cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimal designs for quadratic regression

Abstract For quadratic regression on the symmetric unit interval optimal designs are computed for all subsets of components of the parameter vector. The optimality criteria considered are the p-means of the information matrices for the parameters of interest, with −∞⩽p⩽1. It turns out that it suffices to consider a one-dimensional class of designs depending on a single weight α only. We compute and graph the optimal weight α(p) and the optimal information value ν(p) for each subset of components of the parameter vector. The graphs of these functions show some surprising peculiarities and are discussed. Other criteria based on generalized means are mentioned briefly.
Review of the chromatographic “plate” theory with reference to fluid flow in rocks and sediments

Abstract The classical theories of Martin and Synge are used to demonstrate the possibility of Chromatographic flow in sedimentary rocks. A simple experiment is described which defines some of the limits of chromatography in quartz sand and in aqueous media.
Postoptimality analysis in nonlinear integer programming: The right-hand side case

An algorithm is presented to gain postoptimality data about the family of nonlinear pure integer programming problems in which the objective function and constraints remain the same except for changes in the right-hand side of the constraints. It is possible to solve such families of problems simultaneously to give a global optimum for each problem in the family, with additional problems solved in under 2 CPU seconds. This represents a small fraction of the time necessary to solve each problem individually.
Collaborative virtual environments art exhibition

This panel presentation will exhibit artwork developed in CAVEs and discuss how art methodologies enhance the science of VR through collaboration, interaction and aesthetics. Artists and scientists work alongside one another to expand scientific research and artistic expression and are motivated by exhibiting collaborative virtual environments. Looking towards the arts, such as painting and sculpture, computer graphics captures a visual tradition. Virtual reality expands this tradition to not only what we face, but to what surrounds us and even what responds to our body and its gestures. Art making that once was isolated to the static frame and an optimal point of view is now out and about, in fully immersive mode within CAVEs. Art knowledge is a guide to how the aesthetics of 2D and 3D worlds affect, transform, and influence the social, intellectual and physical condition of the human body through attention to psychology, spiritual thinking, education, and cognition. The psychological interacts with the physical in the virtual in such a way that each facilitates, enhances and extends the other, culminating in a 'go together' world. Attention to sharing art experience across high-speed networks introduces a dimension of liveliness and aliveness when we 'become virtual' in real time with others.
Hypnosis with children

Abstract Clinical and research findings are integrated in order to gain a more cohesive understanding of the factors contributing to effective use of hypnosis in children. Patient, parent, hypnotherapist, and situa-tional variables are considered together with their implications for maximizing cooperation with hypnotic treatment, selecting appropriate hypnotic induction techniques, and developing a creative approach to hypnotic treatment of childhood problems.
Assembly of an exceptionally stable RNA tertiary interface in a group I ribozyme.

Group I intron RNAs contain a core of highly conserved helices flanked by peripheral domains that stabilize the core structure. In the Tetrahymena group I ribozyme, the P4, P5, and P6 helices of the core pack tightly against a three-helix subdomain called P5abc. Chemical footprinting and the crystal structure of the Tetrahymena intron P4−P6 domain revealed that tertiary interactions between these two parts of the domain create an extensive solvent-inaccessible interface. We have examined the formation and stability of this tertiary interface by providing the P5abc segment in trans to a Tetrahymena ribozyme construct that lacks P5abc (EΔP5abc). Equilibrium gel shift experiments show that the affinity of the P5abc and EΔP5abc RNAs is exceptionally strong, with a Kd of ∼100 pM at 10 mM MgCl2 (at 37 °C). Chemical and enzymatic footprinting shows that the RNAs are substantially folded prior to assembly of the complex. Solvent accessibility mapping reveals that, in the absence of P5abc, the intron RNA maintains...
Are crisis communicators practicing what we preach?: An evaluation of crisis response strategy analyzed in public relations research from 1991 to 2009

Abstract Quantitative content analysis is used to evaluate crisis response strategy analyzed in more than 18 years of research published in crisis communication literature in public relations to reveal its effectiveness, nature, and contextual application. Analysis of 51 articles published in 11 different journals using two dominant theories in public relations crisis communication literature, Benoit's Image Restoration Theory and Coombs’ Situational Crisis Communication Theory, indicates a lack of diversity in cases analyzed by scholars, gaps between theory and practice, and pressing directions for future research in crisis communication.
Formation of Concentrated Nanoemulsions by Extreme Shear

Abstract We have systematically investigated the production of “nanoemulsions,” droplets of one liquid phase in another immiscible liquid phase that have diameters less than 100 nm. Our approach relies on a combination of extreme shear due to multipass, high‐pressure microfluidic injection and systematic control of the emulsion's composition. By repeatedly shearing a silicone oil‐in‐water emulsion in an inhomogeneous extensional shear flow, the multipass approach enables us to reduce the droplet polydispersity and average radius. Using dynamic light scattering, we study the changes in the average radius, ⟨a⟩, as a function of the number of passes, driving injection pressure (i.e., shear rate), droplet volume fraction, surfactant concentration, and droplet oil viscosity. The smallest nanoemulsion that we obtain has ⟨a⟩=18 nm. At large droplet volume fractions φ≥0.65, we observe phase inversion, rather than a reduction in the droplet size. This provides evidence that droplet coalescence can occur during ext...
Selection of Antimicrobial Agents for Treatment of Infections of the Female Genital Tract

Evaluation of the treatment of 501 patients with pelvic infections and a review of the literature indicate that prospects for clinical cure without surgical intervention are markedly better in women seen early in the course of infection than in those with well-established infections. Among hospitalized patients with early infections, treatment regimens of less than 10 days duration were successful. Traditional therapies (initial treatment with ampicillin, a first-generation cephalosporin, or a combination of penicillin and aminoglycoside, penicillin and tetracycline, or a cephalosporin and an aminoglycoside, followed by clindamycin or chloramphenicol if the patient remained febrile) were compared with new antibiotic regimens (initial treatment with second- or third-generation cephalosporins). Among patients with an infected abortion, the results of treatment with traditional regimens were excellent. In patients with salpingo-oophoritis, the immediate cure rates with second- and third-generation cephalosporins were better than those with traditional regimens, but the long-term impact of these drugs on fallopian tube patency is not known. In women with postpartum endomyometritis following cesarean section, double-drug therapy with clindamycin and either gentamicin or ampicillin and single-drug therapy with a second- and third-generation cephalosporin were more effective than traditional therapy.
Land Use Effects on Runoff and Water Quality on an Eastern Arkansas Soil Under Simulated Rainfall

ABSTRACT Over the past century, a significant proportion of the native grasslands that once occupied much of the middle third of the United States have been converted to cultivated agriculture, causing short- and long-term variations in soil physical and hydraulic properties that influence runoff-infiltration partitioning and runoff water quality. Eastern Arkansas is highly agriculturally productive when irrigated. However, the long history of irrigated agriculture and more recent shifts in rainfall patterns during the growing season have resulted in regional groundwater aquifer depletion with minimal regional recharge. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of land use on soil physical properties, runoff-infiltration partitioning, and runoff water quality on a typical agricultural soil in the Mississippi River Delta region of eastern Arkansas. Small-plot rainfall simulations were conducted on an Immanuel silt loam, (fine-silty, mixed, active, thermic, Oxyaquic Glossudalf) in plots (1.5 ×...
Synthesis of Cyclic Polybutadiene via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization: The Importance of Removing Trace Linear Contaminants

The synthesis of cyclic polybutadienes using ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) was accomplished. A cyclic Ru alkylidene catalyst, where a terminal ligand was covalently linked to the Ru alkylidene, was used to polymerize either 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) or 1,5,9-trans-cis-trans-cyclododecatriene (CDT). Trace amounts of an acyclic impurity, 4-vinylcyclohexene, found in the COD led to samples which were contaminated with linear polymer. In contrast, CDT, which was free of the impurity, afforded pure cyclic polymer. These results provide a convenient method for discerning samples of pure cyclic polymer from those which contain trace to large amounts of linear polymer. Furthermore, they emphasize the need to use monomers that are free of acyclic impurities when preparing cyclic polymers using ROMP.
PTSD Arousal and Depression Symptoms Associated With Increased Right-Sided Parietal EEG Asymmetry.

Researchers have proposed that depression and particular types of anxiety are associated with unique patterns of regional brain activation. The authors examined the relationship among posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depressive symptoms and frontal, temporal, and parietal EEG alpha asymmetry in female Vietnam War nurse veterans. The results indicate that PTSD arousal symptoms are associated with increased right-sided parietal activation. However, the combination of arousal, depression, and their interaction explain more than twice the variance in parietal asymmetry compared with arousal alone. The results support the contention that the association between anxiety and right-sided posterior activation is specific to the anxious arousal subtype. These findings underscore the importance of isolating, both theoretically and statistically, emotional subcomponents in studies of regional brain activation.
Excess Zeros in Count Models for Recreational Trips

This article develops a modeling approach for a count dataset for recreational boating trips that shows a frequency of zero counts significantly higher than that expected for Poisson-distributed data. We consider several parametric and semiparametric mixed and modified Poisson models as alternatives to the Poisson regression. The analysis suggests that the negative binomial hurdles model, which allows for overdispersion and also accommodates the presence of excess zeros, is the most satisfactory of all those considered
Arm inductance selection principle for modular multilevel converters with circulating current suppressing control

With circulating current suppressing control, the dominating second-order circulating current in a modular multilevel converter (MMC) can be effectively decreased, and the arm inductance requirement based on the circulating current is thus largely reduced. This paper investigates the extent to which the arm inductance can be reduced. The circulating current at switching frequency is first explored, which is found to be a limitation for arm inductance selection when the circulating current suppressing control is implemented. The theoretical relationship between switching frequency circulating current and arm inductance is further deduced, and the arm inductance selection principle is proposed. Finally, the theoretical analysis is verified by the experiment.
Nondestructive evaluation of geomembrane seams: Methods in development

Abstract A set of eight different nondestructive evaluation methods for the assessment of geomembrane field seams is presented in this paper. The methods vary from ‘occasionally used’ to ‘still in early development’ stages. They are meant not to replace, nor eliminate, the vacuum box and pressurized dual seam methods but rather to augment and complement them. A brief description of each method is presented along with schematic sketches of the technical concept upon which they are based. A summary table listing each method with regard to its current status, deployment, implementation, cost, speed of recovery and possibility of ‘hard copy printout’ is also included.
Corrosion of Epoxy- and Polymer/Zinc-Coated Rebar in Simulated Concrete Pore Solution

Abstract This work is an initial examination of mechanistic issues on the comparative corrosion performance of regular epoxy-coated rebar (ECR) and dual polymer-zinc-coated reinforcement (DCR) in simulated concrete pore solution with and without chloride ions, at polarizations from 100 mV to −1,000 mV in the saturated calomel electrode (SCE) scale and exposure periods of 1 month or longer. Both materials had intentional coating breaks exposing the base steel. Polymer adhesion degradation of DCR relative to the as-received condition was comparable to, or less than, that experienced by ECR under both anodic and cathodic polarization and with and without chloride ions. Both DCR and ECR experienced severe corrosion at breaks under strong anodic polarization with chloride ions, but distress for DCR was significantly less than for ECR. Under open-circuit conditions DCR experienced an initial high-activity period both in the presence and absence of chloride ions after which the open-circuit potential (OCP) stabi...
The case for a standard model description for process simulation

Over the past forty years, simulation and process modelling has progressed from a new research technique to a standard tool for system analysis that is used by thousands of professionals worldwide. The practice of process modelling is characterised by numerous vocabularies and model representations. Using an analogy to architectural modelling, this paper presents the case for a common, standards-based model representation that is needed to create the environment where simulation and process modelling will be used routinely to analyse system performance prior to system implementation or modification. The standard model description should minimally include a discrete event simulation modelling ontology, an XML standard for describing the structure of process models and a graphical representation.
Impact of prostaglandin and thromboxane synthesis blockade on disposition of group B streptococcus in lung and liver of intact piglet.

ABSTRACT: Group B streptococci (GBS) localizing in the lungs of infant piglets is killed in part by an oxygen radical-dependent mechanism (Bowdy BD, Marple SL, Pauly TH, Coonrod JD, Gillespie MN: Am Rev Respir Dis 141:648–653, 1990). The source of bactericidal oxygen radicals is unknown, but cyclooxygenation of arachidonic acid, an initial event in prostanoid synthesis, is accompanied by substantial oxygen radical generation. Because blockade of prostaglandin H synthase (cyclooxygenase) with indomethacin prevents GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension, we reasoned that the salutary effect of indomethacin might be associated with a reduction in the efficacy of bactericidal activity directed against GBS. To address this possibility, the distribution and viability of 111In-labeled GBS (108 colony forming units/kg/min i.v. for 15 min) were assessed in lungs and livers of control piglets, piglets treated with indomethacin (1 mg/kg), and piglets treated with OKY-046 (10 mg/kg), an inhibitor of thromboxane synthase that also forestalls GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension. Relative to control animals, indomethacin treatment increased pulmonary GBS uptake with no change in bacterial distribution into the liver. OKY-046 failed to influence pulmonary bacterial uptake but promoted a substantial increase in GBS depositing in the liver. In contrast to its effects on pulmonary bacterial deposition, indomethacin failed to increase lung bacterial viability relative to control animals. Indomethacin also was without effect on hepatic bacterial viability. OKY-046 failed to influence pulmonary bacterial viability but markedly augmented hepatic GBS viability to the extent that significant bacterial proliferation occurred. Both indomethacin and OKY-046 abolished GBS-induced pulmonary hypertension by preventing the increase in pulmonary arterial pressure and decrease in cardiac output. Viewed collectively, these observations suggest that oxygen radicals derived from cyclooxygenation of arachidonic acid in GBS-treated piglets do not contribute to microbicidal activity directed against the organism.
Stress stimuli-induced lymphocyte activation.

Abstract Oxidants, heavy metals, and heat shock, collectively known as stress stimuli, induce the synthesis of a variety of proteins, termed stress proteins, and enhance glucose uptake. In this study, we have demonstrated that stress stimuli enhance protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTyr-P), modulate protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTPase) activity, activate the src family protein tyrosine kinase (PTK), p56lck, and enhance glucose uptake in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. The heavy metal Hg2+ and heat shock stimulated PTPase activity at an optimal dose, whereas the oxidant phenylarsine oxide (PAO) was only marginally stimulatory. Treatment of lymphocytes with stress stimuli at a dose which activated PTPase did not produce discernable PTyr-P using Western blotting techniques. PTyr-P was only seen at doses of stress stimuli which were associated with an inhibition of PTPase activity. We could demonstrate a correlation between the dose of stress stimuli effective in increasing PTPase activity and p56lck activation using heat shock and Hg2+ as stress stimuli. On the other hand, much lower concentrations of PAO were effective in activating PTPase than those effective in eliciting p56lck activation. We could not demonstrate a correlation between an effective dose inducing PTyr-P and glucose uptake. Our data do not permit us to draw a simple correlation between enhancement of PTPase activity, activation of p56Ick, induction of PTyr-P, and induction of the biological response. It is possible that both stimulation and inhibition of PTPase could regulate PTyr-P by either activating the src family PTKs or preventing dephosphorylation of target proteins which are involved in the biological response. Our data may also provide the biochemical basis for the previously reported mitogenic effects of Hg2+ on lymphocytes.
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy of cadmium sulfide/cadmium selenide superlattices formed on gold by electrochemical atomic-layer epitaxy

The phonon properties of ultrathin CdS/CdSe superlattice films formed on gold by electrochemical atomic-layer epitaxy are characterized by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Substantial (15–25 cm−1) red-shifts in the CdS phonon frequencies are observed, whereas the CdSe frequencies are essentially unaltered, indicating that substantial crystallographic strain occurs in the former, but not the latter, superlattice component. The findings demonstrate the virtues of SERS for exploring the structure of such solid–solid interfaces with unique monolayer-level sensitivity.
Continuous-wave Rayleigh-Brillouin-gain spectroscopy in SF(6).

We have obtained cw Rayleigh–Brillouin-gain spectra of SF6 for both forward and backward scattering geometry with high spectral resolution. The spectral resolution is better than 4 MHz, and a Brillouin-frequency shift as small as 42 MHz is clearly resolved. Extension of the present technique to other studies is discussed.
Azulene Derivatives as Plant Growth Regulators

AMONG the many hundreds of compounds examined for effects in promoting cell elongation, very few having activity do not have a ring structure possessing aromatic character1. Thus it is logical to look for activity in compounds having ‘non-classical’ aromatic rings such as derivatives of azulene and ferrocene. The azulene compounds are of particular significance since this ring system occurs frequently in essential oils and plant tissue, and anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, bacteriostatic, cancerostatic and anti-arthritic activities have been claimed for azulenes2.
Are At-Risk Parents Getting What They Need? Perspectives of Parents Involved with Child Protective Services

This qualitative study explores the perspective of 24 parents who were at risk for having their children placed in foster care but ultimately retained custody of their children. We asked participants to reflect on their parenting needs prior to Child and Protective Services involvement and if and/or how they implemented parent education skills post-intervention. Parents most frequently cited stressors such as financial strain and single parenthood as contributing factors associated with their involvement with the child welfare system. Many parents stated that they wanted help with their parenting practices and provided their thoughts about time-out and physical punishment. Implications include assessing parental stress at the onset of services, seeking to understand the unique needs of families, evaluating the impact of length of time services are offered, and helping parents utilize age-appropriate discipline strategies.
Using nitrate dual isotopic composition (δ15N and δ18O) as a tool for exploring sources and cycling of nitrate in an estuarine system: Elkhorn Slough, California

[1] Nitrate (NO3−) concentrations and dual isotopic composition (δ15N and δ18O) were measured during various seasons and tidal conditions in Elkhorn Slough to evaluate mixing of sources of NO3− within this California estuary. We found the isotopic composition of NO3− was influenced most heavily by mixing of two primary sources with unique isotopic signatures, a marine (Monterey Bay) and terrestrial agricultural runoff source (Old Salinas River). However, our attempt to use a simple two end-member mixing model to calculate the relative contribution of these two NO3− sources to the Slough was complicated by periods of nonconservative behavior and/or the presence of additional sources, particularly during the dry season when NO3− concentrations were low. Although multiple linear regression generally yielded good fits to the observed data, deviations from conservative mixing were still evident. After consideration of potential alternative sources, we concluded that deviations from two end-member mixing were most likely derived from interactions with marsh sediments in regions of the Slough where high rates of NO3− uptake and nitrification result in NO3− with low δ15N and high δ18O values. A simple steady state dual isotope model is used to illustrate the impact of cycling processes in an estuarine setting which may play a primary role in controlling NO3− isotopic composition when and where cycling rates and water residence times are high. This work expands our understanding of nitrogen and oxygen isotopes as biogeochemical tools for investigating NO3− sources and cycling in estuaries, emphasizing the role that cycling processes may play in altering isotopic composition.
On their own: The experiences of youth after foster care

This study used multiple means to identify 55 young adults who had left foster care in recent years. The young adults who had all emancipated from foster care under the auspices of social services were most often identified by former foster parents, social workers, or other foster youth. This sample of former foster youth are often struggling with ill health, poor educations, severe housing problems, substance abuse, and criminal behavior. Yet the youth in this sample may be surviving more ably than the many former foster youth whom we could not reach.
Biosynthesis of polyamines in mouse brain: effects of methionine sulfoximine and adenosylhomocysteine.

This study examines the consequences on cerebral polyamine biosynthesis of increases and decreases in cerebral methylation. Increases were elicited by administering the convulsant agent methionine sulfoximine (MSO) and decreases by elevating in vivo the cerebral levels of the methylation inhibitor S-adenosylhomocysteine. Following the intraventricular (i.vt.) administration of one of the two possible polyamine precursors, [1,4-14C]putrescine, the specific radioactivity (sra) of the newly formed [14C]spermidine remained unchanged. Conversely, after i.vt. L-[3,4-14C]methionine, the other polyamine precursor, significantly higher sra values for [14C]spermidine and [14C]spermine were recorded in the brains of the MSO-treated animals. [14C]S-adenosylmethionine in the brain of the MSO-treated animals was also more highly labeled following [1-14C]-methionine, indicating its accelerated formation relative to controls. We also investigated the effect of the administration of adenosine + homocysteine, a treatment that results in elevated brain adenosylhomocysteine levels, on polyamine biosynthesis from [3,4-14C]-methionine. The results of these experiments show both significantly lower sra values for [14C]spermidine and [14C]spermine and significantly higher than control endogenous methionine levels, a clear sign of the existence of a retardation in the conversion of methionine to polyamines under these conditions. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that while interference with cerebral methylation results in significant alterations of the rate of formation of the methionine moiety of spermidine and spermine, it has no effect on the entry of the putrescine moiety into the two polyamine molecules.
Purification, crystallization, and properties of the α-amylase of Pseudomonas saccharophila☆

Abstract A method for the purification and crystallization of the alpha-amylase of Pseudomonas saccharophila has been described. Using crystalline preparations, some properties of this enzyme have been determined.
Redox reactivity of azathiaferrocenophane complexes with copper(II) and palladium(II)

Abstract To further probe the influence of coordinated metal ions on the electrochemical behavior of azathiaferrocenophane ligands, a series of palladium(II) and copper(II) complexes with both cyclic and acyclic ferrocenophanes has been prepared, spectroscopically characterized and examined by cyclic voltammetry. New complexes of N,N-didecyl-2,8-diaza-5-thia[9](1,1′) ferrocenophane (1) are [1]HPd(CH3CN)(BF4)3, [1]Pd(PPh3)2(BF4)2 · CH2Cl2, [1]Pd(AsPh3)2 (BF4)2 · 1.5CH2Cl2, [1]Pd(C6O4Cl2) · (HN(C2H5)3)2(BF4)2 · H2O and [1]H2Pd(bpy)(BF4)4. Copper(II) compounds reported include [2]Cu(CH3CO2)2 · 2H2O (2 = 1,5-bis(ferrocenyl)-3-thia-1,5-diaminopentane), [3]Cu(CH3CO2)2 (3 = 1,8-bis(ferrocenyl)-3,6-dithia-1,8 -diaminooctane) and Cu(bas)(CH3CO2)2 (bas = 3-thia-1,5-diaminopentane). The [1]HPd(CH3CN)3+ ca tion (E 1 2 (F by tridentate S2N ferrocenophane ligation, leaving one coordination position open to the CH3CN ligand and a protonated aza nitrogen atom uncoordinated. In contrast, 1 ligates Pd i I, only through its pair of thioether sulfur atoms in [1]Pd(PPh3)22+ (E 1 2 = 0.58 V) and [1]Pd(AsPh3)22+ (E 1 2 = 0.59 V). The PdII-chloranilate interaction in [1]Pd(C6O4Cl2) · (HN(C2H5)3)2(BF4)2 · H2O is too weak to disrupt ferrocenophane tridentate chelation or to restore the FeIIS bonding previously documented for [1]Pd(C6O4Cl2), which was prepared by another synthetic route. Electronic spectra of [2]Cu(CH3CO2)2 · 2H2O and [3 ]Cu(CH3CO2)2 are consistent with tridentate S2N and tetradentate S2N2 ligat ion of Cu II, respectively, and a finding of E 1 2 = 0.48 V for both complexes is in accord with expectations for the electrostatic influence of a bivalent cation on the FellIII/II couple. Although cyclic voltammetric waves for the CuII,I couple were not observed, the redox reactivity of [2]Cu2+ towards reduction was evaluated through a kinetic study of electron transfer within its mercaptoacetate adduct.
A fast parallel algorithm to recognize P4-sparse graphs

Abstract A number of problems in mobile computing, group-based collaboration, automated theorem proving, networking, scheduling, and cluster analysis suggested the study of graphs featuring certain “local density” characteristics. Typically, the notion of local density is equated with the absence of chordless paths of length three or more. Recently, a new metric for local density has been proposed, allowing a number of such induced paths to occur. More precisely, a graph G is called P4-sparse if no set of five vertices in G induces more than one chordless path of length three. P4-sparse graphs generalize the well-known class of cographs corresponding to a more stringent local density metric. One remarkable feature of P4-sparse graphs is that they admit a tree representation unique up to isomorphism. In this work we present a parallel algorithm to recognize P4-sparse graphs and show how the data structures returned by the recognition algorithm can be used to construct the corresponding tree representation. With a graph G = (V, E) with¦V¦= n and¦E¦= m as input, our algorithms run in O (logn) time using O ((n 2 + mn)/ log n) processors in the EREW-PRAM model.
Toward better understanding of artifacts in variant calling from high-coverage samples

Motivation: Whole-genome high-coverage sequencing has been widely used for personal and cancer genomics as well as in various research areas. However, in the lack of an unbiased whole-genome truth set, the global error rate of variant calls and the leading causal artifacts still remain unclear even given the great efforts in the evaluation of variant calling methods. Results: We made 10 single nucleotide polymorphism and INDEL call sets with two read mappers and five variant callers, both on a haploid human genome and a diploid genome at a similar coverage. By investigating false heterozygous calls in the haploid genome, we identified the erroneous realignment in low-complexity regions and the incomplete reference genome with respect to the sample as the two major sources of errors, which press for continued improvements in these two areas. We estimated that the error rate of raw genotype calls is as high as 1 in 10–15 kb, but the error rate of post-filtered calls is reduced to 1 in 100–200 kb without significant compromise on the sensitivity. Availability and implementation: BWA-MEM alignment and raw variant calls are available at http://bit.ly/1g8XqRt scripts and miscellaneous data at https://github.com/lh3/varcmp. Contact: gro.etutitsnidaorb@ilgneh Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Direct generation of Monte Carlo final states with unit weight

Abstract A method is given for generating Monte Carlo final states with unit weight, distributed according to Lorentz invariant phase space. No rejection processes are used, and as a result the computer time to generate one event varies only linearly with the number of particles. A computer program implementing the method is described.
The Predictive Accuracy of Shoreline Change Rate Methods and Alongshore Beach Variation on Maui, Hawaii

Abstract Beach erosion has direct consequences for Hawaii's tourist-based economy, which depends on the attraction of beautiful sandy beaches. Within the last century, however, beaches on Oahu and Maui have been narrowed or completely lost, threatening tourism and construction development. In order for the counties and state of Hawaii to implement coastal regulations to prevent infrastructure damage, it is necessary to find a statistically valid methodology that accurately delineates annual erosion hazard rates specific to Hawaii. We compare the following erosion rate methods: end point rate (EPR), average of rates (AOR), minimum description length (MDL), jackknifing (JK), ordinary least squares (OLS), reweighted least squares (RLS), weighted least squares (WLS), reweighted weighted least squares (RWLS), least absolute deviation (LAD), and weighted least absolute deviation (WLAD). To evaluate these statistical methods, this study determines the predictive accuracy of various calculated erosion rates, incl...
DetAnom: Detecting Anomalous Database Transactions by Insiders

Database Management Systems (DBMSs) provide access control mechanisms that allow database administrators (DBA) to grant application programs access privileges to databases. However, securing the database alone is not enough, as attackers aiming at stealing data can take advantage of vulnerabilities in the privileged applications and make applications to issue malicious database queries. Therefore, even though the access control mechanism can prevent application programs from accessing the data to which the programs are not authorized, it is unable to prevent misuse of the data to which application programs are authorized for access. Hence, we need a mechanism able to detect malicious behavior resulting from previously authorized applications. In this paper, we design and implement an anomaly detection mechanism, DetAnom, that creates a profile of the application program which can succinctly represent the application's normal behavior in terms of its interaction (i.e., submission of SQL queries) with the database. For each query, the profile keeps a signature and also the corresponding constraints that the application program must satisfy to submit that query. Later in the detection phase, whenever the application issues a query, the corresponding signature and constraints are checked against the current context of the application. If there is a mismatch, the query is marked as anomalous. The main advantage of our anomaly detection mechanism is that we need neither any previous knowledge of application vulnerabilities nor any example of possible attacks to build the application profiles. As a result, our DetAnom mechanism is able to protect the data from attacks tailored to database applications such as code modification attacks, SQL injections, and also from other data-centric attacks as well. We have implemented our mechanism with a software testing technique called concolic testing and the PostgreSQL DBMS. Experimental results show that our profiling technique is close to accurate, and requires acceptable amount of time, and that the detection mechanism incurs low run-time overhead.
Some partial Latin cubes and their completions

It is well known that all n i� n partial Latin squares with at most n - 1 entries are completable. Our intent is to extend this well known statement to partial Latin cubes. We show that if an n i� n i� n partial Latin cube contains at most n - 1 entries, no two of which occupy the same row, then the partial Latin cube is completable. Also included in this paper is the problem of completing 2 i� n i� n partial Latin boxes with at most n - 1 entries. Given certain sufficient conditions, we show when such partial Latin boxes are completable and then extendable to a deeper Latin box.
Pitting morphology in single crystals of copper during and after cyclic deformation in 0.1 M perchloric acid

Abstract The morphologies of corrosion pits produced during cyclic deformation have been studied in copper single crystals exposed to corrosion, and by exposing previously cycled specimens to the same corrosive environment (0.1 M HClO 4 ), but without cycling. When the previously deformed metal was corroded without cycling, pits formed at moderate and high anodic potentials with 111 facets, and two morphologies were observed; regular octahedral pits with pointed bottoms and others with flat 100 bottoms. The existence of the flat-bottomed pits was justified thermodynamically, and the sharp bottomed pits developed from the other kind because of the mechanism and kinetics of the growth process. The corrosion pits produced during cyclic deformation were not of the conventional octahedral type and showed 110 and 111 facets. The slip steps caused by the cyclic deformation reduced the differences in specific surface energies of the facets, and stimulated the growth kinetics.
Crystalline Inclusions of Bacterium 22M

Crystalline inclusions occur in bacterium 22M. Arrays consist of parallel rows of polyhedral subunits (7.5 nm in diameter), 2.0 nm apart, with a distance of 3.0 nm between rows.
Effect of FET output capacitance on ZVS of resonant converters

The analysis of resonant converters including the capacitance of the switches is presented. New dc characteristics are obtained for the series, parallel, and series-parallel resonant converters (SPRC). The operating regions where the converters operate with zero-voltage switching (ZVS) are determined as a function of the switch capacitance. The more pronounced effect can be seen in the series resonant converter (SRC), while the parallel resonant converter (PRC) is the most insensitive. The results of the analysis have been verified on an experimental prototype.
Factors affecting denitrification rates in experimental wetlands: Field and laboratory studies

Abstract To identify the conditions that promote high rates of denitrification we systematically investigated the interactions of wetland age, water temperature, organic carbon, macrophytic type and density, hydraulic conditions on denitrification rates in field and laboratory experiments. In the field, nitrate removal was consistently greater in a shallow, young, well-mixed constructed wetland, regardless of temperature and despite lower sediment denitrification potential (DNP), than in mature, more diverse, less well-mixed wetlands. We believe the presence of a benthic mesh, which supported a dense periphytic biofilm, to be partly responsible for the unexpectedly high observed rates. We measured the DNP of wetland sediments and periphyton in the laboratory with the acetylene block method under different temperatures, nitrate concentrations, and carbon sources. The overall DNP of periphyton was greater than the corresponding sediment samples on a per cell basis. We hypothesize that the organic carbon produced by the periphytic algae is readily degradable and promoted the higher denitrification rates. We found a positive relationship between DNP and biodegradable organic carbon concentration and identified chemical markers illustrating that biodegradability is promoted by a combination of polyhydroxyaromatic and polysaccharide parent structures. These findings highlight the importance of organic quality and the role of periphyton in accelerating the rates of denitrification in wetlands.
Issues Affecting the Delivery of Physical Therapy Services for Individuals With Critical Illness

Research supports the provision of physical therapy intervention and early mobilization in the management of patients with critical illness. However, the translation of care from that of well-controlled research protocols to routine practice can be challenging and warrants further study. Discussions in the critical care and physical therapy communities, as well as in the published literature, are investigating factors related to early mobilization such as transforming culture in the intensive care unit (ICU), encouraging interprofessional collaboration, coordinating sedation interruption with mobility sessions, and determining the rehabilitation modalities that will most significantly improve patient outcomes. Some variables, however, need to be investigated and addressed specifically by the physical therapy profession. They include assessing and increasing physical therapist competence managing patients with critical illness in both professional (entry-level) education programs and clinical settings, determining and providing an adequate number of physical therapists for a given ICU, evaluating methods of prioritization of patients in the acute care setting, and adding to the body of research to support specific functional outcome measures to be used with patients in the ICU. Additionally, because persistent weakness and functional limitations can exist long after the critical illness itself has resolved, there is a need for increased awareness and involvement of physical therapists in all settings of practice, including outpatient clinics. The purpose of this article is to explore the issues that the physical therapy profession needs to address as the rehabilitation management of the patient with critical illness evolves.
Enhanced partial-SPIHT for lossless and lossy image compression

This paper proposes an enhanced partial SPIHT (P-SPIHT) for lossless and lossy image compression. P-SPIHT uses three coding modes for each bit plane based of the probability of the significant coefficients (PI) within each bit plane as proposed by Abu-Hajar and Sankar (see ICASSP 2002, Orlando, Florida, vol.4, p.3497-3500, 2002). In this paper, P-SPIHT is extended to support both lossy and lossless compression. Also it sorts the coded data into three categories; sign bits (SB), tree bits (TB) and magnitude bits (MB). P-SPIHT sorts TB and MB into insignificant tree bits (ITB), significant tree bits (STB), insignificant magnitude bits (IMB) and significant magnitude bits (SMB). Sorting the data enhances the compression of the arithmetic coder, as each category uses its own frequency model within the coder. Sorting the data improves the compression of the arithmetic coder by a factor of two. Experimental results show that the compression of P-SPIHT is superior to SPIHT for all the tested images and it is comparable JPEG2000 especially in the lossless mode.
ERP indices of vowel processing in Spanish-English bilinguals

This study examined behavioral and neurophysiological indices of discrimination of an English vowel contrast [[ɪ–ɛ] by early and late bilingual Spanish-English speakers, compared to monolingual English speakers. Electrophysiological measures (Mismatched Negativity - MMN) and behavioral measures (AX discrimination and forced-choice identification) were employed to examine perception of a nine-step vowel continuum, re-synthesized from natural tokens. Results revealed that (i) both monolingual and early bilinguals showed similar behavioral perception while late bilinguals performed more poorly on all behavioral tasks; and (ii) monolinguals showed robust evidence of discrimination (MMN) at a pre-attentive level that was significantly larger than found for either early or late bilinguals. These findings suggested that early input of English vowels to bilinguals did not necessarily lead to robust, automatic processing, as measured at a more attention-independent neural level; but earlier experience with a second language allowed for native-like speech perception measured with behavioral tasks.
Borders traversed, boundaries erected: Creating discursive identities and language communities in the Village of Tewa

Today the Village of Tewa, First Mesa of the Hopi Reservation in Northern Arizona experiences unprecedented linguistic diversity and change due to language shift to English. Despite a wide range of speaker fluency, the now emblematic Tewa language that their ancestors transported from the Rio Grande Valley almost 325 years ago, is widely valorized within the community. However Language factions have emerged andtheir debates and contestations focus on legitimate language learning and the proper maintenance of their emblematic language. Boundary creation and crossing are featuresof discourses that rationalize possible forms of language revitalization and construct communities across temporal barriers. The theoretical implications of these discourseson both local and theoretical notions of language/speech community are explored.
Vasomotor symptoms after risk reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in brca mutation carriers: impact of obesity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and depressed mood

VASOMOTOR SYMPTOMS AFTER RISK REDUCING BILATERAL SALPINGO-OOPHORECTOMY (RRSO) IN BRCA MUTATION CARRIERS: IMPACT OF OBESITY, HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY (HRT), AND DEPRESSED MOOD. L. Johnson, S. Butts, L. DiGiovanni, C. Voong, J. Chan, S. Senapati, S. Domchek. Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; Basser Research Center for BRCA, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA.
Comments on the 1950s applications and extensions of Skinner's operant psychology.

These comments address Laties’, Dewsbury’s, and Rutherford’s papers on the extension and application of Skinner’s operant psychology during the 1950s. I begin by reflecting on the papers’ overall theme—that the success of behavior analysis lies in its practical applications—and add some comments on Planck’s principle. I then turn to the three papers and address such topics as (a) other applications and extensions (e.g., the U.S. space program), (b) relations between the research and researchers at the Yerkes Laboratories of Primate Biology (e.g., a Yerkes’ researcher in Skinner’s laboratory), and (c) human schedule performance (e.g., continuity and discontinuity with nonhuman behavior). I end with a discussion of the fundamental reason for the success of the extensions and applications of behavior analysis—the experimental analysis of behavior.
Brain damage or compensation neurosis? The controversial post-concussion syndrome

Abstract Neuropsychological evaluations were performed on 55 consecutive patients with persisting post-concussion syndrome (PCS). All were in litigation or were pursuing/receiving financial compensation for their injuries. No PCS patients who were not in litigation or compensated were referred over the 2-year span of the study. Many patients had deficits on neuropsychological testing. However, 15% of the patients were shown to be unconsciously or consciously motivated to do poorly on the Portland Digit Recognition Test (PDRT) and 33% fell below the cut-offs suggesting poor motivation reported by previous investigators. Only 28% of the PCS patients performed at or above the levels of patients with documented brain damage, established by previous investigators. When an additional measure of cooperation was considered (the Dot Counting Test), 48% of all patients had questionable motivation during testing. The average MMPI-2 profile of the entire PCS group suggested the presence of somatization and functional...
Postchallenge glucose rises with increasing age even when glucose tolerance is normal.

Aims Ageing increases the likelihood of developing diabetes, with associated cardiovascular disease. In a cross-sectional study, we sought to determine whether age is associated with an increase in glucose concentrations 1 h after an oral glucose challenge (1-h OGTT), even when glucose tolerance is normal (NGT). Methods Among subjects in the NHANES II database, 2591 subjects with NGT and documented 1-h OGTT glucose concentrations were studied. The relationship between age and 1-h OGTT glucose concentrations was assessed in a multivariable linear regression analysis. Results In a multivariable linear regression analysis, each 10-year increase in age conferred an additional 0.20 mmol/l increase in the 1-h OGTT glucose (P < 0.0001). Moreover, an interaction between age and gender was found such that 1-h OGTT glucose concentrations rose more rapidly with increasing age in men than in women. The impact of age on 1-h OGTT glucose was independent of both fasting and 2-h OGTT glucose concentrations. Conclusions One-hour OGTT glucose concentrations rise significantly with age even in subjects with NGT. Further investigation is warranted to explore the pathophysiological significance of such age-related impairment of glucose handling, which might increase the risk of cardiovascular disease even when patients do not meet criteria for the diagnosis of diabetes or prediabetes.