cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On the dip angle of subducting plates

A new approximate analytic model is developed for the thermal structure of a subducting plate with a finite length. This model provides the capability of easily examining the thermal and mechanical structure of a subducting plate with different lengths and at different angles. Also, the torque balance of a descending plate can be examined, and effects such as the leading edge effect, the adiabatic compression effect, and the phase change effect can be incorporated. A comparison with observed data indicates that short slabs are likely under torque equilibrium at present, while long slabs are probably dominated by their gravitational torques such that their dip angles are transient, moving toward a steeper dip angle similar to that of the Mariana slab.
Distinguishing between 'preference' and 'motivation' in food choice: an example from insect oviposition

Abstract Variation among individuals in acceptance of a second-ranked food resource could be caused either by variation in strength of ‘preference’ for the top-ranked over the second-ranked resource type, or by variation in the general readiness to feed. This distinction is important in models of diet evolution. Of the two traits, preference is the more likely to show additive genetic variation and hence be subject to evolutionary change. In the checkerspot butterfly, Euphydryas editha , changes in readiness to oviposit (abbreviated as oviposition ‘motivation’) mediate the relationship between host preference, host encounter rate, and realized diet, and thereby influence the strength of selection on preference. Definitions of acceptance, preference and motivation are given and applied to oviposition behaviour of herbivorous insects. From these definitions, operational measures of these traits are developed for E. editha . These operational measures are then used to investigate a difference between two E. editha populations in acceptance of a second-ranked host species. The results of this study show that this difference was caused partly by variation of preference and partly by variation of motivation. The difference in motivation probably stemmed from the absence of the most-preferred host from one of the study sites, resulting in prolonged search, reduced frequency of oviposition, and higher mean motivation at this site.
Developmental changes in actin and myosin heavy chain isoform expression in smooth muscle.

Abstract Smooth muscle cells express isoforms of actin and myosin heavy chains (MHC). In early postnatal animals the nonmuscle (NM) actin and MHC isoforms in vascular (aorta) smooth muscle were present in relatively high percentages. More than 30% of the MHC and 40% of the actin isoforms were NM. The relative percentage of the NM isoforms decreased significantly as the animals reached maturity, with NM MHC less than 10% and NM actin less than 30% of the totals. Concurrent with this decrease in NM isoforms was an increase in the smooth muscle (SM) isoforms. The relative changes and time frame in which these changes occurred were very similar for the actin and MHC isoforms. In arterial tissue there were species differences for changes with development in the two SM MHC isoforms (SM1 and SM2). The ratio of SM1:SM2 in young rat aorta was approximately 0.5, while this same ratio was approximately 3 in young swine carotid. Both adult rats and swine had a SM1:SM2 MHC ratio of approximately 1.2. Rat bladder smooth muscle showed no significant change in NM vs SM ratio between young and old rats, while the SM1:SM2 ratio decreased from 2.7 to 1.7 between these age groups. The shifts in α and β actin were similar to those in the vascular tissue, but of much smaller magnitude.
A semi automatic fortran translator for the FNAL second generation ACP

Abstract In preparation for building a 250 VUP second generation Fermilab ACP system at Michigan for the CERN L3 experiment, we have developed a semi-automatic pre-compiler to convert event oriented programs into parallel code for the ACP.
Evidence for kinks in DNA folding in the nucleosome

The nucleosome subunit of chromatin consists of DNA folded around a histone core as a 1.8-turn left-handed solenoid. The crystal structure1 of the nucleosome core particle revealed that it has a dyad symmetry axis and that the minor helix groove faces outwards from the protein core. Richmond et al.1 noticed that the path traversed by the helix has severe bends at sites approximately one and four helix turns from the dyad axis. We have developed two photochemical methods to study the structure of DNA, and in particular that wrapped around the nucleosome core. One method depends on the sensitization of singlet oxygen production by an eosin analogue. We have monitored the rate at which excited state oxygen diffuses into contact with DNA base planes, and find that it attacks the nucleosome with high specificity. We have also mapped the DNA binding of the intercalating dye methylene blue, and conclude that it binds to the same sites accessible to oxygen by diffusion. On the basis of these results we suggest that the DNA in the nucleosome is bent or kinked at two sites, 1.5 helix turns from the dyad axis.
Lamb wave Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV) validation study

Our group has been investigating the use of Shearwave Dispersion Ultrasound Vibrometry (SDUV) for quantifying viscoelasticity of the myocardium. The primary aim of this study is the design and testing of viscoelastic materials suitable for validation of the Lamb wave model in the heart. The Lamb wave SDUV method was used to measure shear wave velocity dispersion of gelatin and urethane rubber plates in the range 40–500 Hz and estimate the material properties. A finite element model (FEM) of a viscoelastic plate submerged in water was used to study the appropriateness of the Lamb wave dispersion equations. An embedded sphere method was used as an independent measurement of viscoelasticity. The FEM wave velocity dispersion data were in excellent agreement with the theoretical predictions. Elasticity and viscosity of urethane and gelatin obtained using the Lamb wave SDUV and embedded sphere methods agree within one standard deviation.
Observing degradation of visual representations over short intervals when medial temporal lobe is damaged

Medial temporal lobe (MTL) contributions to the brief maintenance of visual representations were evaluated by studying a group of patients with MTL damage. Eye movements of patients and healthy comparison subjects were tracked while performing a visual search for a target among complex stimuli of varying similarity to that target. Despite the task having no imposed delays, patients were impaired behaviorally, and eye movement measures showed abnormally rapid degradation of target representations in the patients. Eye movement data showed a modulation of the duration of fixations as a function of the similarity of fixated array lures to the target, but the effect was attenuated in patients during long fixation paths away from the sample target. This effect manifested despite patients' shorter searches and more frequent fixations of the sample target. Novel techniques provided unique insight into visual representation without healthy MTL, which may support maintenance of information through hippocampal-dependent relational binding.
Pyloric stenosis in the age of ultrasonography: Fading skills, better patients?

Abstract Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis can be diagnosed accurately by physical examination alone. However, ultrasonographic confirmation is obtained in the majority of cases, often before clinical evaluation by the surgeon. The present study examines whether the easy access to ultrasonography by the primary physician has affected the care of infants with pyloric stenosis. During a 24-month period, 100 infants were treated for pyloric stenosis at the authors' institution. There were 78 boys and 22 girls; the age range was 9 to 90 days (median, 30.0 days). The children were referred for surgical evaluation, but abdominal ultrasonography was ordered concomitantly (or within 1 hour of surgical consultation) in all cases. The median age at the onset of the first symptoms was 24.0 days. The time between onset and hospital admission was less than 7 days for 72 patients, and more than 2 weeks for seven. Metabolic alkalosis or acidosis, hypokalemia, hypochloremia, and dehydration were noted in 10%, 5%, 3% and 9%, respectively. Six infants had prolonged pre- and postoperative courses, because of prematurity (4) or associated conditions (2). For the remaining patients, total hospitalization period and postoperative stay were 3.8 ± 0.9 days and 2.8 ± 0.6 days, respectively. Although the diminished importance of clinical skills in the diagnosis of pyloric stenosis may be regrettable, the availability to the primary care physician of this easy, safe, inexpensive, and reliable imaging modality may contribute to prompter treatment. The patients were hospitalized, with a correct diagnosis, within days of the appearance of the initial symptoms. Because so little time had elapsed, water and electrolyte imbalances were not present, and the patients could be operated on within hours of admission.
An analytical solution of the diffusion-deposition equations

Abstract An atmospheric diffusion model of a gaseous cloud released from an infinite cross-wind line source with surface deposition is considered as a steady state boundary value problem which is solved by the classical method. The solution is applicable to unstable lapse rates and light winds, i.e. the mean wind is assumed to be constant with height, but the eddy difiusivity in the vertical direction is assumed to be proportional to the square of height.
Multivariate mixture analysis using reduced-mass-resolution membrane introduction mass spectrometry and variable selection

The feasibility of analyzing mixtures of spectrally similar analytes with low resolution mass spectrometers coupled with membrane introduction was studied. The performance of the multivariate calibration of an isometric ethyl benzene and p-xylene mixture remained essentially unchanged as the mass resolution degraded. The calibration performance also improved slightly as the data used for calibration decreased from the full mass spectra to only 12 or 18 fragment ions judiciously chosen by variable selection. The multivariate calibration and prediction for a more complex mixture of benzene and toluene only degraded slightly as the resolution decreased, while the result for the two isomers ethyl benzene and p-xylene got progressively worse. Depending on the variable selection algorithm and the number of fragment ions used, using only a select few ions for multivariate calibration and prediction gave results that were either similar to or slightly worse than results using the entire mass spectra. This paper demonstrates that mixture analysis performed with membrane introduction coupled to future miniature, low resolution mass spectrometers is possible.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of extraction and precipitation methods for the HPLC determination of furosemide in plasma and urine

Abstract Comparisons have been made between an ether extraction method and an acetonitrile precipitation method for the HPLC determination of furosemide (frusemide) in human plasma and urine. Recoveries of furosemide were 81–89% (ether extraction method for plasma), 73–103% (acetonitrile precipitation method for plasma) and 62–89% (ether extraction method for urine) for the concentration ranges studied. Values of correlation coefficients were 0.9998, 0.9991 and 0.9997 for standard curves for the three methods, respectively. Accuracy and precision (RSD) were: 92.4–114% ± 3.57–20% for ether-extracted plasma; 98.1–103% ± 3.47–19.9% for acetonitrile-precipitated plasma; and 103–107% ± 4.03–13.2% for ether-extracted urine. Because of carryover of endogenous urine components, the acetonitrile-precipitation assay was unacceptable for urine. Furosemide was stable in frozen plasma for at least 113 days and in frozen urine for at least 204 days. No artifactual appearance of the hydrolysis product of furosemide, 4-chloro-5-sulfamoylanthranilic acid (CSA), was detected by the ether-extraction method under normal assay conditions.
Attachment styles impact on pet visitation effectiveness

AbstractThis paper describes a field study on the effects of attachment styles on the subjective well-being of institutionalized older persons after participating in a pet visitation program. We compared how attachment style (i.e., secure, anxious ambivalent, dismissive avoidant, and fearful avoidant) moderated the impact of a dog visitation program in 52 elderly residents of an assisted-living facility. Controlling for pre-visitation mood, the results revealed that the secure style related to increases in positive mood after interacting with the dogs. The anxious ambivalent style related to increases in positive mood and decreases in ratings of depression. Most importantly, the fearful avoidant style related to increases in depression after interacting with the dogs. The results highlight the notion that not all participants benefit from taking part in pet visitation programs. Theoretically, this study presents preliminary evidence for the relevance of attachment styles in understanding human–pet interac...
Superoxide formed from cigarette smoke impairs polymorphonuclear leukocyte active oxygen generation activity.

Abstract Reactive free radicals contained in cigarette smoke (CS) and compromised phagocytic antimicrobial activities including those of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of severe CS-related pulmonary disorders. In CS-exposed buffer solutions, O 2 ∸ was the predominant generated reactive oxygen species, as demonstrated by lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence and electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N -oxide (DMPO). When PMNs were incubated in this buffer, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated active oxygen production and coupled O 2 consumption were strongly impaired without appreciably affecting PMN viability (1-min exposure inhibited active oxygen production by 75%). Superoxide dismutase (SOD) totally protected and an iron chelator, diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DETAPAC), also protected the CS-exposed PMNs, suggesting that generated O 2 ∸ was an initiating factor in the impairment and OH · generation was a subsequent injurious factor. Pretreatment of PMNs with antioxidants such as α-tocopherol and dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) was partially protective. The results suggest that (i) O 2 ∸ is probably generated in the upper and lower respiratory tract lining fluid when they come in contact with CS; (ii) such generated O 2 ∸ can primarily impair PMN capabilities to generate reactive oxygen species; and (iii) since these effects may contribute to the pathogenesis of CS-related lung diseases, prior supplementation with antioxidants such as α-tocopherol or DHLA might be successful in preventing these deleterious effects.
What's New in Lipid Management?

Statins are the principal agents for managing hyperlipidemia because of their ability to reduce low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) and triglyceride levels, increase high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) levels slightly, and decrease clinical events. Nevertheless, not all patients can tolerate the statins or achieve their treatment goals with these drugs. In addition, available statins have only modest effects on HDL, and clinical events still occur despite the best current lipid-lowering agents. Thus, new lipid-lowering agents are required to improve clinical outcomes. These recently or soon to be released agents are stanol esters, which can be incorporated into spreads and other foods and reduce LDL levels up to 15%; colesevelam, a new bile acid sequestrant with a higher potency, fewer adverse effects, and less drug interactions than those of older agents in this class; rosuvastatin, a new statin that reduces LDL levels and increases HDL levels at least more effectively than atorvastatin; and a new class of agents that inhibit cholesterol absorption and are likely to be used in combination with statins. Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol apheresis is another, nonpharmacologic option for patients with severe hyperlipidemia despite maximal medical therapy.
REDUCED GENETIC DIVERSITY IN EELGRASS TRANSPLANTATIONS AFFECTS BOTH POPULATION GROWTH AND INDIVIDUAL FITNESS

The transplantation of eelgrass (Zostera marina) for mitigation results in reduced genetic diversity among individuals and populations- in southern California, the Chesapeake Bay, and New Hampshire. Although genetic variation determines the potential for eelgrass to adapt to the rapidly changing environment in its coastal and estuarine habitats, genetic considerations are not currently included in mitigation and restoration policy. I investigated where and how genetic diversity is lost during eelgrass transplantation. I then explored associations between genetic diversity and both vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction to evaluate the importance of genetic diversity for short-term population growth. Eelgrass beds used as donor populations vary in genetic diversity, and some have little or no detectable genetic diversity. Genetic diversity is reduced upon transplantation because donor plants are collected from small areas, leading to random sampling errors in selecting stock. This loss can be minimized by using information from regional surveys of genetic diversity and structure in potential donor populations and by revising donor stock collection. There were significant positive associations between genetic diversity and the sexual reproduction of eelgrass, with a similar trend for vegetative propagation. Individuals het- erozygous for glucose-phosphate isomerase (GPI) developed flowering shoots more than did homozygotes. More seeds germinated from a genetically diverse, untransplanted pop- ulation than from a transplanted population with low genetic diversity. A field transplan- tation of known multilocus genotypes revealed that leaf shoot density in high-diversity eelgrass increased almost twice as fast as in low-diversity eelgrass over 22 mo. In a me- socosm experiment under heat stress, eelgrass heterozygous for either GPI or malate de- hydrogenase (MDH) produced almost twice as many leaf shoots as homozygotes. The difference between treatments in all experiments increased over time. Together, these results imply that there could be economic incentives to planting genetically diverse eelgrass, and that genetic diversity contributes to eelgrass population viability even over the short term.
Mechanism of Siglec-8-mediated cell death in IL-5-activated eosinophils: role for reactive oxygen species-enhanced MEK/ERK activation.

Background Sialic acid–binding immunoglobulin-like lectin (Siglec)-8 is expressed on human eosinophils, where its ligation induces cell death. Paradoxically, Siglec-8–mediated cell death is markedly enhanced by the presence of the activation and survival factor IL-5 and becomes independent of caspase activity. Objective In this report we investigate the mechanism of Siglec-8–mediated cell death in activated eosinophils. Methods Human peripheral blood eosinophils were treated with agonistic anti–Siglec-8 antibody and IL-5, and cell death was determined by using flow cytometry and morphology. Phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) was determined by using phosphoLuminex, flow cytometry, and Western blotting. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation was determined by using dihydrorhodamine fluorescence. Results Costimulation with anti–Siglec-8 and IL-5 significantly increased the rate and proportion of cell death by means of necrosis accompanied by granule release compared with that seen after stimulation with anti–Siglec-8 alone, in which apoptosis predominated. Together with the caspase-independent mode of cell death in costimulated cells, these findings suggest the activation of a specific and distinct biochemical pathway of cell death during anti–Siglec-8/IL-5 costimulation. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 and MAPK-ERK kinase (MEK) 1 was significantly enhanced and sustained in costimulated cells compared with that seen in cells stimulated with IL-5 alone; anti–Siglec-8 alone did not cause ERK1/2 phosphorylation. MEK1 inhibitors blocked anti–Siglec-8/IL-5–induced cell death. ROS accumulation was induced by Siglec-8 ligation in a MEK-independent manner. In contrast, an ROS inhibitor prevented the anti–Siglec-8/IL-5–induced enhancement of ERK phosphorylation and cell death. Exogenous ROS mimicked stimulation by anti–Siglec-8 and was sufficient to induce enhanced cell death in IL-5–treated cells. Collectively, these data suggest that the enhancement of ERK phosphorylation is downstream of ROS generation. Conclusions In activated eosinophils ligation of Siglec-8 leads to ROS-dependent enhancement of IL-5–induced ERK phosphorylation, which results in a novel mode of biochemically regulated eosinophil cell death.
Plant community distribution along water table and grazing gradients in montane meadows of the Sierra Nevada Range (California, USA)

This study aimed to identify dominant plant communities across five wet and mesic meadows in the Sierra Nevada Range (California, USA) and examine the impacts of environmental and grazing gradients on plant community distribution and diversity. Species composition and environmental conditions were recorded in 100 plots over two years. Classification and ordination analyses were used to classify plant communities and identify relationships between community types and both environmental and grazing gradients. We identified the following six plant community types: Carex jonesii, Carex leporinella, Carex nebrascensis, Carex utriculata, Eleocharis pauciflora, and Veratrum californicum. We found strong connections between plant communities and water table variables, with low water table (r 2 = 0.56) and mean water table (r 2 = 0.30) significantly correlated with Axis 1 while high water table (r 2 = 0.29) and elevation were correlated with Axis 3 (r 2 = 0.49). We found significant differences among community types for all three water table variables and for elevation. We found no correlation between grazing and community type classification, but there was a significant difference in grazing levels among community types. The plant communities and relationships to water table found in this work may aid managers in understanding present conditions and identifying future changes in meadow ecosystems.
Stress urinary incontinence and counseling and practice of pelvic floor exercises postpartum in low-income Hispanic women

The purpose of the study was to provide estimates of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and practice of pelvic floor muscle training (PFMT) postpartum as well as counseling during and after pregnancy among Hispanic women. Two hundred Hispanic women were surveyed 6 months postpartum. Twenty-three percent had SUI with onset primarily during pregnancy (70%). Only 20% had received information regarding SUI and PFMT during pregnancy or postpartum. Most women not counseled wished they were (81%). Less counseling occurred among Hispanic women with lower levels of education (odds ratio [OR] = .39; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.19–0.82; p = 0.02) and those whose primary language was Spanish (OR = .36; 95% CI = 0.15–0.87; p = 0.02), while higher rates occurred among women with a forceps delivery (OR = 2.94; 95% CI = 1.06–7.78; p = 0.03). Fifty-seven percent of women counseled practiced the exercises. Primary reasons for noncompliance were belief that PFMT would not help (47%), and not understanding the instructions (39%). SUI and PFMT counseling is low among Hispanic women. Most women desire such information, and improvement in performance of PFMT among this group is possible.
Synthesis and biological activity of 3β-fluorovitamin D3: Comparison of the biological activity of 3β -fluorovitamin D3 and 3-deoxyvitamin D3

Abstract The alteration in the biologic activity of the vitamin D 3 molecule resulting from the replacement of a hydrogen atom with a fluorine atom is a subject of fundamental interest. To investigate this problem we synthesized 3β -fluorovitamin D 3 6 and its hydrogen analog, 3-deoxyvitarnin D 3 7, and tested the biologic activity of each by in vitro and in vivo methods. Contrary to previous reports which showed that 3β-fluorovitamin D 3 was as active as vitamin D 3 in vivo , we found that the fluoro-analog was less active than vitamin D 3 . With regard to stimulation of intestinal calcium transport and bone calcium mobilization in the D-deficient hypocalcemic rat, 3β-fluorovitamin D 3 snowed significantly greater biologic activity than its hydrogen analog, 3-deoxyvitamin D 3 . In the organ-cultured, embryonic chick duodenum, 3β-fluorovitamin D 3 was approx 1 1000 th as active as the native hormone, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 , while 3-deoxyvitamin D 3 was inactive even at μ M concentrations, in the induction of the vitamin D-dependent, calcium-binding protein. With regard to in vitro activity in displacing radiolabeled 25-hydroxyvitamin D 3 from vitamin D binding protein and radiolabelled 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D 3 from a chick intestinal cytosol receptor, 3β-fluorovitamin D 3 and 3β-deoxyvitamin D 3 both showed very poor binding efficiencies when compared with vitamin D 3 . Our results show that the substitution of a fluorine atom for a hydrogen atom at the C-3 position of the vitamin D 3 molecule results in a fluorovitamin 6 with significantly more biological activity than its hydrogen analog, 3-deoxyvitamin D 3 7.
The role of anatomic factors in predicting success of endovascular repair of thoracic aortic aneurysms.

Objective: We evaluated the results of thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (TEVAR) to determine what anatomic factors influenced the clinical outcomes.Methods: Preoperative computed tomography (CT) angiograms of 65 patients who underwent TEVAR were analyzed using 3-dimensional imaging. The proximal and distal neck, thoracic aneurysm, and iliac arteries were measured for angulation, diameter, length, calcification, and tortuosity. Immediate technical success and clinical success were measured.Results: Immediate technical success was achieved in 91% (59 of 65) of the patients analyzed. One patient died in the operating room during treatment of rupture. Clinical success was achieved in 83% (54 of 65) of patients at follow-up. Four patients had small endoleaks with no sac enlargement at follow-up. One patient was converted to open repair. Severe iliac calcification was found to be significant for deployment failure. The mean follow-up is 8 months (1-36 months).Conclusion: Increased iliac calcification and i...
234Th balance and implications for seasonal particle retention in the eastern Bering Sea

Th abstract As part of the Bering Ecosystem Study-Bering Sea Integrated Ecosystem Research Program (BEST-BSIERP), distributions of 234 Th in the water column and sediments were measured at approximately 60 stations over the shelf and slope/oceanic regions of the eastern Bering Sea during spring and summer of 2009 and 2010. During this study period, the inventory of sediment excess 234 Th ( 234 Thxs) on the shelf was determined to be ∼1/3 of the total 234 Th deficit in the overlying water column; the average focusing factor (FFTh ¼sediment 234 Thxs/water column 234 Th deficit) was 0.3470.23. In addition, the export flux of 234 Th from the shelf to the slope/oceanic region was determined to be on average ∼30% of the total production of 234 Th throughout the shelf. Taken together, these results indicate that 234 Th and associated particles are largely retained on the shelf, and that shelf sediments represent a sink for particles. In contrast, the FFTh in the slope/oceanic region was higher, averaging 1.5271.34. The higher FFTh at the slope is attributed primarily to enhanced scavenging removal and sediment deposition of 234 Th associated with periods of high biogenic particle flux at the marginal ice zone during the spring sea- ice retreat. A more general conclusion is that the ocean margin of the eastern Bering Sea may serve as an accumulation area for particles and associated reactive chemicals.
Characterization of off-the-shelf hardware for transcutaneous power and data transmission

There are many applications in biomedicine in which transcutaneous transmission of information and/or power is necessary. Typically, a custom-made receiver/transmitter pair must be designed and built to meet specific design requirements. This paper describes the testing and characterization of off-the-shelf hardware to perform these functions. The increasing ubiquity of RFID (Radio Frequency IDentification) and energy harvesting applications has lead to a concomitant increase in the availability of hardware and software to support them. In this paper the communication and power transfer capabilities of an inexpensive (&#60;$200) RF evaluation kit from Texas Instruments are explored. The kit includes both a transmitter/base station and a small (2 cm by 3 cm) board with a receiving coil, RFID decoder and microcontroller. Communication is possible at distances up to 6.5cm (depending on the location and orientation of the receiver relative to transmitter) and power transmission up to 0.5 mW is achieved at distances as far as 1 cm.
Statistical Framework for Video Decoding Complexity Modeling and Prediction

Video decoding complexity modeling and prediction is an increasingly important issue for efficient resource utilization in a variety of applications, including task scheduling, receiver-driven complexity shaping, and adaptive dynamic voltage scaling. In this paper we present a novel view of this problem based on a statistical framework perspective. We explore the statistical structure (clustering) of the execution time required by each video decoder module (entropy decoding, motion compensation, etc.) in conjunction with complexity features that are easily extractable at encoding time (representing the properties of each module's input source data). For this purpose, we employ Gaussian mixture models (GMMs) and an expectation-maximization algorithm to estimate the joint execution-time-feature probability density function (PDF). A training set of typical video sequences is used for this purpose in an offline estimation process. The obtained GMM representation is used in conjunction with the complexity features of new video sequences to predict the execution time required for the decoding of these sequences. Several prediction approaches are discussed and compared. The potential mismatch between the training set and new video content is addressed by adaptive online joint-PDF re-estimation. An experimental comparison is performed to evaluate the different approaches and compare the proposed prediction scheme with related resource prediction schemes from the literature. The usefulness of the proposed complexity-prediction approaches is demonstrated in an application of rate-distortion-complexity optimized decoding.
Influence of Variable-Sized Backgrounds on a Hyperacuity Threshold

Previous work [1] has established the clinical utility of assessing the increment threshold of a test spot centered on a variable-sized background of light. The presence of light near the increment threshold test spot systematically changes the observer’s increment threshold. With increasing background diameters, thresholds first rise, and then fall to asymptotic levels [2,3], thereby effectively mapping out light-produced spatial interactions about the increment threshold target. The clinical importance of this “desensitization-sensitization” effect is that the loss of one branch of the standard pattern of spatial interactions is indicative of inner retinal pathology at the retinal test point.
Commensurate-Glass Phase Transitions in Staged SbCl5-GIC

An experimental study is reported of the commensurate (√7 × √7)R19.1° to glass phase transition in stages I ≼ n ≼ 4 graphite-SbCl5 using electron and x-ray diffraction. The electron diffraction studies show an in-plane phase transition to a glass at low temperatures. The (00l) x-ray diffraction scans show that the c-axis layered structure of the intercalate is unchanged by the phase transition. A driving mechanism for the commensurate to glass transition is suggested.
THE ROLE OF REQUIREMENTS IN CONCEPTUAL AIRCRAFT DESIGN AND THEIR INTERACTIONS WITH TECHNOLOGIES AND VEHICLE ATTRIBUTES

Many forces shape the modern design environment from the complexity of modern systems to changes in design philosophy to the emphasis placed on economic viability. Perhaps the most difficult place to operate in this environment is at the beginning of the design process where uncertainty infiltrates many aspects of design. Decisions made at this time have significant repercussions on the overall system cost and thus system success. Unfortunately not only are these decisions made at a time when design information is poor, but the ability of typical conceptual design tools and methods to provide better information, more efficiently and to deal with design uncertainty is lacking. In the conceptual design stage, there is an information triad that influences all analysis and decisions. This triad includes the requirements, the concepts and the technologies that are formulated or chosen and which drive the rest of the design process. The designer's understanding of these aspects in the presence of uncertainty will dictate the decisions he/she makes and ultimately system success. In this paper, the authors will present a method which yields a tradeoff environment (referred to here as the Unified Tradeoff Environment (UTE)) that allows for the impact assessment of requirements, vehicle attributes and, technologies on the system level responses and is compatible with probabilistic design techniques. The creation of this environment is described along with the tools for its implementation. This environment is illustrated using the Future Transport Rotorcraft as a baseline vehicle.
Discussion of “The impact of product market competition on the quantity and quality of voluntary disclosures”

Li (2010, this issue) examines how product market competition affects voluntary disclosure by firms. Using several competition proxies, she finds that both the competitive threat from potential entrants into an industry and from existing rivals affect the quantity and accuracy of voluntary profit and investment forecasts by firms in that industry. However, the study’s findings are inconclusive mainly because each competition proxy used can reflect both types of competitive threat. The focus of my discussion is to provide some comments and suggestions for future researchers to consider in examining how the nature of product market competition affects voluntary firm disclosure.
HIV neuropathy: insights in the pathology of HIV peripheral nerve disease

HIV-associated neuropathies (HIV-N) have become the most frequent neurological disorder associated with HIV infection. The most common forms of HIV-N are the distal sensory polyneuropathy (DSP) and antiretroviral toxic neuropathies (ATN), disorders characterized mostly by sensory symptoms that include spontaneous or evoked pain that follow a subacute or chronic course. The main pathological features that characterize DSP and ATN include "dying back" axonal degeneration of long axons in distal regions, loss of unmyelinated fibers, and variable degree of macrophage infiltration in peripheral nerves and dorsal root ganglia. Marked activation of macrophages as well as the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines appear to be the main immunopathogenic factors in DSP. Interference with DNA synthesis and mitochondrial abnormalities produced by nucleoside antiretrovirals have been hypothesized as pathogenic factors involved in ATN. The use of skin biopsy has become a useful tool in the evaluation of HIV-N. Reduction in fiber density, increased frequency of fiber varicosities and fiber fragmentation are prominent features of skin biopsies from patients with HIV-N. Other forms of HIV-N include acute or chronic inflammatory polyneuropathies, uncommon disorders that may ocur during seroconversion or early stages of HIV infection. Opportunisitic infections, mostly associated with cytomegalovirus or herpes zoster virus infection occur in late stages of AIDS and produce characteristic clinical features such as mononeuritis multiple or radiculopathies.
Avoiding communication in sparse matrix computations

The performance of sparse iterative solvers is typically limited by sparse matrix-vector multiplication, which is itself limited by memory system and network performance. As the gap between computation and communication speed continues to widen, these traditional sparse methods will suffer. In this paper we focus on an alternative building block for sparse iterative solvers, the "matrix powers kernel" [x, Ax, A2x, ..., Akx], and show that by organizing computations around this kernel, we can achieve near-minimal communication costs. We consider communication very broadly as both network communication in parallel code and memory hierarchy access in sequential code. In particular, we introduce a parallel algorithm for which the number of messages (total latency cost) is independent of the power k, and a sequential algorithm, that reduces both the number and volume of accesses, so that it is independent of k in both latency and bandwidth costs. This is part of a larger project to develop "communication-avoiding Krylov subspace methods," which also addresses the numerical issues associated with these methods. Our algorithms work for general sparse matrices that "partition well". We introduce parallel performance models of matrices arising from 2D and 3D problems and show predicted speedups over a conventional algorithm of up to 7times on a petaflop-scale machine and up to 22times on computation across the grid. Analogous sequential performance models of the same problems predict speedups over a conventional algorithm of up to 10times on an out-of-core implementation, and up to 2.5times when we use our ideas to reduce off-chip latency and bandwidth to DRAM. Finally, we validate the model on an out-of-core sequential implementation and measured a speedup of over 3times, which is close to the predicted speedup.
The 'timing hypothesis' for estrogen therapy in menopausal symptom management

JoAnn E Manson is Professor of Medicine and the Michael and Lee Bell Professor of Women's Health at Harvard Medical School. She is also Chief of the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital. She is an endocrinologist, epidemiologist and Principal Investigator of several research studies, including the Women's Health Initiative Clinical Center, Boston site; the VITAL; the cardiovascular disease component of the Nurses’ Health Study and the Boston site of the KEEPS trial. Her primary research interests include the role of endogenous and exogenous hormones as determinants of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other chronic diseases, lifestyle and nutritional factors in prevention of these diseases, and biochemical and genetic factors in risk prediction. She has received numerous honors, including the Woman in Science Award from the American Medical Women's Association, the American Heart Association's Population Research Prize, the American Heart Association's Distinguished Scientist...
Fractal description of computer interconnections

Preliminary theoretical and experimental investiga-tion has indicated that the natural language of com-puter construction is fractal geometry. Fractal effectsare observed in the statistical description of moderncomputer systems because of the natural tendency offractals to approximate maximum entropy solutions
Runtime Adaptation in Reconfigurable System-on-Chips

With the proliferation of portable devices, new multimedia-centric applications are continuously emerging on the consumer market. These applications are pushing computer architecture to its limit considering their demanding workloads. In addition, these workloads tend to vary significantly at run time as they are driven by a number of factors such as network conditions, application content, and user interactivity. Most current hardware and software approaches are unable to deliver executable codes and architectures to meet these requirements. There is a strong need for performance-driven adaptive techniques to accommodate these highly dynamic workloads. This paper shows the potential of these techniques in both software and hardware domains by reviewing early attempts in dynamic binary translation on the software side and FPGA-based reconfigurable architectures on the hardware side. It puts forward a preliminary vision for unifying runtime adaptive techniques in hardware and software to tackle the demands of these new applications. This vision will not be possible to realize unless the notorious reconfiguration bottleneck familiar in FPGAs is addressed. The paper concludes by pointing several future directions to explore in order to realize the full potential of runtime adaptation.
Comparative faecal microbiota of dogs with and without calcium oxalate stones.

Aims The absence of enteric oxalate-metabolizing bacterial species (OMBS) increases the likelihood of calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolithiasis in humans and dogs. The goal of this study was to compare the gut microbiota of healthy dogs and CaOx stone formed dogs (CaOx-dogs), especially with respect to OMBS. Methods and Results Faecal samples from healthy and CaOx-dogs were obtained to analyse the hindgut microbiota by sequencing the V3 region of bacterial 16S rDNA. In total, 1223 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified at 97% identity. Only 38% of these OTUs were shared by both groups. Significant differences in the relative abundance of 152 OTUs and 36 genera were observed between the two groups of dogs. Conclusions The faecal microbiota of healthy dogs is distinct from that of CaOx-dogs, indicating that the microbiota is altered in CaOx-dogs. Significance and Impact of the Study This is the first study that has compared the gut microbial diversity in healthy and CaOx-dogs. Results of this study indicate the future need for functional and comparative analyses of the total array of oxalate-metabolizing genes between healthy and CaOx stone formers, rather than focusing on specific bacterial species, to understand the critical role of OMBS in CaOx urolithiasis.
Calculations of gas phase diffusion and reaction in heterogeneous catalysts the importance of viscous flow

The problem of multicomponent gas phase diffusion fora single overall reaction in porous catalysts is analyzed using the dusty-gas theory. Recent authors have shown that neglecting internal pressure gradients results in modeling inconsistencies and errors in computation in small pore catalysts. However, calculations based upon kinetic theory estimates of the transport coefficients reveal that the viscous flow contribution to the component i molar flux can be neglected with excellent justification. The resulting equations are internally consistent and greatly simplified. For illustrative purposes the multicomponent example of P. Schneider7 is reformulated to take into account nonuniform pressure (but negligible viscous flux), and as a consequence the inconsistency noted in the original reference is removed. Two methods for computing the effectiveness factor are discussed. On a etude le probleme de la diffusion a plusieurs composants en phase gazeuse, dans le cas d'une seule reaction globale dans des catalyseurs poreux; on a employe a cette fin la theorie “dusty-gas”. Des auteurs recents ont demontre le fait de negliger les gradients de pression interne produisait des incoherences dans les modeles et des erreurs dans les calculs, dans le cas des catalyseurs a petits pores. Toutefois, des calculs bases sur des estimations des coefficients de transfert par la thtorie cinetique ont revele, avec une excellente justification, qu'on peut negliger la contribution de l'ecoulement visqueux au flux molaire du composant i; la equations qu'on en deduit sont coherentes et bien simplifiees. Pour fin d'illustration, on a reformule l'exemple donne par P. Schneider7 avec des composants multiples en tenant compte de la pression non uniforme (en ecartant le flux visqueux negligeable), ce qui a eu pour effet de faire disparaitre l'incoherence observee dans la reference originale. On discute deux mehodes pour calculer le facteur d'efficacite.
Hydrolyzed starch - polyacrylonitrile graft copolymer solutions: Effect of shear history on transient and steady - state viscoelastic behavior

Both viscosity ζ and primary normal stress difference (P11 - P22) of water solutions of hydrolyzed starch-polyacrylonitrile graft copolymers have been investigated, with a cone and plate rheometer, as a function of time and sample history at a variety of shear rates. At a constant shear rate the highly viscoelastic fluids show strong stress overshoot effects, both ζ and (P11 - P22) rising to a maximum and then falling to a steady-state value. Both equilibrium levels and peak heights strongly depend on sample history. Unexpectedly, oscillatory shearing of certain samples at low frequency and amplitude, before steady shearing at constant shear rate, had an extreme effect on observed peak heights of both ζ and (P11 - P22) but little on equilibrium levels. Magnitude of the effect depends on the time for which the oscillations are imposed. Such behavior may be characteristic of some high molecular weight polymers in solution and useful in identifying long-range entanglements which strongly influence the elastic properties of these solutions.
Expanding the family of heterobimetallic Bi–Rh paddlewheel carboxylate complexes via equatorial carboxylate exchange

Five novel homoleptic heterobimetallic bismuth(II)–rhodium(II) carboxylate complexes—BiRh(TPA)4 (1), BiRh(but)4 (2), BiRh(piv)4 (3), BiRh(esp)2 (4), and BiRh(OAc)4 (5)—were synthesized in good yields by equatorial ligand substitution starting from BiRh(TFA)4 (TPA = triphenylacetate, but = butyrate, piv = pivalate, esp = α,α,α′,α′-tetramethyl-1,3-benzenedipropionate, OAc = acetate, and TFA = trifluoroacetate). We report here 1H and 13C{1H} NMR spectra and cyclic voltammograms for complexes 1–4, and IR spectra for all complexes. Irreversible redox waves appear between −1.4 to −1.5 V for [BiRh]3+/4+ couples and 1.3 to 1.5 V vs. Fc/Fc+ for [BiRh]4+/5+ couples for complexes 1–4 indicating a wide range of stability for the compounds. The X-ray crystal structure of 1 reveals a Bi–Rh distance of 2.53 A.
The legacy of Charlie Flagg: narratives of drought and overcoming the monster in West Texas water policy debates

The 40th anniversary of the publication of Elmer Kelton’s 1973 novel The Time it Never Rained coincides with one of the most severe droughts on record in Texas. Meanwhile, as of 2005, local groundwater conservation districts in Texas are required by law to determine how much groundwater they want to conserve for future generations. Such policy decisions have led to debates in West Texas among agricultural producers over whether pumping restrictions amount to erosion of the famous “rule of capture” and private property rights. This article presents Texas water law history, the Ogallala Aquifer, and its users as a continuing story in which producers and government policymakers are actors. This paper first summarizes the ways in which water challenges in the American West and elsewhere have been classified according to different disciplines and then shows how each of those ways of knowing can be understood as a kind of storytelling. The author uses Kelton’s drought novel and scholarly insights into how narrative works as a means of interpreting and contextualizing comments made by producers and others at several West Texas agricultural water policy hearings. The article concludes that policy-makers must consider the human instinct to translate complex and often contradictory knowledge from multiple domains into a less confusing story line. Citation: Baake K. 2013. The legacy of Charlie Flagg: narratives of drought and overcoming the monster in West Texas water policy debates. Texas Water Journal. 4(1):78-92. Available from: https://doi.org/10.21423/twj.v4i1.6993.