cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of the stability factor on the accuracy of two-dimensional TD-FD simulation

The effect of the stability factor on the computational accuracy of the time-domain finite-difference method using Maxwell's two curl equations is systematically tested for an initial boundary value problem in electromagnetics. A rectangular waveguide is chosen as the computational domain with matching and reflecting boundaries in two dimensions. The TE/sub 10/ mode is excited as an initial condition. A standing wave envelope is numerically formulated; s/sub max/ and S/sub min/ are sampled as in slotted-line measurements. Simulation results for different values of the stability factor are compared with the value 'unity' of the standing wave envelope in the matched condition. Generally, accuracy is not very sensitive to variations in the stability factor. But better accuracy has been observed at around SF=0.7 than at lower values of the stability factor. For both accuracy and economy reasons the authors suggest that a stability factor close to 0.7 should be chosen. >
Forensic Science Staffing: Creating a Working Formula

Abstract The key issue facing forensic labs is “the classic economic problem—how to allocate limited resources with increasing demand for services, while maintaining high quality standards” (Speaker 2009). Employees are the biggest expense and most valuable resource that forensic labs possess, thus the question arises as to how to maximize human resource functions to best allocate resources through personnel. As the search is on to look for better practices to improve the operations as well as technical expertise of labs, human capital management is crucial to that objective. The purpose of this article is to process map some of the staffing issues facing forensic science labs, whether public or private, and to identify metrics from the FORESIGHT study (Houck et al. 2009) that might help lab directors create a working formula to better manage staffing (e.g., recruiting and selection) issues.
High, usual and impaired functioning in community-dwelling older men and women: Findings from the MacArthur Foundation Research Network on successful aging

The objective of this study is to determine the range of complex physical and cognitive abilities of older men and women functioning at high, medium and impaired ranges and to determine the psychosocial and physiological conditions that discriminate those in the high functioning group from those functioning at middle or impaired ranges. The subjects for this study were drawn from men and women aged 70-79 from 3 Established Populations for the Epidemiologic Study of the Elderly (EPESE) programs in East Boston MA, New Haven CT, and Durham County NC screened on the basis of criteria of physical and cognitive function. In 1988, 4030 men and women were screened as part of their annual EPESE interview. 1192 men and women met criteria for "high functioning". Age and sex-matched subjects were selected to represent the medium (n = 80) and low (n = 82) functioning groups. Physical and cognitive functioning was assessed from performance-based examinations and self-reported abilities. Physical function measures focused on balance, gait, and upper body strength. Cognitive exams assessed memory, language, abstraction, and praxis. Significant differences for every performance-based examination of physical and cognitive function were observed across functioning groups. Low functioning subjects were almost 3 times as likely to have an income of < or = $5000 compared to the high functioning group. They were less likely to have completed high school. High functioning subjects smoked cigarettes less and exercised more than others. They had higher levels of DHEA-S and peak expiratory flow rate. High functioning elders were more likely to engage in volunteer activities and score higher on scales of self-efficacy, mastery and report fewer psychiatric symptoms.
Exploring the myriapod body plan: expression patterns of the ten Hox genes in a centipede

The diversity of the arthropod body plan has long been a fascinating subject of study. A flurry of recent research has analyzed Hox gene expression in various arthropod groups, with hopes of gaining insight into the mechanisms that underlie their evolution. The Hox genes have been analyzed in insects, crustaceans and chelicerates. However, the expression patterns of the Hox genes have not yet been comprehensively analyzed in a myriapod. We present the expression patterns of the ten Hox genes in a centipede, Lithobius atkinsoni, and compare our results to those from studies in other arthropods. We have three major findings. First, we find that Hox gene expression is remarkably dynamic across the arthropods. The expression patterns of the Hox genes in the centipede are in many cases intermediate between those of the chelicerates and those of the insects and crustaceans, consistent with the proposed intermediate phylogenetic position of the Myriapoda. Second, we found two ‘extra’ Hox genes in the centipede compared with those in Drosophila. Based on its pattern of expression, Hox3 appears to have a typical Hox-like role in the centipede, suggesting that the novel functions of the Hox3 homologs zen and bicoid were adopted somewhere in the crustacean-insect clade. In the centipede, the expression of the gene fushi tarazu suggests that it has both a Hox-like role (as in the mite), as well as a role in segmentation (as in insects). This suggests that this dramatic change in function was achieved via a multifunctional intermediate, a condition maintained in the centipede. Last, we found that Hox expression correlates with tagmatic boundaries, consistent with the theory that changes in Hox genes had a major role in evolution of the arthropod body plan.
Dual space search during scientific reasoning

The purpose of the two studies reported here wos to develop an integrated model of the scientific reasoning process. Subjects were placed in a simulated scientific discovery context by first teaching them how to use an electronic device and then asking them to discover how a hitherto unencountered function worked. To do this task. subjects had to formulate hypotheses bas’ed on their prior knowledge, conduct experiments, and evaluate the results of their experiments. In t,he first study, using 20 adult subjects, we identified two main strategies that subjects used to generate new hypotheses. One strategy was to scorch memory and the other was to generalize from the results of previous experiments. We described the former group as searching an hypothesis space, and the latter as searching on experiment space. In a second study, with 10 adults, we investigated how subjects search the hypothesis space by instructing them to state all the hypotheses that they could think of prior to conducting any experiments. Following this phase, subjects were then allowed to conduct experiments. Subjects who could not think of the correct rule in the hypothesis generation phase discovered the correct rule only by generalizing from the results of experiments in the experimentol phase. Both studies provide support for the view that scientific reasoning can be characterized as search in two problem spaces. By extending Simon and Lea’s (1974) Generalized Rule Inducer, we present a general model of Scientific Discovery as Dual Search (SDDS) that shows how search in two problem spaces (an hypothesis space and an experiment space) shapes hypothesis generation, experimental design, and the evaluation of hypotheses. The model also shows how these processes interact with each other. Finally, we interpret earlier findings about the psychology of scientific reasoning In terms of the SDDS model.
Equivocating the Ad Hominem

Christopher Johnson argued in ‘Reconsidering the Ad Hominem’ that, in certain exceptional cases, appealing to ad hominem considerations is logically justifiable. My argument is that ad hominem considerations are no different than other evidential considerations. The evidential links may be strong, weak or nonexistent but there is nothing special in itself about considering ad hominem factors when weighing evidence. Like all the informal fallacies, simply because a claim has the signature of being ‘ad hominem’ does not make it irrelevant. The apparent originality of Johnson's point lies in equivocating ‘ad hominem fallacy’ with ‘ad hominem considerations’. It is not looking to personal characteristics or situations that in itself is illogical. It is when those features have no evidential link to the point at hand.
Was haben Kapitalanlagen und öffentliche Verkehrsmittel gemein

Erstmals wurde der Carbon Footprint fur Kapitalanlageprodukte in Deutschland berechnet. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die private Kapitalanlage in erheblichem Mase mit Treibhausgasemissionen verknupft ist.
Female Reproductive Tissues Are the Primary Target of Agrobacterium-Mediated Transformation by the Arabidopsis Floral-Dip Method

The floral-dip method for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Arabidopsis allows efficient plant transformation without need for tissue culture. To facilitate use with other plant species, we investigated the mechanisms that underlie this method. In manual outcrossing experiments, application of Agrobacterium tumefaciens to pollen donor plants did not produce any transformed progeny, whereas application of Agrobacterium to pollen recipient plants yielded transformants at a rate of 0.48%. Agrobacterium strains with T-DNA carrying gusA (encoding β-glucuronidase [GUS]) under the control of 35S, LAT52, or ACT11 promoters revealed delivery of GUS activity to developing ovules, whereas no GUS staining of pollen or pollen tubes was observed. Transformants derived from the same seed pod contained independent T-DNA integration events. In Arabidopsis flowers, the gynoecium develops as an open, vase-like structure that fuses to form closed locules roughly 3 d prior to anthesis. In correlation with this fact, we found that the timing of Agrobacterium infection was critical. Transformants were obtained and GUS staining of ovules and embryo sacs was observed only if the Agrobacterium were applied 5 d or more prior to anthesis. A 6-fold higher rate of transformation was obtained with a CRABS-CLAW mutant that maintains an open gynoecium. Our results suggest that ovules are the site of productive transformation in the floral-dip method, and further suggest that Agrobacterium must be delivered to the interior of the developing gynoecium prior to locule closure if efficient transformation is to be achieved.
Mean circulation in the coastal ocean off northeastern North America from a regional-scale ocean model

Abstract. A regional-scale ocean model was used to hindcast the coastal circulation over the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) and Gulf of Maine (GOM) from 2004 to 2013. The model was nested inside a data assimilative global ocean model that provided initial and open boundary conditions. Realistic atmospheric forcing, tides and observed river runoff were also used to drive the model. Hindcast solutions were compared against observations, which included coastal sea levels, satellite altimetry sea surface height, in situ temperature and salinity measurements in the GOM, and observed mean depth-averaged velocities. Good agreements with observations suggest that the hindcast model is capable of capturing the major circulation variability in the MAB and GOM. Time- and space-continuous hindcast fields were used to depict the mean circulation, along- and cross-shelf transport and the associated momentum balances. The hindcast confirms the presence of the equatorward mean shelf circulation, which varies from 2.33 Sv over the Scotian Shelf to 0.22 Sv near Cape Hatteras. Using the 200 m isobath as the shelf/slope boundary, the mean cross-shelf transport calculations indicate that the shelfbreak segments off the Gulf of Maine (including the southern flank of Georges Bank and the Northeast Channel) and Cape Hatteras are the major sites for shelf water export. The momentum analysis reveals that the along-shelf sea level difference from Nova Scotia to Cape Hatteras is about 0.36 m. The nonlinear advection, stress, and horizontal viscosity terms all contribute to the ageostrophic circulation in the along-isobath direction, whereas the nonlinear advection plays a dominant role in determining the ageostrophic current in the cross-isobath direction.
The application of metaphor, analogy, and conceptual models in computer systems

Abstract People using computer systems naturally relate what they are experiencing to what they already know. This general cognitive process can be classified into metaphoric, analogical, and modelling processes. Metaphor, a term applied often to today's computer systems, is the process of representing the computer system with objects and events from a noncomputer domain, such as the popular desktop metaphor. Analogy is a comparison between objects or events that serve the same purpose but have different representations. Models are representations of the abstract conceptual structure of a computer system. This paper outlines the differences between these three processes and applies them to the computer domain. Implications for computer systems design are also discussed.
NEW RECORDS OF CICADAS FROM MEXICO (HEMIPTERA: CICADOIDEA: CICADIDAE)

Abstract I report on specimens that represent the first records of 7 cicada species in 5 genera found in Mexico. This is the first report of a Beameria species in Mexico.
Toward Practical Smile Detection

Machine learning approaches have produced some of the highest reported performances for facial expression recognition. However, to date, nearly all automatic facial expression recognition research has focused on optimizing performance on a few databases that were collected under controlled lighting conditions on a relatively small number of subjects. This paper explores whether current machine learning methods can be used to develop an expression recognition system that operates reliably in more realistic conditions. We explore the necessary characteristics of the training data set, image registration, feature representation, and machine learning algorithms. A new database, GENKI, is presented which contains pictures, photographed by the subjects themselves, from thousands of different people in many different real-world imaging conditions. Results suggest that human-level expression recognition accuracy in real-life illumination conditions is achievable with machine learning technology. However, the data sets currently used in the automatic expression recognition literature to evaluate progress may be overly constrained and could potentially lead research into locally optimal algorithmic solutions.
Land Occupations, Violence, and the Politics of Agrarian Reform in Brazil

Landless farmworkers in Brazil typically occupy land that is legally eligible for expropriation, but the state normally does not expropriate until a land occupation forces the hand of authorities. ...
MODAL ANALYSIS OF NON-CLASSICALLY DAMPED LINEAR SYSTEMS

SUMMARY A critical, textbook-like review of the generalized modal superposition method of evaluating the dynamic response of nonclassically damped linear systems is presented, which it is hoped will increase the attractiveness of the method to structural engineers and its application in structural engineering practice and research. Special attention is given to identifying the physical significance of the various elements of the solution and to simplifying its implementation. It is shown that the displacements of a nonclassically damped n-degree-of-freedom system may be expressed as a linear combination of the displacements and velocities of n similarly excited single-degree-of-freedom systems, and that once the natural frequencies of vibration of the system have been determined, its response to an arbitrary excitation may be computed with only minimal computational effort beyond that required for the analysis of a classically damped system of the same size. The concepts involved are illustrated by a series of exqmples, and comprehensive numerical data for a three-degree-offreedom system are presented which elucidate the effects of several important parameters. The exact solutions for the system are also compared over a wide range of conditions with those computed approximately considering the system to be classically damped, and the interrelationship of two sets of solutions is discussed.
Modeling and Prediction of Rainfall Using Radar Reflectivity Data: A Data-Mining Approach

Rainfall affects local water quantity and quality. A data-mining approach is applied to predict rainfall in a watershed basin at Oxford, Iowa, based on radar reflectivity and tipping-bucket (TB) data. Five data-mining algorithms, neural network, random forest, classification and regression tree, support vector machine, and k-nearest neighbor, are employed to build prediction models. The algorithm offering the highest accuracy is selected for further study. Model I is the baseline model constructed from radar data covering Oxford. Model II predicts rainfall from radar and TB data collected at Oxford. Model III is constructed from the radar and TB data collected at South Amana (16 km west of Oxford) and Iowa City (25 km east of Oxford). The computation results indicate that the three models offer similar accuracy when predicting rainfall at current time. Model II performs better than the other two models when predicting rainfall at future time horizons.
Who's who in bariatric surgery: the pioneers in the development of surgery for weight control.

n o s i f p c i b t t p w t m c r a f r s w a r s d t c q w s s s i f t u besity is a complex, multifactorial chronic disease involving nvironmental (social and cultural), genetic, physiologic, metbolic, behavioral, and psychological components. Responsible or greater than 300,000 deaths per year, it is second only to obacco abuse as the leading cause of preventable death in the nited States. Approximately 127 million adults in the United tates are overweight (BMI 25), 60 million are obese (BMI 30), and 9 million are severely obese (BMI 40). The verall prevalence of obesity has geometrically increased from 2.8% in 1962 to 30.5% in 2000. Although the prevalence of verweight is higher in men (67%) than women (62%), obesity nd severe obesity are more prevalent in women (34% vs 27.7% nd 6.3% vs 3.1%, respectively). The comorbidities of obesity re numerous and affect nearly every organ system: cardiovasular (eg, essential hypertension, coronary artery disease, left entricular hypertrophy), central nervous system (eg, stroke, diopathic intracranial hypertension), gastrointestinal (eg, choecystitis, cholelithiasis, fatty liver infiltration), respiratory (eg, bstructive sleep apnea, obesity hypoventilation syndrome, sthma), psychologic (eg, social stigmatization, depression), orhopedic (eg, osteoarthritis), metabolic (eg, insulin resistance, iabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia), reproductive (eg, anovulation, arly puberty), cutaneous (eg, intertrigo, hirsutism), and exremities (eg, varicosities, edema). In addition, obese patients re at an increased risk for complications at the time of surgery nd postoperatively, including myocardial infarction, deep veous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, and ound infections. The concept for a surgical procedure to treat obesity was eveloped from the results of cancer and ulcer procedures. Paients that had large portions of their stomachs or small intesines removed were observed to experience significant postoprative weight loss. In the mid-1950s, Linnear et al started reating artificial malabsorbtion syndromes. They used intesti-
Principal and teacher collaboration. An exploration of distributed leadership in professional learning communities.

Professional learning communities (PLCs) can be powerful tools for school improvement but require principals and teachers to collaborate and work together. This article reports on a qualitative multi-case study focused on six elementary schools in West Texas that had been identified for having effective PLCs. Principals and teachers were observed and interviewed over the course of one academic school year to understand how leadership was distributed across the school to facilitate effective PLCs. Findings highlight the ways principals distribute leadership across their school, relevant teacher and principal interactions, and how key aspects of PLCs are influenced by principals, teacher leaders, and teachers. Findings have implications for in-service professional development experts within school districts and faculty working in principal preparation programs.
A quantitative analysis of the performance and scalability of distributed shared memory cache coherence protocols

Scalable cache coherence protocols have become the key technology for creating moderate to large-scale shared-memory multiprocessors. Although the performance of such multiprocessors depends critically on the performance of the cache coherence protocol, little comparative performance data is available. Existing commercial implementations use a variety of different protocols, including bit-vector/coarse-vector protocols, SCI-based protocols, and COMA protocols. Using the programmable protocol processor of the Stanford FLASH multiprocessor, we provide a detailed, implementation-oriented evaluation of four popular cache coherence protocols. In addition to measurements of the characteristics of protocol execution (e.g., memory overhead, protocol execution time, and message count) and of overall performance, we examine the effects of scaling the processor count from 1 to 128 processors. Surprisingly, the optimal protocol changes for different applications and can change with processor count even within the same application. These results help identify the strengths of specific protocols and illustrate the benefits of providing flexibility in the choice of cache coherence protocol.
Structure and Connections of the Cingulate Vocalization Region in the Rhesus Monkey

Many primate utterances are simple vocalizations that may be associated with brainstem activity and contain limited information about the internal state of the animal. Sequences of tone and amplitude modulated vocalizations which have associative content form the basis for more complex communication within a species. These complex vocalizations are organized at suprabulbar levels, including the cerebral cortex.
The Company They Keep: How Human Brand Managers and Their Social Networks Shape Job Market Outcomes

Individuals, as human brands, “market themselves” to become appealing to prospective parties, such as employers. Yet the responsibility of marketing a human brand rarely falls on an individual alone: mentors, agents, academic advisors, and other individuals actively market the human brand as well. We introduce the term “human brand manager” to describe these individuals, and propose that their social networks play an important role in the success of the human brands they manage. Such networks may be actively used to influence the human brand manager’s contacts or may also serve as an additional signaling mechanism for the human brands. This proposition is tested in the context of the marketing job market. We uncover unobservable communities of academic advisors using a community detection algorithm on placement and coauthoring patterns. When advisors belong to dense communities, candidates can benefit from additional salary gains, up to $23,419.03 in the case of placement communities and $15,149.58 in the case of coauthorship communities, after controlling for candidate and departmental quality. This shows that human brand managers’ membership in diverse social networks shape job market outcomes, and that their role in signaling value is sometimes superior to the human brand’s quality.
Strengthening Humanitarian Law: Commonwealth countries and the Arms Trade Treaty

This article explores the role of Commonwealth countries with respect to the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), which is now part of the body of international humanitarian law. This landmark instrument has, as its central objective, the establishment of the highest possible common international standards for regulating or improving the regulation of the international trade in conventional arms; prevent and eradicate the illicit trade in conventional arms and prevent their diversion. Trinidad and Tobago and other Member States of the Caribbean Community strongly supported the movement which culminated in the adoption of the ATT and participated actively in the negotiations which led to the conclusion of this historic Treaty. It is obvious that the international community now has within its arsenal an agreement, which, if embraced by all, could erase an ample amount of the pain and suffering associated with the billion dollar illegal arms trade. Commonwealth countries should continue to show leadership in this endeav...
Neuromuscular Control and Active Trunk Stiffness during Isometric Flexion and Extension

Pushing and pulling tasks account for 20% of low-back injury claims. Torso flexion necessary for pushing exertions requires different muscle recruitment than for extension exertions typical of lifting tasks. These differences in recruitment and control may influence spinal stability and associated risk of injury. Active muscle stiffness is considered the primary stabilizing mechanism for spinal stability. Therefore, active trunk stiffness was recorded while subjects generated upright isometric trunk flexion and extension exertions against an isotonic preload. Small pseudo-random force disturbances were superimposed on the preloads causing small amplitude trunk movements. Trunk stiffness was computed from systems identification of the measured force and trunk motion data. Results demonstrated significantly greater stiffness during flexion exertions as compared to extension exertions. EMG data suggest this difference was due to increased co-contraction during the flexion exertions. These behaviours were att...
Which Measure of Body Fat Distribution is Best for Epidemiologic Research Among Adolescents

Body fat distribution is a cardiovascular health risk factor in adults. The development of body fat distribution patterns in childhood remains to be explored and the appropriate index and relations of body fat distribution to cardiovascular risk factors in children is not clear. Data are available from the US Health Examination Survey (1966-1970), which included measurements of skinfold thickness, body and limb circumferences, biologic maturity, and risk factors (blood pressure, total cholesterol). Using canonical correlation analysis, the relation between sets of anthropometric variables and risk factors was explored, controlling for age, race, sex, and maturity stage. The relation of various body fat distribution and fatness indices used in adult studies to the risk factors was also explored using stepwise regression and partial correlation analyses. The first canonical correlations were significant between risk factors and both sets of anthropometric variables (skinfolds, 0.36-0.46; circumferences, 0.39-0.54). However, neither method revealed a clear cut pattern suggesting a role of centralized fatness. Rather, body fatness or size appeared to be the major correlate with risk factors in both races (black, white) and sexes and in each maturity status group. In the stepwise regression analysis, a body fatness or "size" variable (e.g., body mass index, hip circumference) invariably entered on step one. Only among the sexually mature did body fat distribution indices enter on the second step in a consistent manner. No one index seemed "better," although indices based on skinfold measures entered more often than the waist/hip ratio.
Abstract 153: Estimating Medication Adherence Effects Using Part D Copayment as an Instrumental Variable in Heart Failure Patients

Purpose: Better adherence to medications for heart failure patients may be associated with lower rates of readmission following hospital discharge. Treatment selection could bias estimated effects of medication adherence, but using variation in the Part D copayment within and between patients over time as an instrumental variable (IV) may help identify medication adherence effects. Methods: We use data from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study to construct person-month records for up to 12 months following discharge for 952 hospitalizations for 541 ARIC cohort participants with heart failure between 2006-2012 who were enrolled in Part D. We measure medication adherence from Part D claims as “proportion ambulatory days covered” (PADC) each month. Adherence is defined as PADC≥80%. We use bivariate probit to jointly estimate models for medication adherence and outcomes (monthly rate of hospital readmission or death) for months 2-12 following discharge. The adherence model uses dummy variables to control for Part D copayment phase ($250 deductible, 25%, 100% donut hole, or 5%) interacted with Medicaid copayment coverage as IV. Outcomes are modeled as a function of adherence in the prior month. Both equations also control for patient demographics and case mix including comorbidities and clinic/lab values. Separate models are run for three medications (ACEI/ARB, beta blockers or diuretics). We also estimate outcome logit equations without IV. Results: Average adherence per month was 49%, 51% and 52% for ACEI/ARB, beta blockers and diuretics, respectively. Readmission and death rates per month were 11% and 1%, respectively; 60% of patients who were not readmitted within the first 30 days were readmitted at some point during the year following discharge. Approximately 23% of follow-up months were for patients in the “donut hole” with 100% copayment. Part D copayment for persons without Medicaid drug coverage was a strong instrument in predicting adherence. In single equation models, being adherent to medication in one month was not associated with a reduced likelihood of readmission or death next month. However, the association was substantively and statistically associated in bivariate probit models using Part D copay as an IV. For example, without an IV, ACEI/ARB adherence did not predict readmission or death in the following month (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.73-1.22); among patients whose adherence depends partly on cost-sharing, the IV estimation showed a lower likelihood of readmission or death (OR 0.54; 95% CI 0.31-0.92). Conclusions: Medication adherence after hospitalization is suboptimal, and readmission rates during the year following discharge are high. Associations between medication adherence and readmission/death corrected for selection suggest that patients with heart failure may benefit from continued interventions to improve medication adherence.
203 Is Cerebral Oxygen Supply Compromised in Preterm Infants Undergoing Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)

203 Is Cerebral Oxygen Supply Compromised in Preterm Infants Undergoing Closure of Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA)?
Distributed Learning via Diffusion Adaptation with Application to Ensemble Learning

We examine the problem of learning a set of parameters from a distributed dataset. We assume the datasets are collected by agents over a distributed ad-hoc network, and that the communication of the actual raw data is prohibitive due to either privacy constraints or communication constraints. We propose a distributed algorithm for online learning that is proved to guarantee a bounded excess risk and the bound can be made arbitrary small for sufficiently small step-sizes. We apply our framework to the expert advice problem where nodes learn the weights for the trained experts distributively.
Current Analysis of Acintobacter baumannii Infection among Pediatric Patients in a Single-centered Study

Purpose : Acinetobacter baumannii is an aerobic, gram negative coccobacillus. Due to its pathogenicity and ability to accumulate diverse mechanisms of resistance, the importance of this organism is increasing. Many reports have targeted adults, and studies of pediatric patients are limited. This study aims to investigate the current status of A. baumannii infection in children. Methods : From January 2001 to December 2008, 505 patients hospitalized with A. baumannii infection were enrolled. Admission records for underlying disease, duration of hospitalization, previous antibiotic use, location of admission, presence of ventilator care, and resistance to antibiotics were retrospectively reviewed and analyzed. Results : Hemato-oncological disease and neurological disease were 30.6% and 24.3% of all cases; therefore, these were the most common underlying diseases of patients with A. baumannii infection. Prevalence of A. baumannii infection was 78.1% in patients with previous antibiotic use, which was higher than that of the group not using previous antibiotic. And prevalence of multi-drug resistant and pan-drug resistant A. baumannii infection was 76.4% and 38.3% in patients with ICU care, 76.8% and 38.9% with ventilator care, and these were higher than the others. Rate of resistance to all groups of antibiotics showed a gradual increase to over 50% in 2008. Multi-drug resistant A. baumannii was 63.5% and pan-drug resistant A. baumannii was 48.2% of all cases. Conclusion : Prevalence of A. baumannii infection and resistance to antibacterial agents of A. baumannii is increasing. Adequate use of antibiotics and infection control should be emphasized in pediatric patients.
Supramolecular Guest-Host Interactions for the Preparation of Biomedical Materials.

Supramolecular chemistry has emerged as an important technique for the formation of biomaterials, including nano- and microparticles and hydrogels. One specific class of supramolecular chemistry is the direct association of guest–host pairs, which involves host macrocycles such as cyclodextrins and cucurbit[n]urils and a wide range of guest molecules, where association is typically driven by molecule size and hydrophobicity. These systems are of particular interest in the biomedical field due to their dynamic nature, chemical diversity, relative ease of synthesis, and ability to interact with biological or synthetic molecules. In this review, we discuss aspects of polymeric material assembly mediated by guest–host interactions, including the fundamentals of assembly into functional biomedical materials. Additionally, applications of biomaterials that utilize guest–host interactions are discussed with a focus on injectable material formulations, the sequestration and delivery of encapsulated cargo (i.e., d...
DEGRADATION OF CERTAIN NUCLEOTIDES BY HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE AND HAEMOPHILUS AEGYPTIUS

Little attention has been paid to the degradation of nucleotides by the genus Haemophilus although Lwoff and Lwoff (1937a, b) and McIlwain and Hughes (1948) demonstrated that Haemophilus parainfluenzae was capable of destroying diphosphopyridine nucleotide (DPN). More recently, Kalckar (1954) reported the occurrence of a specific nucleotide pyrophosphatase and associated nucleotide phosphatase in sonic extracts of Haemophilus influenzae which hydrolyzed uridine diphosphoglucose to glucose 1-phosphate, uridine, and inorganic phosphate. The present work demonstrates that in addition to uridine diphosphoglucose, several other nucleotides, including DPN, are degraded by sonic extracts of H. influenzae and Haemophilus aegyptius.
The Role of Diabetes in Predicting Employment Status for Individuals with Bipolar Disorder

Diabetes is a growing public health concern for the general population, but individuals with bipolar disorder (BPD) are at increased risk. There is a dearth of research investigating how diabetes affects outcomes for those with BPD. Using data from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey, this study investigates the relationship between diabetes and employment for individuals with BPD (N = 748). Logistic regression results indicated among individuals with BPD, the odds of being unemployed were approximately 3.5 times higher for those with diabetes compared to those without diabetes. Relevant policy considerations and implications for professionals are discussed.
The World Market for Bonds and Stocks

One way to answer these questions is to rely on anecdotes, and particularly the stories of the market participants. An alternative approach is to rely on economic intuition. A third is to scan the data. The answers to both questions are more ambiguous than they seem. Consider the answer to the second question at the end of 1989. Investors who owned Japanese shares had a much higher rate of return than investors who owned shares of firms headquartered in other industrial countries over the previous 10 years, the previous 20 years, and even the previous 30 years. The high rates of return on Japanese stocks reflected primarily the sharp increase in prices of stocks traded in Tokyo; Americans and other non-Japanese that owned these stocks had an even higher rate of return because the yen had appreciated by an average annual rate of 4–5 percent a year between 1970 and 1989.
A study of the influence of particle gradation in bonded assemblies

The discrete element method (DEM) has been used extensively to study soil, rock, and masonry behavior because of its ability to model the materials as individual particles or bonded clumps of particles. DEM allows for examination of the macroand micro-scale response and provides a means to study the fundamental material behavior, but it is still considered computationally expensive in relation to other methods. To lower computational costs, the smallest particle sizes are often considered negligible and are left out of the model. Additionally, rock or intact materials are often modeled as a bonded assembly of uniform spheres. To date, few research studies have considered the influence of particle size and gradation on the strength and fracture behavior of bonded assemblies. This research aims to examine the influence of particle gradation in bonded assemblies through laboratory calibrated DEM simulations. Additionally, the role of the cement-sized particles will also be investigated. While the overall motivation for this study is related to the behavior of mortar in historic preservation applications, the preliminary studies can be directly applied to other geo-related materials such as cemented sands and rock specimens. This study addresses two critical questions associated with the computational efficiency of bonded assembly models (1) Does particle gradation influence the overall strength and fracture behavior, and (2) Do the smallest size particles influence the overall results enough to justify the additional computational cost? In this study two mortar materials, varying only in sand particle gradation, are subjected to physical laboratory compression strength tests to assess whether or not the influence is observed in physical experiments. Additionally, the compression test results act as a means of calibrating the simulations in DEM. These simulations will examine the macroand micro-scale influence of particle gradation on the strength of bonded assemblies. Additional simulations are used to examine the effects of modeling the cement-sized particles in the bonded assembly. The results of the physical experiments and the development of the DEM simulations are discussed herein.
A Comparison of Hispanic and Anglo Calls to a Gambling Help Hotline.

Prevalence studies have found that problem gamblers tend to be non-Caucasians. Nevertheless, information on non-Caucasian gambling patterns and problems is virtually non-existent. Data collected during years 1992–1998 on Hispanic (N = 209) and Anglo (N = 5311) problem gamblers calling the Florida Council on Compulsive Gambling Hotline for help is examined to provide information on one such non-Caucasian group: Hispanics. A sharp difference in the number of Hispanic and Anglo callers was found during this six year period (3.8% Hispanic and 96.2% Anglo). Differences were also found in the likelihood of Hispanics calling about their own problems, having gone for previous help, and types of gambling activities. Similarities were found between the two groups regarding age, marital status, and the three most cited problems caused by gambling: problems with family, inability to pay bills and going into debt. Anglos were significantly more likely to “engage in illegal activities for gambling money” and “problems with job.” Group differences caution against using Anglo based prevention and treatment programs with Hispanics populations.
Longitudinal radiographic behavior of accessory navicular in pediatric patients

Abstract Background An accessory navicular is generally asymptomatic and discovered incidentally on radiographs. The natural history of an accessory navicular in the pediatric population is largely undescribed. Methods The medical charts of 261 pediatric subjects undergoing 2620 annual unilateral radiographs of the foot and ankle (age range 0.25–7 years at enrollment) were reviewed. Radiographs were examined to determine the incidence of accessory navicular, with focus on the age at appearance and, if present, the age at fusion. Skeletal maturity was graded based on ossification pattern of the calcaneal apophysis. Results Accessory navicular was identified in 19 subjects (n = 12 males, n = 7 females, p = 0.43), appearing significantly earlier in the female subjects than in the male ones (p = 0.03). Fusion was documented in 42% (n = 8) of subjects, occurring at a mean (±standard deviation) age of 12.5 ± 1.0 years in females and 14.1 ± 2.7 years in males. Skeletal maturity grading demonstrated comparable st...
Contrasting gene expression programs correspond with predator-induced phenotypic plasticity within and across generations in Daphnia.

Research has shown that a change in environmental conditions can alter the expression of traits during development (i.e., ‘within-generation phenotypic plasticity’) as well as induce heritable phenotypic responses that persist for multiple generations (i.e., ‘transgenerational plasticity’). It has long been assumed that shifts in gene expression are tightly linked to observed trait responses at the phenotypic level. Yet, the manner in which organisms couple within- and trans-generational plasticity at the molecular level is unclear. Here we tested the influence of fish predator chemical cues on patterns of gene expression within- and across-generations using a clone of Daphnia ambigua that is known to exhibit strong transgenerational plasticity but weak within-generation plasticity. Daphnia were reared in the presence of predator cues in generation 1 and shifts in gene expression were tracked across two additional asexual experimental generations that lacked exposure to predator cues. Initial exposure to predator cues in generation 1 was linked to ~50 responsive genes but such shifts were 3-4x larger in later generations. Differentially expressed genes included those involved in reproduction, exoskeleton structure, and digestion; major shifts in expression of genes encoding ribosomal proteins were also identified. Furthermore, shifts within the first generation and transgenerational shifts in gene expression were largely distinct in terms of the genes that were differentially expressed. Such results argue that the gene expression programs involved in within- versus trans-generation plasticity are fundamentally different. Our study provides new key insights into the plasticity of gene expression and how it relates to phenotypic plasticity in nature. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Characterizing egg quality and larval performance from captive mahi-mahi Coryphaena hippurus (Linnaeus, 1758) spawns over time

Mahi-mahi Coryphaena hippurus is a promising species for aquaculture development and has been used as a model species for oil toxicology and physiology studies. This species has one of the fastest growth rates of any marine teleost and a unique reproductive biology due to its high spawning frequency and reproductive energy allocation. These characteristics lend the species to being an excellent model for understanding broodstock nutrition for other high energetic pelagic species. In this study, egg morphometrics and larval survival were tracked over a 10-week period from the initial capture of wild mahi-mahi broodstock. Larval quality from subsequent spawns collected over time was quantified using larval survival activity indices (SAIs) as a metric to assess egg quality. Larval SAIs were maintained and did not significantly decrease (p < .05) over the time course of this study. A multiple linear regression based on the elapsed time in captivity of the broodstock, egg diameter and larval SAI at 1 dph provided the most accurate prediction of larval SAI at 3 dph (R2 = 0.996 p < .05). There were strong positive correlations with larval SAIs at 1 and 3 dph and the key nutrients: eicosapentaenoic acid (C20: 5n-3, EPA) and related fatty acid ratios, vitamin E and nearly all amino acids under investigation. This study demonstrated that larval survival was maintained over time due to the supply of these key nutrients in the broodstock diet.
Biosynthesis of Mitochondrial Membrane Proteins

Current interest in membrane biogenesis is focused on a series of questions that pertain to: the structure and regulation of genes for membrane proteins; the routes taken by membrane proteins and lipids from their sites of synthesis in the cell to their sites of insertion in the membrane; the coordination between the synthesis of membrane proteins and lipids; and the mechanisms by which proteins and lipids are inserted into the membrane bilayer so as to ensure its continued asymmetry. In considering the biogenesis of mitochondrial membranes, these questions must be extended to include, in addition, the respective roles played by mitochondrial and nuclear genomes in the assembly process. In this review we will first briefly summarize the coordination between nuclear and mitochondrial genomes in mitochondrial biogenesis and then discuss the pathways followed by nuclear and mitochondrial gene products into the genetic mosaic of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Planning Your Classroom Deployment of iPads

This chapter discusses how to plan your deployment of iPads in the classroom. We’ll start with a quick reality check about your school’s plans to add computers to the classroom and then move along to practical matters. You’ll get to know the capabilities of iPads and how they compare—both favorably and unfavorably—to laptops and desktops. We’ll then go through what you’ll need to do to plan the deployment, starting with choosing a deployment model, moving along through choosing which iPads to get, deciding whether to supervise them, and choosing how to manage them. Finally, we’ll discuss making sure that your school’s network and Internet connection have enough bandwidth to handle the additional traffic the iPads will generate.
AROMa: Aging-Aware Deadlock-Free Adaptive Routing Algorithm and Online Monitoring in 3D NoCs

The movement toward 3D fabrication coupled with Network-on-Chip (NoC) aims to improve area, performance, power, and scalability of many-core systems. However, reliability issue as a perpetual challenge in advanced silicon technology imperils it. Aging is an emerging reliability concern, which degrades the system's performance and causes timing failure eventually. Bias-Temperature-Instability (BTI) and Hot-Carrier-Injection (HCI) are the dominant aging mechanisms, which escalate in high temperature and stress (i.e., usage). In addition to the intra-layer temperature variations, 3D NoCs experience inter-layer temperature variations, which demand necessary investigations for aging as compared to 2D NoC. In this paper, we propose AROMa, an aging-aware deadlock-free adaptive routing algorithm integrated with a novel online aging monitoring system for 3D NoCs. The monitoring system in AROMa exploits Distributed-Centralized-Aging-Table (D-CAT) to obtain routers’ aging rates for each layer of 3D NoCs periodically. Consequently, AROMa swaps between different k-best source-destination shortest paths periodically to avoid highly aged routers, force them in recovery phase of BTI, and accordingly balance aging in the network. We prove that AROMa is deadlock free. Our extensive experimental analysis using gem5 full system mode for PARSEC and SPLASH-2 benchmark suites concludes that AROMa outperforms state-of-the-art works while improving age imbalance by 70 percent and maximum age by 35 percent in 3D NoC with negligible overheads.