue is that the precision of the precomputed information in the view deteriorates with time, because of the dynamic nature of the underlying database. Thus the answer provided is approximate, which is acceptable under many circumstances, especially when the error is bounded. The tradeoff is that the processing of queries is made faster at the expense of the precision in the answer. The concept of precision in the context of database queries is formalized, and a data model to incorporate it is developed. Algorithms are designed to maintain materialized views of data to specified degrees of precision.
An Evocation of Place

Miles Richardson, ed. Place: Experience and Symbol. Baton Rouge, La: Geoscience Publications, 1984. xi + 67 pp. (paper).
Triglyceride synthesis by the human placenta: I. Incorporation of labeled palmitate into placental triglycerides

Abstract Human placenta slices were incubated in a buffer containing albumin-bound isotope-labeled palmitate. Following incubation, the slices were homogenized and extracted with lipid solvents. Chromatographically separated lipid fractions of these extracts were individually analyzed for radioactivity. Significant incorporation of the labeled fatty acid was observed into the triglyceride fraction. The quantity of this newly synthesized triglyceride directly correlated with the duration of the incubation. Different glucose concentrations of the incubation medium (from 0 to 300 mg. per 100 ml.) had no effect on the triglyceride synthesis. It is probable that transient esterification is an intermediate step in a type of placental fatty acid transport from the mother to the fetus. Present study favors the contention that this process is independent of glucose concentrations. This may help to understand the poor correlation of obesity in babies of diabetic (hyperglycemic) and prediabetic (normoglycemic) mothers with the maternal glycemic status.
Real-world imperative of outcomes research.

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act characterizes outcomes research as a field that determines how “diseases, disorders, and other health conditions can effectively and appropriately be prevented, diagnosed, treated, monitored, and managed. . . . ” Stated another way, outcomes research is scientific investigation that generates knowledge to guide health care decisions and promote optimal results from preventive, diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic health care strategies. The goal is to increase the likelihood that patients achieve the outcomes they desire through better information, better decisions, and better health care delivery. Toward this end, outcomes research uses a diverse array of study designs and data sources. It draws from clinical medicine, statistics, informatics, epidemiology, and the social sciences. Outcomes research derives directly from real-world practice and policy. It seeks to determine what is being achieved for patients and how clinicians can do better. The emphasis is on outcomes that patients experience, not on measurements that are surrogates for what may happen (eg, biomarkers) because those measures often fail to predict the effect of interventions. Outcomes research purposely directs attention to effects in typical patients across a spectrum of venues with emphasis on characteristics that may influence outcomes. Thus, it generates information about treatment patterns, risks, benefits, and costs that can be tailored to individuals. The questions and priorities of outcomes research ideally derive from partnerships with those (patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy makers) who may use the results. Such relationships can bridge the gap that often exists between the published research and the information needs of decision makers. Domains of Outcomes Research
Equations of similitude

A general technique is developed to enlarge the Galois group of an equation from a subgroup of a finite classical isometry group towards the corresponding similitude group.
THE ISOLATION OF PHOSPHATIDYL GLYCEROL FROM RAT-LIVER MITOCHONDRIA.

Abstract 1. 1. Phosphatidyl glycerol was isolated from a lipid extract of rat-liver mitochondria by a combination of column chromatography and thin-layer chromatography on silicic acid. It accounted for about 0.4% of the total phospholipids present. 2. 2. The fatty acid composition consisted mainly of palmitic (12%), stearic (14%), oleic (21%), linoleic (20%) and C 2 polyenoic (20%) acids, and was very dofferent from that of the cardiolipin in the mitochondria. 3. 3. The O -amino acid esters of phosphatidyl glycerol which have been found in some bacteria were not detected in the mitochondria.
The role of seed in the determination of yield of grain crops

The seed is the harvested organ in grain crops and, consequently, the accumulation of dry matter by the seed is an important component of the yield production process. The growth of individual seeds, usually characterised by the rate and duration of growth, is, at least partially, controlled by the seed itself. It is this control that gives the seed a significant role in the yield production process. Genetic variation in seed growth rate, which is substantial, is not related to yield, but variation related to environmental conditions during seed filling often is. Genetic and environmental variation in seed-fill duration is usually directly related to yield. Much is now known about the regulation of seed growth and this knowledge, if applied, may help answer some of the important questions still facing crop scientists as they try to increase yields in the future.
Polyurethane cationomers with pendant trialkylammonium groups: Effects of ion content, alkyl group, and neutralizing anion

Diphenylmethane-4,4′-diisocyanate based polyether polyurethane cationomers were synthesized using 3-trialkylammonium-(1,2-propanediol)iodide (TAPI) as the chain extender. The ionic content was varied by substituting up to 100% of 3-dialkylamino-1,2-propanediol (DAP) for TAPI. Cationomers with bromine and chlorine ions were prepared from the iodine-based polymer via ion exchange. The morphology and properties of the cationomers were studied as a function of alkyl group, ion content, and anion type using small-angle x-ray scattering, tensile testing, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry. The bulky side groups of DAP and TAPI prevented crystallization in the hard domains, and consequently little or no phase separation was evident in the unionized materials. Polyurethanes with cationic functionality showed dramatic improvements in phase separation and tensile properties. Results suggest tht while ionic interactions are the primary driving force for phase separation, they produce a morphology not typical of ionomers, but rather akin to that of a conventional polyurethane with semicrystalline hard segments. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Modeling multimodal integration patterns and performance in seniors: toward adaptive processing of individual differences

Multimodal interfaces are designed with a focus on flexibility, although very few currently are capable of adapting to major sources of user, task, or environmental variation. The development of adaptive multimodal processing techniques will require empirical guidance from quantitative modeling on key aspects of individual differences, especially as users engage in different types of tasks in different usage contexts. In the present study, data were collected from fifteen 66- to 86-year-old healthy seniors as they interacted with a map-based flood management system using multimodal speech and pen input. A comprehensive analysis of multimodal integration patterns revealed that seniors were classifiable as either simultaneous or sequential integrators, like children and adults. Seniors also demonstrated early predictability and a high degree of consistency in their dominant integration pattern. However, greater individual differences in multimodal integration generally were evident in this population. Perhaps surprisingly, during sequential constructions seniors' intermodal lags were no longer in average and maximum duration than those of younger adults, although both of these groups had longer maximum lags than children. However, an analysis of seniors' performance did reveal lengthy latencies before initiating a task, and high rates of self talk and task-critical errors while completing spatial tasks. All of these behaviors were magnified as the task difficulty level increased. Results of this research have implications for the design of adaptive processing strategies appropriate for seniors' applications, especially for the development of temporal thresholds used during multimodal fusion. The long-term goal of this research is the design of high-performance multimodal systems that adapt to a full spectrum of diverse users, supporting tailored and robust future systems.
Selective predation by the zoarcid fish Thermarces cerberus at hydrothermal vents

Abstract This study investigates predation by the vent zoarcid fish Thermarces cerberus through gastrointestinal analyses of 27 specimens collected with the submersible ALVIN at vents at 9°50′N on the East Pacific Rise. T. cerberus fed most frequently on gastropod mollusks (mainly Lepetodrilus elevatus) and amphipod crustaceans (mainly Ventiella sulfuris). Species found occasionally in high abundance included the swarming amphipod Halice hesmonectes and the snail Cyathermia naticoides. Other items also found in gastrointestinal tracts, but in very low numbers, included polychaete worms, crustaceans and unidentified tissue clumps. The comparison between the size distribution of L. elevatus limpets ingested by T. cerberus and those found attached to vestimentiferan tubes suggest that the fish may selectively prey on large limpets. If the selective removal of large Lepetodrilus spp. limpets by T. cerberus does occur, then it would have potential community-level consequences at hydrothermal vents, since these mobile gastropods appear to inhibit the settlement of sessile vent species, including tube-building worms. Our results suggest possible direct and indirect effects of T. cerberus on benthic community structure at hydrothermal vents on the East Pacific Rise.
Computer Graphics-Aided Systems Analysis: Application to Well Completion Design

The development of an engineering tool (in the form of a computer model) for solving design and analysis problems related with oil and gas well production operations is discussed. The development of the method is based on integrating the concepts of ''Systems Analysis'' with the techniques of ''Computer Graphics''. The concepts behind the method are very general in nature. This paper, however, illustrates the application of the method in solving gas well completion design problems. The use of the method will save time and improve the efficiency of such design and analysis problems. The method can be extended to other design and analysis aspects of oil and gas wells.