cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TORS with the Flex® Robotic System

Robot-assisted surgery has become a popular alternative to many open traditional surgical procedures. While modern robotic surgical techniques have been described since the late 1980s, telesurgery (i.e., surgery done at a distance from the patient) was first successfully performed in 2001, when physicians situated in New York removed the gallbladder of a 62-year-old patient in Strasbourg, France [1]. Since then, technology has improved and remote robotic surgery has become quite prevalent and sophisticated. Used primarily in urology and gynecology at its inception, transoral robotic surgery (TORS) was eventually developed for use in head and neck procedures. The da Vinci system® (Intuitive Surgical Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is one such advanced robot, studied extensively at the University of Pennsylvania for its application in TORS in order to perfect and standardize its use [1, 2]. The da Vinci was the only tool available to perform TORS on the head and neck, yet has its own limitations. The newest iteration of robotic surgical equipment is the Flex® Robotic System (Medrobotics, Raynham, MA, USA), which improves upon some of the shortcomings of its predecessors. This chapter will focus on the present state of TORS of the head and neck and the future possibilities which improved technology can provide.
Labortory Bioassays for Evaluating Sweet Corn Antibiosis on European Corn Borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larval Development

European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner) can severely affect commercial sweet corn quality during years of heavy infestation. The isolation and identification of allelochemicals in sweet cor...
Re-Thinking Trust in the News: A material approach through “Objects of Journalism”

This article argues that trust in journalism is a critical mechanism in social cohesion. However, trust research in journalism has a critical flaw, since trust is measured as news consumption, while journalists’ roles are considered via questions of authority. However, scholars have thought about trust in limited ways that have failed to address the relational nature of trust that includes journalists, audiences, sources, and other social actors such “objects of journalism.” The material turn in journalism is invoked as a way to move beyond this dichotomy. Via hard and soft objects of journalism, discussed here as news buildings, “raw materials” of journalism, and digital news products like software inspire new ways of thinking about trust.
Web-based versus face-to-face interprofessional team encounters with standardized patients.

Abstract Background Challenges exist in developing interprofessional education (IPE) activities including coordinating schedules and obtaining appropriate space for teams to work. Virtual worlds have been explored as a means to overcome some of these challenges. We sought to develop a web-based interprofessional team interaction with a standardized patient (SP), as compared to a face-to-face SP interaction, focusing on the competency area of interprofessional communication. Interprofessional education activity Interprofessional teams of students were randomized to complete a web-based or face-to-face SP encounter. The web-based encounter was conducted via video conference that students accessed using their own electronic device. Interprofessional communication was evaluated by faculty observers and the SPs. Participants of the web-based encounter also completed a perceptions questionnaire. Discussion Interprofessional communication was rated as average/above average by the authors and SPs. Perceptions of the web-based encounter were mixed with not all students willing to complete such an encounter again despite finding it enjoyable and a positive learning experience. The need for adequate preparation was identified, including the opportunity to review the patient case before the encounter. Implications The web-based SP encounter afforded students the opportunity to utilize communication technology to provide patient-centered care while collaborating as an interprofessional team. Video conferencing presents an opportunity to bypass some logistical challenges in scheduling IPE experiences and can be implemented as a co-curricular activity, avoiding course revisions. Additional studies are needed to further explore student and patient perspectives and clarify when, and with what level of trainees, the experiences are most valuable.
Performance Summary Measures

In previous chapters, we discussed such fundamental system properties as the optical transfer function, the image signal-to-noise ratio, the frame rate, and the magnification. Each of these properties describes only a small part of a system’s ability to perform practical tasks. They are useful ways to characterize a design, but other measures which combine them in ways appropriate to particular tasks are needed in order to conduct performance tradeoffs. The ideal such summary performance measure must include the observer’s limitations, must be predictable from fundamental system parameters, must be easily measurable, and must relate to the performance of the system as it is ultimately intended to be used. In this chapter we will consider some commonly used summary measures and attempt to ascertain how they are useful and how they may be misleading.
Above zone pressure interpretation for leaky well characterization and its identification from leaky caprock/fault

Abstract Pressure transient analysis has long been used for reservoir characterization. Above-zone (AZ) pressure has been recently investigated for inferring leakage pathway characteristics in leakage events from subsurface injection operations. The recorded pressure in the AZ should be purely related to leakage and therefore it can be safely inverted to deduce leakage characteristics. It is crucial to evaluate fluid leakage through abandoned wells to plan for further measurements of leakage prevention. However, the recorded AZ leakage signal may not be related to leaky well(s). Therefore, identification and spatial investigation of well leakage is required for leakage evaluation. In this paper, we propose a pressure interpretation method for early detection of leaky pathways, applying two observation points in the AZ. We distinguish leaky well, fault and caprock based on their corresponding flow regime identification. We show that the pressure difference of the two observation wells can be applied as a proxy for unknown leakage rate, which is crucial for leakage identification as well as characterization. Results show that the estimated location of the leaky well, leakage coefficient, and the leakage rate are in good agreement with the actual values. The estimated leakage coefficient of the leaky well can be used to evaluate well leakage in multiphase systems such as carbon dioxide leakage in deep saline aquifers.
Mending the Gaps: An Exercise in Identifying and Understanding Diverse and Multicultural Team Faultlines

ABSTRACTThe Faultlines Exercise, an experiential activity, introduces students to concepts of diversity attributes (surface and deep levels), social identity, and team faultlines. Through individual reflection and team discussion, students apply these concepts to their own diverse multicultural class teams with the goals of (a) preventing negative outcomes that may develop from faultlines and (b) improving team performance. Plenary class discussions reinforce key learning points that can be applied to teamwork throughout the course. Students in both face-to-face and online classes report that the exercise helps improve team performance and helps to identify and resolve problems. Instructions for facilitating classroom discussion and student handouts are provided, as are suggestions for adapting the exercise to other constructs.
TCT-2 Deep IVUS: A machine learning framework for fully automatic IVUS segmentation

Segmentation of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) is a time intensive process requiring a high level of expertise to process the images. This challenge restricts analysis of IVUS images to core laboratories and limits cardiac catheterization laboratory adoption. From a Volcano 20MHz IVUS catheter the
Abstract WP165: Thyroid Function is Associated With Stroke Severity, Discharge Outcomes, and Quality of Life After Ischemic Stroke

Objective: Data regarding the relationship between thyroid function and ischemic stroke (IS) are conflicting and limited by small sample sizes. In a large prospective cohort, we evaluated whether t...
Gold nanostar electrodes for heavy metal detection

Abstract This paper presents a novel application of gold nanostars (AuNSs) for the electrochemical detection of arsenic (As(III)), mercury (Hg(II)), and lead (Pb(II)) in water. The AuNSs were synthesized using the Good’s buffer method, a simple, environmentally friendly procedure. Boiling the AuNS suspension enabled the formation of spherical gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which were compared to the AuNSs to determine if the shape of the nanoparticle contributed to the functionality of the sensor. When compared to AuNSs, AuNPs exhibited a fourfold increase in specific geometric surface area (per liter) and a threefold increase in electroactive surface area (EASA). The effect of particle loading on charge transfer resistance, RCT, and double layer capacitance, CDL was assessed: as particle loading increased, RCT decreased and CDL increased for both AuNS- and AuNP-modified electrodes; however, RCT was lower for the AuNPs. For the detection of As(III), Hg(II), and Pb(II), square wave stripping voltammetry (SWSV) parameters were individually optimized and peak heights, Ip, were obtained for a range of NP loadings. The Ip values varied with respect to NP loading and displayed a unique trend for each analyte and particle shape. For As(III), the AuNSs produced higher peak heights than AuNPs of the same loading. Ip values for Hg(II) decreased dramatically at high AuNP loadings and decreased minimally at high AuNS loadings. NP loadings did not have a significant influence on Ip values associated with Pb(II). These findings suggest that gold nanostructure shape and loading can influence the efficacy of electrochemical heavy metal detection and should be taken into consideration.
Membrane-Coated UiO-66 MOF Adsorbents

Zirconium-based metal organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising adsorbents for various applications because the materials are typically hydrothermally stable. Most MOFs are prepared as a powder, but adsorption systems commonly require mechanically stable structures, such as pellets, spheres, or tablets. Therefore, this work presents a method of encapsulating a MOF pellet with a porous membrane to produce a mechanically stable core–shell type adsorbent structure. In particular, UiO-66 pellets were coated with a 4 wt % Matrimid solution that was subsequently phase inverted in water to generate membrane porosity. The coating is approximately 25–60 μm and comprises approximately 7 wt % of the composite material. Because the porous membrane only covers the surface of the pellet, the parent MOF isotherm shape and pore size distribution are maintained. The results show that direct pressing of a MOF powder into pellets produces a mechanically weak pellet but that a Matrimid membrane coating on the pellet increases ...
Abstract 214: A Microrna-hippo Pathway Functions in Cardiac Conduction System Homeostasis and Regeneration

The cardiac conduction system (CCS) is required for initiating and maintaining regular rhythmic heartbeats. CCS defects can give rise to cardiac arrhythmia, a leading cause for morbidity worldwide....
Regular Sampling of Tensor Signals: Theory and Application to FMRI

Sampling lies at the heart of signal processing. The celebrated Shan-non - Nyquist theorem states that in order to reconstruct a continuous or discrete time signal from uniform samples one must sample at a rate twice the highest frequency present in the signal. Numerous signals and images of interest, however, are not even approximately bandlimited. While much progress has happened in recent years, reconstruction from sub-Nyquist samples still hinges on the use of random / incoherent (aggregate) sampling patterns, instead of uniform or regular sampling, which is far more simple, practical, and natural in many applications. In this work, we study regular sampling and reconstruction of three- or higher-dimensional signals (tensors). We prove that exact tensor reconstruction from regular samples is feasible under mild conditions on the rank of the tensor. Furthermore we cast the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) acceleration task as a regular tensor sampling problem and provide an algorithmic framework that effectively handles the reconstruction task. Experiments based on synthetic data and real fMRI data showcase the effectiveness of our approach.
Rationale for Fractionated SRS and Single SRS Session Approaches

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) delivers a high dose of radiation to an intracranial target in a single session. Modern planning capabilities and the ability to confirm and reproduce day-to-day setup positioning with on-board imaging and customized, relocatable immobilization devices gives SRS accuracy and precision to less than a millimeter. Consequently, SRS can be employed effectively in the treatment of small intracranial lesions with little to no toxicity. However, it is unavoidable that some amount of normal tissue will receive a potentially clinically relevant dose, with the risk of unacceptable toxicity increasing with target size and location. In these situations, treating a patient with a more fractionated course, termed hypofractionated-SRS (HF-SRS), has emerged as an alternative approach. The following chapter will address the rationale for choosing HF-SRS over single-fraction SRS, discussing both the radiobiological basis for this choice and pertinent clinical data related to toxicity and efficacy. Though this chapter will focus on findings related to the treatment of intracranial targets, the principles discussed can be applied more broadly to the treatment of lesions in the body.
Making $K_{r+1}$-Free Graphs $r$-partite

The Erdős-Simonovits stability theorem states that for all \epsilon >0 there exists \alpha >0 such that if G is a K_{r+1}-free graph on n vertices with e(G) > ex(n,K_{r+1}) - \alpha n^2, then one can remove \epsilon n^2 edges from G to obtain an r-partite graph. Furedi gave a short proof that one can choose \alpha=\epsilon. We give a bound for the relationship of \alpha and \varepsilon which is asymptotically sharp as \epsilon \to 0.
TVA's Paradise Steam Plant

Construction of steam station in Western Kentucky coal fields is described; station is to have initial installation of two 650-Mw generating units; problems involved in planning, site selection, fuel supply, design, and construction of largest generating units in world (as of 1962) are reported.
A rare cause of cervical lymphadenopathy: Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease

Abstract Kikuchi-Fujimoto Disease (KFD) is a benign, self-limiting entity seen in Asia with only a few reports in the United States. Patients present with a triad of cervical lymphadenopathy, headache, and fever. Laboratory and imaging findings are nonspecific. Diagnosis is made on histopathological examination of the affected lymph nodes. This disease mimics infectious, autoimmune, and malignant processes. It is important to include this on the differential diagnosis for cervical lymphadenopathy because treatment and prognosis differ. We present a case of KFD in a 34 year old Guatemalan female who presented with cervical lymphadenopathy, headache, and fever, and a review of the current literature.
Localism in Retreat? Central-Provincial Relations in the Xi Jinping Era

Xi Jinping’s anti-corruption drive, personnel reshuffles, and institutional overhauls seem to mark a turning point in Beijing’s long-running fight against ‘localism’ (difangzhuyi). Yet, key questio...
Hardware-Assisted Malware Detection using Machine Learning

Malicious software, popularly known as malware, is a serious threat to modern computing systems. A comprehensive cybercrime study by Ponemon Institute highlights that malware is the most expensive attack for organizations, with an average revenue loss of $2.6 million per organization in 2018 (11% increase compared to 2017). Recent high-profile malware attacks coupled with serious economic implications have dramatically changed our perception of threat from malware. Software-based solutions, such as anti-virus programs, are not effective since they rely on matching patterns (signatures) that can be easily fooled by carefully crafted malware with obfuscation or other deviation capabilities. Moreover, software-based solutions are not fast enough for real-time malware detection in safety-critical systems. In this paper, we investigate promising approaches for hardware-assisted malware detection using machine learning. Specifically, we explore how machine learning can be effective for malware detection utilizing hardware performance counters, embedded trace buffer as well as on-chip network traffic analysis.
The Contribution of Vocabulary, Grammar, and Phonological Awareness Across a Continuum of Narrative Ability Levels in Young Children.

Purpose Narrative skill represents a higher-level linguistic skill that shows incremental development in the preschool years. During these years, there are considerable individual differences in th...
Creating a path to inclusion: Educating practitioners to provide inclusive leisure services

This article highlights a general structure for reducing social, psychological, and physical barriers to leisure by teaching professionals to facilitate engagement. We enable social engagement by f...
Theory-driven classification of reading difficulties from fMRI data using Bayesian latent-mixture models.

Abstract Decades of research have led to several competing theories regarding the neural contributors to impaired reading. But how can we know which theory (or theories) identifies the types of markers that indeed differentiate between individuals with reading disabilities (RD) and their typically developing (TD) peers? To answer this question, we propose a new analytical tool for theory evaluation and comparison, grounded in the Bayesian latent-mixture modeling framework. We start by constructing a series of latent-mixture classification models, each reflecting one existing theoretical claim regarding the neurofunctional markers of RD (highlighting network-level differences in either mean activation, inter-subject heterogeneity, inter-region variability, or connectivity). Then, we run each model on fMRI data alone (i.e., while models are blind to participants' behavioral status), which enables us to interpret the fit between a model's classification of participants and their behavioral (known) RD/TD status as an estimate of its explanatory power. Results from n=127 adolescents and young adults (RD: n=59; TD: n=68) show that models based on network-level differences in mean activation and heterogeneity failed to differentiate between TD and RD individuals. In contrast, classifications based on variability and connectivity were significantly associated with participants' behavioral status. These findings suggest that differences in inter-region variability and connectivity may be better network-level markers of RD than mean activation or heterogeneity (at least in some populations and tasks). More broadly, the results demonstrate the promise of latent-mixture modeling as a theory-driven tool for evaluating different theoretical claims regarding neural contributors to language disorders and other cognitive traits.
Demographic Disparities in Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19: Data From a Statewide Cohort in South Carolina.

Background: Current literature examining the clinical characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients under-represent COVID-19 cases who were either asymptomatic or had mild symptoms. Methods: We analyzed statewide data from 280 177 COVID-19 cases from various health care facilities during March 4-December 31, 2020. Each COVID-19 case was reported using the standardized Case Report Form (CRF), which collected information on demographic characteristics, symptoms, hospitalization, and death. We used multivariable logistic regression to analyze the associations between sociodemographics and disease severity, hospitalization, and mortality. Results: Among a total of 280 177 COVID-19 cases, 5.2% (14 451) were hospitalized and 1.9% (5308) died. Older adults, males, and Black individuals had higher odds of hospitalization and death from COVID-19 (all P < 0.0001). In particular, individuals residing in rural areas experienced a high risk of death (odds ratio [OR], 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.25). Regarding disease severity, older adults (OR, 1.06; 95% CI, 1.03-1.10) and Hispanic or Latino patients (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.95-2.18) had higher odds of experiencing moderate/severe symptoms, while male and Asian patients, compared with White patients, had lower odds of experiencing moderate/severe symptoms. Conclusions: As the first statewide population-based study using data from multiple health care systems with a long follow-up period in the United States, we provide a more generalizable picture of COVID-19 symptoms and clinical outcomes. The findings from this study reinforce the fact that rural residence and racial/ethnic social determinants of health, unfortunately, remain predictors of adverse health outcomes for COVID-19 patients.
Does Religious Participation Predict Future Expectations About Health? Using a Life Course Framework to Test Multiple Mechanisms.

Though an impressive array of health outcomes has been studied, research within the field of religion and health has not yet considered how religious involvement may affect future expectations about health. This is a significant shortcoming because the teachings of many religions direct adherent’s focus to the distant future, and future self-ratings of health are a known predictor of subjective life expectancy and eventual mortality risk. Recognizing the need for a life course approach to conceptualizing patterns of religious involvement, we assess how stability or change in religious attendance from childhood to adulthood structures individual expectations of future health. Drawing on data from the 2017 Values and Beliefs of the American Public Study (Baylor Religion Survey Wave 5), we find that stable high (weekly) attendance between childhood and adulthood is associated with higher future health expectations. Parametric mediation analyses conducted in the counterfactual framework suggest that this association is explained by the tendency of frequent stable attenders to have (a) higher levels of beliefs in the sense of divine control and (b) a lower likelihood of engaging in harmful health behaviors (smoking).
FIR Waveguide Laser Performance in the 40μm-lmm Spectral Region

The design of a cw compact FIR waveguide laser operating in the 40μm-lmm spectral region is described. A metallic waveguide with internal mirrors is essential for efficient operation at wavelengths greater than 500μm. Performance data are discussed.
Adaptive Trading: Experimenting with Unlikely Partners

Congress did not design the Clean Water Act to address diffuse or nonpoint pollution with the same prescriptive standards and permits it required for point sources; instead, Congress relegated diffuse runoff to a largely voluntary, state-led approach. Not surprisingly, after more than 40 years of implementing the Clean Water Act, diffuse runoff is now the single biggest source of water quality problems in the United States, and agriculture is the biggest contributor to the problem. In response, the EPA, some states, and regulated point sources are pushing to bridge this regulatory gap by setting up water quality trading programs. In theory, trading would allow regulated industries and municipal sewage plants (point sources) to pay largely unregulated farms (nonpoint sources) to reduce pollution in lakes, rivers and streams. To date, however, water quality trading has produced more smoke than fire. Although the EPA has been promoting it for almost three decades, only 24 programs have had an actual trade, and of those only ten programs have had a trade between point and nonpoint sources. Despite the lack of track record, the EPA is presenting trading as a key tool for addressing contemporary problems in major watersheds, such as the Chesapeake Bay, the Ohio River Basin, and the Great Lakes. The push for trading in these and other watersheds is at times coupled with an urge to use adaptive management, but with very little detail about how to implement the approach. Given the reliance on trading as an antidote to persistent water quality problems and the reality that trading is still in its experimental phase, this is a regulatory approach that could benefit from applying adaptive management. Taking an adaptive approach to trading between point and nonpoint sources could increase the understanding of system dynamics and transparency essential to deciding whether this regulatory tool can solve widespread water pollution problems. This article discusses how to apply adaptive management to water quality trading programs to satisfy the informational needs of policy makers charged with delivering on the promise of clean water. It suggests developing "adaptive trading" as a more defined approach to applying adaptive management to nutrient trading.
Measurement of Canopy Temperature with Infrared Thermometers

Plant temperature and water use are related because, if a plant is well watered, the stomata are open, transpirational cooling occurs, and canopy temperature is cool. Conversely, as a plant becomes water stressed, stomata close, transpiration is reduced, and canopy temperature increases. Consequently, one can use canopy temperature to characterize the water status of a crop. In the 1970s, portable, commercially available infrared thermometers that measure thermal radiation were developed and refined. They provide a means to measure remotely plant canopy temperatures, and measurements with them are easy because the instruments are hand-held and lightweight. Jackson and colleagues at the U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory in Phoenix, Arizona, did pioneering experiments with portable infrared thermometers. The chapter considers the theory and use of infrared thermometers. Infrared thermometers have the advantage of measuring many leaves at one time. Before their development, it was difficult to determine the magnitude of the temperature difference either between plants or between plants and air, because there was no way of defining the temperature of a group of leaves. A leaf with the surface normal to incident solar radiation has a higher temperature than a leaf that has a surface parallel to the sun's rays or one that is shaded. Severe sampling problems exist if one can make only a few measurements on individual leaves, such as one does when using thermocouples. And the temperature that is measured depends on the location of the thermocouple (for example, base of leaf versus tip of leaf).
Period Assertion as Nanopublication: The PeriodO Period Gazetteer

The PeriodO period gazetteer collects definitions of time periods made by archaeologists and other historical scholars. In constructing the gazetteer, we sought to make period definitions parsable and comparable by computers while also retaining the broader scholarly context in which they were conceived. Our approach resulted in a dataset of period definitions and their provenances that resemble what data scientists working in the e-science domain have dubbed "nanopublications." In this paper we describe the origin and goals of nanopublications, provide an overview of the design and implementation of a database of period definitions, and highlight the similarities and differences between the two.
Moment Closure Approximations in a Genetic Negative Feedback Circuit

Auto-regulation, a process wherein a protein negatively regulates its own production, is a common motif in gene expression networks. Negative feedback in gene expression plays a critical role in buffering intracellular fluctuations in protein concentrations around optimal value. Due to the nonlinearities present in these feedbacks, moment dynamics are typically not closed, in the sense that the time derivative of the lower-order statistical moments of the protein copy number depends on high-order moments. Moment equations are closed by expressing higher-order moments as nonlinear functions of lower-order moments, a technique commonly referred to as moment closure. Here, we compare the performance of different moment closure techniques. Our results show that the commonly used closure method, which assumes a priori that the protein population counts are normally distributed, performs poorly. In contrast, conditional derivative matching, a novel closure scheme proposed here provides a good approximation to the exact moments across different parameter regimes. In summary our study provides a new moment closure method for studying stochastic dynamics of genetic negative feedback circuits, and can be extended to probe noise in more complex gene networks.
Trichothecene Biosynthesis in Fusarium sporotrichioides: Origin of the Oxygen Atoms of T-2 Toxin.

Mass spectral analysis of T-2 toxin formed during the growth of Fusarium sporotrichioides (ATCC 24043) in the presence of H218O showed incorporation of up to three 18O atoms per toxin molecule. The carbonyl oxygens of the acetates at C-4 and C-15 and of the isovalerate at C-8 were derived from H2O. Toxin formed in the presence of 18O molecular oxygen incorporated up to six 18O atoms per toxin molecule. The overall incorporation was 78 and 92% of toxin molecules labeled for H218O and 18O2 labeled samples, respectively. The oxygens of position 1, the 12,13-epoxide, and the hydroxyl groups at C-3, C-4, C-8, and C-15 were all derived from molecular oxygen.
Probing Protein Motion Through Temperature Echoes

1 A Word to Theoretical Physicists Contemplating Research in Biology 2 Periodic Motions in Proteins 3 Generating Echoes in the Protein Bacteriorhodopsin 4 Harmonic Oscillator Description of Echoes 5 Langevin Oscillator Description of Echoes 6 Temperature Echo in a One-Dimensional Chain 7 Conclusion Acknowledgements References
Foraging across ecosystems: diet diversity and social foraging spanning aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems by an invertebrate

Ecosystems are fundamentally connected to one another, although empirical documentation of the links between them, especially the links between marine and terrestrial ecosystems, has been limited. This study examined the foraging behavior and ecology of an understudied invertebrate, the hermit crab Coenobita compressus, which is remarkably abundant at the nexus of marine, terrestrial, and freshwater ecosystems. Data collected between 2008 and 2011 in the Osa Peninsula of Costa Rica revealed that C. compressus plays a generalist scavenger role across ecosystems. Beach almond fruits (Terminalia catappa) were a staple of the crabs’ diet, but the crabs also commonly consumed a variety of other fruit species and various parts of plants (nuts, seeds, flowers, husk, stems, buds) as well as algae, fungus, animal feces, and the carcasses of insects, jellyfish, conspecifics, other crustacean species, freshwater and saltwater fish, sea turtles (eggs and adults), and mammals. The crabs fed on these resources in prominent social aggregations, also forming such aggregations as they exchanged the aquatically derived gastropod shells that they use as homes while roaming the land. The size of the crabs’ aggregations around plant versus animal resources and around terrestrial versus aquatic resources did not differ, underscoring the species’ generalist foraging behavior. Broadly, these results suggest that C. compressus has one of the most diverse diets of any crustacean and plays a critical role in recycling organic matter and nutrients. This species might also mediate the passage of resources across different ecosystems, although further research is needed to explore this possibility.
Lexicons as Gold: Mining, Embellishment and Reuse

Given the high labor costs of developing new lexical resources for Machine Translation (MT) and language processing systems, it is desirable to make the most of those resources already in existence. This paper describes the work being carried out on two MT projects that share a common goal: the creation, maintenance and reuse of lexical information. This goal calls into play a range of tasks from dictionary mining of machine-readable dictionaries (MRDs) to the definition of a repository capable of housing this diverse lexical information. This paper outlines the two efforts, focusing on the problems encountered and the intermediate results achieved. While the ultimate goal of the automated processing of on-line resources into multi-purpose lexical repositories is far from being achieved, our experience has shown that there are significant applications that can make use of the partially processed information produced en route. We will describe our experience with two projects, with a focus on one which utilized multiple lexical resources to provide the basis for two natural language processing (NLP) tools: a segmenter and a glosser for Thai. Finally, we make recommendations for future resource development, with a view toward mitigating the difficulties of merging information from diverse sources.
Advanced circuit techniques for high-performance microprocessor design challenges

Summary form only given. Execution cores of advanced superscalar microprocessors requires high performance datapath circuits with single-cycle latency and throughput. Innovative circuit design solutions are required to deliver such performance in the presence of increasing frequencies, reverse scaling of interconnects and increasing device leakage. In this tutorial, we review key circuit solutions used to design high-performance energy-efficient datapath circuits.
Districts and Candidates in U.S. House Elections

Recent research on U.S. House elections focuses on the partisanship of districts as an explanation for weak competition, deemphasizing candidate and campaign variables like incumbency and spending. This literature focuses attention on the marginal effects of important explanatory variables, yet overall competitiveness is also driven by the underlying distributions of those variables. Campaign spending in particular has become strongly bimodal, far outpacing any polarization in district partisanship. This study uses counterfactual analysis to consider changes in both marginal effects and distributions simultaneously. When both are factored in, it becomes clear that candidates and campaigns are more important today, not less, while district partisanship is only modestly more significant. The polarization of districts is better at explaining the decline in competition over time, but this decline itself is quite modest. The variance around the downward trend is more significant, and is explained more readily with campaign dynamics than with district polarization. The drivers of competition in House elections continue to be highly personal, meaning reforms to increase competition should focus more on campaign finance than on ameliorative redistricting.
Ablation of Myocardial Tissue With Nanosecond Pulsed Electric Fields.

Background Ablation of cardiac tissue is an essential tool for the treatment of arrhythmias, particularly of atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, and ventricular tachycardia. Current ablation technologies suffer from substantial recurrence rates, thermal side effects, and long procedure times. We demonstrate that ablation with nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) can potentially overcome these limitations. Methods We used optical mapping to monitor electrical activity in Langendorff-perfused New Zealand rabbit hearts (n = 12). We repeatedly inserted two shock electrodes, spaced 2–4 mm apart, into the ventricles (through the entire wall) and applied nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEF) (5–20 kV/cm, 350 ns duration, at varying pulse numbers and frequencies) to create linear lesions of 12–18 mm length. Hearts were stained either with tetrazolium chloride (TTC) or propidium iodide (PI) to determine the extent of ablation. Some stained lesions were sectioned to obtain the three-dimensional geometry of the ablated volume. Results In all animals (12/12), we were able to create nonconducting lesions with less than 2 seconds of nsPEF application per site and minimal heating (< 0.2°C) of the tissue. The geometry of the ablated volume was smoother and more uniform throughout the wall than typical for RF ablation. The width of the lesions could be controlled up to 6 mm via the electrode spacing and the shock parameters. Conclusions Ablation with nsPEFs is a promising alternative to radiofrequency (RF) ablation of AF. It may dramatically reduce procedure times and produce more consistent lesion thickness than RF ablation.
Cholesterol Transport, Peripheral Benzodiazepine Receptor, and Steroidogenesis in Aging Leydig Cells

The cellular mechanisms responsible for age-related decline in the ability of Leydig cells to produce testosterone are not yet fully understood. The decline in testosterone production could result from a reduction in the Leydig cell enzymatic activities mediating testosterone synthesis, the amount of substrate available for these enzymes, or both. In the present study, we examined the effect of age on a critical early step in the steroidogenic pathway, the transport of cholesterol into mitochondria. Leydig cells were isolated from the testes of young and old Brown Norway rats and incubated with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and the side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450scc inhibitor aminoglutethimide (AMG). Mitochondria were isolated from these cells in the presence of AMG. Upon removal of AMG, the mitochondria from old cells produced 80% less steroid than those from young cells, only a fraction of which could be accounted for by a decrease in P450scc activity. These results suggest that the accumulation of hormonally recruited cholesterol into mitochondria is defective in old Leydig cells. With this in mind, we turned our attention to peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), a mitochondrial cholesterol-binding protein known to be involved in mediating cholesterol transport. PBR messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression were decreased in old cells. Moreover, both the dissociation constant (Kd) and the number of binding sites (Bmax) of the PBR were decreased in the old cells by 50% and 30%, respectively. Taken together, these results suggest that alterations in cholesterol transport and in PBR may play critical roles in age-related decreases in testosterone production in Brown Norway rat Leydig cells.
The extended MENT algorithm: a promising reconstruction algorithm for computerized tomography

The maximum entropy algorithm MENT is extended to image reconstruction problems frequently encountered in industrial computerized tomography. Unlike MENT, the extended MENT algorithm can process prior information and deal with incomplete projections or limited angle data. The image processing performance of the extended MENT algorithm is better than that of other maximum entropy algorithms such as MART or more standard methods such as ART and convolution backprojection. It is shown that the extended MENT algorithm outperforms these algorithms when few projections are collected, when limited angle data are available, or when data are missing in the projections. >
Anaesthesia and the developing brain : review

Increasing concern about the effect of anaesthesia on the infant and young child is raised by health care practitioners as well as the public immature neurons exposed to anaesthesia may lead to apoptosis and long-term neurobehavioural deficits in animals. The majority of anaesthetic agents work by influencing GABA or NMDA receptors and may induce animal neuro apoptosis. The search for neuroprotective strategies to reverse or counter act the effect of anaesthesia, so far, has not been very successful. Dexmedetomidine is an α-2 adrenoreceptor and may have neuroprotective effects. The available human studies have failed to prove any long-term neurobehavioural deficiencies caused by anaesthetic exposure. Large international prospective studies are currently on the way that may change the practice of paediatric and obstetric anaesthesiologists in the future.
Algorithmic Diagnosis of Multichip Module Defects Using the IEEE 1149.1 Standard

The importance of a thorough test and accurate diagnosis of multichip module defects cannot be overemphasized. The cost of repairing a module coupled with the cost of the die which constitute the typical MCM makes an error in the defect analysis very expensive. Given the lack of access to the internal nodes of an MCM and given that the most common faults are expected to be manufacturing defects (opens shorts, wrong die, physical damage to the die, etc.), the IEEE 1149.1 boundary-scan standard is expected to play a very important role in the accurate diagnosis of a large percentage of module problems.
Moderating Effects of Moderate-Intensity Physical Activity in the Relationship Between Depressive Symptoms and Interleukin-6 in Primary Care Patients

Objective To determine whether the relationship between interleukin (IL)-6 and depressive symptoms is moderated by participation in moderate-intensity physical activity in a sample of primary care patients. Elevated inflammation has been associated with a number of poor health outcomes. Depressive symptoms may be related to higher levels of the inflammatory marker IL-6; however, previous findings are inconsistent, possibly due to unidentified moderating factors. Methods A total of 107 participants, aged ≥ 40 years, were recruited in Rochester, New York, in 2006 to 2007. Depressive symptoms were measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised, participation in moderate-intensity physical activity was measured using a modified version of the Community Health Activities Model Program for Seniors Activity Questionnaire for Older Adults, and serum IL-6 concentrations were determined using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay protocols and high-sensitivity, anti-cytokine antibody pairs. A hierarchical multiple regression analysis was conducted. Results The correlation between IL-6 and depressive symptoms was nonsignificant (r = .086, p = .40). The association between IL-6 and depressive symptoms was moderated by participation in moderate-intensity physical activity (p = .02). Among those who did not engage in moderate-intensity physical activity, higher levels of depressive symptoms were significantly associated with higher levels of IL-6 (r = .28, p = .05), whereas this association was not significant among those who did participate in moderate-intensity physical activity (r = -.13, p = .38). Conclusion Participation in moderate-intensity physical activity may buffer the risk of higher inflammation often associated with higher levels of depressive symptoms.
Presence of infectious polyadenylated RNA in the coronavirus avian bronchitis virus

Avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) was radiolabeled for its nucleic acid component by growth in deembryonated chicken eggs. Purified virions of IBV have a buoyant density in linear sucrose gradients of 1.17-1.18 g/cm3 and contain approximately 4% RNA by weight. The genomic ribonucleic acid of IBV shows the following characteristic: (1) It consists of one size class of single-stranded RNA having a molecular weight of 5.5-5.7 x 108 and a sedimentation coefficient of about 48 S; (2) no evidence for subunit structure is apparent since the RNA resolves as a single species with the same electrophoretic mobility in polyacrylamide gels before and after heat denaturation; (3) at least 20–30% of the RNA molecules extracted from purified virions contain sequences of polyadenylic acid of approximately 4 S size; (4) RNA obtained from detergent-disrupted virus particles by phenol-chloroform extraction is infectious for cultures of chick embryo fibroblasts, giving rise to progeny virus which is lethal for embryonated eggs. These findings, together with the observation that IBV virions do not exhibit detectable transcriptase activity, support the conclusion that the genome of this coronavirus acts directly as a messenger RNA in eukaryotic cells.
The presence and stability of ground ice in the southern hemisphere of Mars

Abstract We calculate new estimates of ground-ice stability and the depth distribution of the ice table (the depth boundary between ice-free soil above and ice-cemented soil below) and compare these theoretical estimates of the distribution of ground ice with the observed distribution of leakage neutrons measured by the Neutron Spectrometer instrument of the Mars Odyssey spacecraft's Gamma Ray Spectrometer instrument suite. Our calculated ground-ice distribution contains improvements over previous work in that we include the effects of the high thermal conductivity of ice-cemented soil at and below the ice table, we include the surface elevation dependence of the near-surface atmospheric humidity, and we utilize new high resolution maps of thermal inertia, albedo, and elevation from Mars Global Surveyor observations. Results indicate that ground ice should be about 5 times shallower than in previous predictions. While results are dependent on the atmospheric humidity, depths are generally between a few millimeters and a few meters with typical values of a few centimeters. Results are also geographically similar to previous predictions with differences due to the higher resolution of thermal inertia and the inclusion of elevation effects on humidity. Comparison with the measured epithermal-neutron count rates in the southern hemisphere indicate that the geographic distribution of the count rate is best correlated with ground ice in equilibrium with 10 to 20 pr μm (precipitable micrometers) column abundance of atmospheric water, assuming a uniform distribution with CO2; however, given the uncertainties, 5 to 30 pr μm also may be viable. This water abundance represents a longer-term average over 100 to 1000 yr. There is a high degree of correlation between the depth of the ice table and the epithermal count rate that agrees remarkably well with predicted count rates as a function of ice-table depth. These results indicate that ground ice in the upper meter of the martian soil is in diffusive equilibrium with the atmosphere. Since ground ice in this depth zone is expected to undergo saturation/desiccation cycles with orbital variations, this ice should be younger than about 500 kyr and was emplaced under similar cold and dry climate conditions of today. Remaining differences between the predicted depths of the ice table and those inferred from the neutron data are likely to be due to subpixel heterogeneity in the martian surface including the presence of rocks, slopes, and patches of soil with varying thermophysical properties.