cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Promotion of Proton Conduction in Polymer Electrolyte Membranes by 1H-1,2,3-Triazole

We report 1H-1,2,3-triazole as an active group to dramatically enhance proton conduction in a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). The conductivities of a poly(4-vinyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole) membrane without any acidic dopants are about 105 times greater than those of poly(4-vinylimidazole) in dry air at 50−150 °C. Polymers with groups promoting proton conduction attached to the backbone have great potential to offer excellent mechanical properties and long-term stability. Further, 1H-1,2,3-triazole and PEMs containing 1H-1,2,3-triazole are stable in a wide potential range, implying excellent electrochemical stability under fuel cell operating conditions.
Towards model-guided defect reduction in Cd 1−x Zn x Te/CdS solar cells: Development of molecular dynamics models

Cd 1−x Zn x Te/CdS solar cells are currently limited by material defects. While nano-structuring promises further defect reductions, the materials synthesis and characterization become more challenging. Molecular dynamics models capable of growth simulations enable defects to be explored without assumptions, and can therefore guide nanoscale experiments. Such models are difficult to develop, and are not routinely available in literature for semiconductor compounds. To fill this gap, we have developed growth simulation enabling Stillinger-Weber and bond-order potentials. These new models begin to enable molecular dynamics to be used to explore nano-structured Cd 1−x Zn x Te/CdS solar cells with reduced defects.
Simulation of flux decline due to particulate fouling in ultrafiltration

ABSTRACT The flux decline in thin-channel and tubular ultrafiltration (UF) modules due to fouling by dilute suspensions is presented for a wide range of operating conditions. The dynamics of fouling is simplified by viewing the particle deposition on the membrane surface at discrete time as a steady state event and formulating the problem as an infinite series of successive events. Only inertial effects are considered and it is assumed that for a dilute system, particle-particle interactions and forces of interaction between particles and membrane walls are insignificant. Further, at such low concentration, the motion of fluid and particle may be taken independent of each other. The equations of motion for the particles are solved by Fourthorder Runge-Kutta method, where the fluid flow is obtained from the finite difference solution of Navier-Stokes equation. The present theoretical calculations of flux decline due to particulate fouling at typical UF operating conditions indicate that the inertial effect...
Potential use of serotherapy in the prevention and treatment of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus

While prevention of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) using prophylactic immunization and treatment with anti-viral drugs would appear to be the methods of choice for the prevention and treatment of this infection, neither safe and effective vaccines nor anti-viral agents have yet been developed. A third approach should thus be considered which could be employed both for prophylaxis and treatment of this disease. This approach utilizes specific, anti-HIV antibodies, passively administered, to prevent and/or slow the infectious process. The disadvantages of using xenogeneic antibodies and the advantages of using human antibodies are discussed. The need for large quantities of human antibodies to HIV necessitates the production of cell lines producing these antibodies. The various techniques of producing these lines are summarized. Finally, preliminary data supporting the feasibility of producing human cell lines producing antibody to HIV are presented.
69-year-old man with recurrent episodes of confusion and diaphoresis.

69-year-old man was referred to our institution with a 2-year history of discrete episodes characterized by sweating, palpitations, confusion, and slurred speech. Initially, these symptoms occurred in theafternoonandweremostlikelytobeprecipitated by activity. More recently, the episodes had increased in frequency and would occur at any time of the day. Eating typically relieved the patient’s symptoms; as a result, he had gained 2.7 kg before presentation. Evaluation during a symptomatic episode revealed a plasma blood glucose level of 47 mg/dL. The patient’s medical history was remarkable forhypertensiontreatedwithatenololandspironolactone, benign prostatic hypertrophy treated with finasteride, and hypothyroidism treated with replacement therapy. Topical triamcinolone was usedtotreateczemaaffectingthelowerextremities. Other than an inguinal hernia repair, there was no history of abdominal surgery. The patient did not smoke or consume alcohol. Both of the patient’s brothers have type 2 diabetes mellitus. On examination, the patient was afebrile and in no respiratory distress, with a regular heart rate (75 beats/min) and normal blood pressure (130/85 mm Hg). His body mass index was 28 kg/m 2 , and aside from an eczematous rash on his lower limbs, the remainder of the examination findings were normal.
Selective loss of pattern discrimination in early glaucoma

A new perimetric pattern discrimination test was compared with conventional automated perimetry (Humphrey program 30-2 or Octopus program 32) in glaucoma patients, glaucoma suspects, and control subjects. The new test is based on the rationale that a greater percentage of retinal ganglion cells should be needed to detect a stimulus by its shape, or pattern, than by its brightness. The pattern discrimination stimulus was a patch of nonrandom dots embedded in a surrounding random dot field of the same average density. Pattern discrimination thresholds were measured by changing the degree of regularity, or coherence, of the stimulus dots. The fully coherent target was a static, 1-s duration, 20 × 20-dot checkerboard. Using a criterion-free relative operating characteristic analysis, we estimated the ability of both the pattern discrimination and conventional tests to distinguish the normal data distribution from the suspect and glaucoma distributions. The pattern discrimination test appeared to produce separations greater than conventional perimetry for glaucoma suspects and separations equivalent to conventional perimetry for glaucoma patients.
Looking for the lunate sulcus: A magnetic resonance imaging study in modern humans

The position of the lunate sulcus in fossil endocasts (when it can be determined) may serve as a potential marker of cognitive development in extinct hominid species. While the lunate sulcus is reliably present in the brains of great apes and forms the anterolateral boundary of the primary visual cortex, in humans its presentation is much more variable, and even if present, it does not correspond to a functional region. Grafton Elliot Smith, who named the lunate sulcus, claimed that it was homologous in humans and the great apes. Using high-resolution MRI, we assessed the presence/absence and course of the lunate sulcus in 110 adult subjects. We found that in the vast majority of cases, lunate sulci identified on the surface of the occipital lobe are actually composed of smaller sulcal segments that converge into an apparently continuous composite lunate sulcus. We found only 3 examples in 220 hemispheres (1.4%) of continuous lunate sulci that resembled ape lunates in form (albeit in a more posterior position). Composite lunate sulci were found in 32.7% of left hemispheres and 26.4% of right hemispheres. These results, combined with those from histological and functional imaging studies, indicate that human and ape lunate sulci are not homologous structures. We suggest that the extent of functional reorganization of the occipital region during hominid evolution has been underestimated, and that changes in this region were not just passively shaped by expansion of parietal association cortex.
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-derived psychopathology subtypes among former prisoners of war (POWs): Replication and extension

Psychopathology and symptom patterns identified among former prisoners of war (POWs) by Sutker, Winstead, Goist, Malow, and Allain (1986) were replicated in an independent sample of 51 former POWs with similar personal backgrounds and military experiences. Data collection instruments included the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), self-report measures of anxiety and depression, and a structured clinical interview including a POW Trauma Index. Two prototypic MMPI profile patterns were identified using modal profile analysis (Skinner & Lei, 1980). Both were highly similar in shape and elevation to those reported in the previous investigation. Multiprofile-multisample analysis produced prototypic profile patterns which were accurate representations of profiles identified in separate analyses of the derivation and replication samples (r's ≥.96). Representing unique constellations of clinical features, profile subtypes were associated differentially with confinement stress severity, postservice adjustment, and nature and extent of stress-induced symptomatology.
Normal coordinate analysis of CF3CH3

Abstract Normal coordinate calculations were made for CF 3 CH 3 , using a twenty-two parameter modified valence force field. Thirteen force constants were constrained to the CF 3 CH 2 X values and nine were adjusted to fit the twelve frequencies, resulting in an average error of 2.3 cm /t-1 . The CF 3 group force constants should be useful in calculations for other compounds containing this group.
Associated types and constraint propagation for mainstream object-oriented generics

Support for object-oriented programming has become an integral part of mainstream languages, and more recently generic programming has gained widespread acceptance as well. A natural question is how these two paradigms, and their underlying language mechanisms, should interact. One particular design option, that of using subtyping to constrain the type parameters of generic functions, has been chosen in the generics of Java and those planned for a future revision of C#.Certain shortcomings have previously been identified in using subtyping for constraining parametric polymorphism in the context of generic programming.To address these, we propose extending object-oriented interfaces and subtyping to include associated types and constraint propagation.Associated types are type members of interfaces and classes. Constraint propagation allows certain constraints on type parameters to be inferred from other constraints on those parameters and their use in base class type expressions.The paper demonstrates these extensions in the context of C# (with generics), describes a translation of the extended features to C#, and presents a formalism proving their safety. The formalism is applicable to other mainstream object-oriented languages supporting F-bounded polymorphism, such as Java.
Detection of bolt loosening in C–C composite thermal protection panels: II. Experimental verification

The research presented in this paper is motivated by the need for reliable inspection technology for the detection of bolt loosening in carbon–carbon (C–C) thermal protection system (TPS) panels using minimal human intervention. Based on the diagnostic scheme proposed in part I of the study, a new PZT (lead zirconate titanate)-embedded sensor washer was developed to constitute the sensor network. The sensor suite was included in the C–C TPS prototype without jeopardizing the integrity of the original fastening components. The sensor-embedded washer enhances the remote sensing capability and achieves sufficient sensitivity by guiding the diagnostic waves to propagate primarily through the inspection areas. After evolution of the sensor design and appropriate algorithm development, the verification tests were conducted using a shaker which simulated the acoustic environments during the re-entry process. The test results revealed that the proposed system successfully identified the loss of the preload for the bolted joints under loosening and gave the correct diagnostic results. The sensors were found to be durable under cyclic mechanical loads without major failures, and the diagnostic scheme was capable of locating a loosened bracket as well as discriminating major failure modes 1 and 2: panel and bracket loosening in the bracket.
Alan Wolfe's simple gifts

Finishing Whose Keeper? I had the feeling that the best word to describe it was "generous." For throughout Wolfe seems very much in a giving frame of mind. A basic theme of the book is that society itself is a gift, by which he means that the freedom of individuals is embedded in a moral web of mutual obligation. Thus, giving is fundamental to social life and cannot be accounted for by reducing it to self-interest or conformity.
Asymmetric synthesis of (+)-loline

The first asymmetric synthesis of (+)-loline has been achieved in 20 steps from (−)-malic acid by a route incorporating intramolecular hetero-Diels–Alder cycloaddition of an acylnitrosodiene.
Venous Hum Causing Tinnitus: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Hearing one's own heart murmur has been reported in adults, but has not been reported in the pediatric literature. This study reports the case of a young child who clearly heard her own venous hum, causing her to complain of pulsatile tinnitus. This entity should be included in the differential diagnosis of pulsatile tinnitus and by doing so pediatricians and cardiologists may avoid ordering unnecessary diagnostic procedures.
Parent Participation in Special Education Compliance Issues as Reported by Parent Surveys and State Compliance Reports

Public Law 94-142 has been one of the most extensive legislations ever enacted to benefit children. Central in this legislation has been the emphasis on the role of the parent in the decision-making process, especially in the area of Individualized Education Program development. The purpose of this study was to examine school division compliance with the state of Virginia and federal regulations as reported through parent surveys and state department of education compliance reports. Areas of difficulty indicated by the parent surveys were related to transmitting and explaining to parents their rights. Parent surveys also revealed a high incidence of non-participation by parents in Individualized Education Program development. Compliance reports indicated that divisions were having difficulties in developing Individualized Education Programs within the 30-day limit and placing children with disabilities with age-appropriate peers. Recommendations for better practice are provided.
An electrophysiological cardiac model with applications to ischemia detection and infarction localization

A novel electrophysiological cardiac model is introduced in this paper. The proposed cardiac model considers six key regions that characterize the cardiac electrical activity. This allows the model to solve the forward and inverse electrocardiology problems in near real time. The proposed cardiac model is used as a basis for two near real time clinical diagnostic applications. The first is the detection of myocardial ischemia. The second is the localization of myocardial infarction. These diagnostic methods use the proposed forward and inverse problem solutions and machine learning approaches to diagnose automatically, noninvasively, and accurately these two serious heart conditions. Moreover, the proposed diagnostic methods have high true positive and negative accuracies suitable to be used in clinical expert systems. The accuracies for the ischemia detection and infarction localization methods are 91% and 68.57%, respectively.
Nanofocusing in a metal-insulator-metal gap plasmon waveguide with a three-dimensional linear taper

The development of techniques for efficiently confining photons on the deep sub-wavelength spatial scale will revolutionize scientific research and engineering practices. The efficient coupling of light into extremely small nanofocusing devices has been a major challenge in on-chip nanophotonics because of the need to overcome various loss mechanisms and the on-chip nanofabrication challenges. Here, we demonstrate experimentally the achievement of highly efficient nanofocusing in an Au–SiO_2–Au gap plasmon waveguide using a carefully engineered three-dimensional taper. The dimensions of the SiO_2 layer, perpendicular to the direction of wave propagation, taper linearly below 100 nm. Our simulations suggest that the three-dimensional linear-tapering approach could focus 830 nm light into a 2 × 5 nm^2 area with ≤3 dB loss and an intensity enhancement of 3.0 × 10^4. In a two-photon luminescence measurement, our device achieved an intensity enhancement of 400 within a 14 × 80 nm2 area, and a transmittance of 74%.
8-Phenylthio-adenines stimulate the expression of steroid hydroxylases, Cav3.2 Ca2+ channels, and cortisol synthesis by a cAMP-independent mechanism

The regulation of cortisol synthesis and the expression of genes coding for steroidogenic proteins by 8-substituted cAMP and 8-substituted adenine derivatives were studied in bovine adrenal zona fasciculata (AZF) cells. At concentrations of 10–50 μM, 8-(4-chlorophenylthio)-cAMP (8CPT-cAMP), but not the poorly hydrolyzable Sp-8CPT-cAMP, stimulated large increases in cortisol synthesis and CYP17 mRNA expression. Of the three Epac (exchange protein activated by cAMP)-specific cAMP analogs, 8CPT-2′-OMe-cAMP, but not 8HPT-2′-OMe-cAMP or 8MeOPT-2′-OMe-cAMP, induced mRNAs for CYP17 and CYP11a1 steroid hydroxylases and stimulated cortisol synthesis. 8-Substituted adenine derivatives (10–200 μM), including 8PT-adenine, 8MeOPT-adenine, and 8CPT-adenine, stimulated similar large, concentration-dependent, and reversible increases in cortisol synthesis and steroid hydroxylase gene expression, whereas 8Br-adenine was ineffective. The phenylthio-adenine derivatives produced additive effects on cortisol synthesis when applied to AZF cells in combination with 8Br-cAMP. In contrast, no additivity was observed for these three compounds when used in combination with ACTH. 8PT-adenine did not activate PKA or inhibit DNA synthesis by AZF cells. 8PT-adenine-stimulated cortisol secretion and CYP17 steroid hydroxylase mRNA expression were potently inhibited by diphenyl-butylpiperidine T-type Ca2+ antagonists. In AZF cells, 8PT-adenine and 8MeOPT-adenine induced the expression of both CACNA1H mRNA and associated Cav3.2 Ca2+ current. These results indicate that 8-chloro (but not 8-hydroxy- or 8-methoxy-)-phenylthio-cAMP analogs are converted to an active metabolite, 8CPT-adenine, that induces the expression of genes coding for steroidogenic proteins in bovine AZF cells. Other PT-adenine analogs also potently stimulate cortisol synthesis through the same unidentified signaling pathway that requires the expression of functional Cav3.2 Ca2+ channels. These phenylthio-adenine compounds and ACTH may stimulate cortisol synthesis through the same cAMP-independent mechanism.
Increasing Response Rates in Mailed Questionnaires

Described is a procedure using a personal letter to a questionnaire recipient to capture attention, develop rapport, and capitalize on this plus persistence to achieve a high response rate. Also examined is the question of bias associated with nonrespondents. The evidence presented supports the practice of pursuing high response rates.
Technical note: Orbitozygomatic craniotomy using an ultrasonic osteotome for precise osteotomies

Abstract Background The orbitozygomatic craniotomy is a fundamental procedure in neurosurgery, allowing access to orbital and skull base pathology. Objective Determine the feasibility of using an ultrasonic osteotome to safely perform orbitozygomatic osteotomies in patients with intracranial pathology. Methods The medical records of patients undergoing orbitozygomatic craniotomy using an ultrasonic osteotome (Aesculap BoneScalpel™) for tumor resection at Johns Hopkins Hospital between November 2009 and March 2013 were retrospectively reviewed. Results Six patients underwent orbitozygomatic craniotomy for tumor resection using an ultrasonic osteotome at the Johns Hopkins Hospital during the study period. All patients were female and the average age was 53.2 years. Patients were followed for an average of 375 days. There were two cases of transient diplopia. There were no cases of periorbital violation, orbital injury, enophthalmos, or orbital hematoma. Post-operative imaging showed the cuts were well opposed and no cosmetic issues were encountered. Conclusion Use of an ultrasonic osteotome allows for precise cuts under direct visualization with minimal risk to critical adjacent structures in our cohort of patients undergoing a two-piece orbitozygomatic craniotomy. This appears to be a safe instrument for osteotomy creation in skull base approaches.
Coronary artery saddle embolus and myocardial infarction in a patient with prosthetic mitral valve.

Coronary embolism is a rare cause of transmural myocardial infarction. A 58-year old female with mechanical mitral valve prosthesis and chronic atrial fibrillation who presented with anterolateral myocardial infraction is described. The etiologies, diagnosis, treatment dilemma and various management options are discussed.
Course and Prognosis in Patients ≥70 Years of Age With Congestive Heart Failure and Normal Versus Abnormal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction

In this study of 501 patients aged > or =70 years hospitalized with congestive heart failure, 34.1% had normal left ventricular systolic function. Reduced left ventricular ejection fraction was an independent predictor of an adverse prognosis at 3 months but not at 1 year.
Hugging My Uncle: The Impact of a Parent Training on Children’s Comfort Interacting with Persons Living with HIV

Objective HIV-related stigma affects not only persons living with HIV (PLwHIV) but also their communities and families including children. This study aimed to determine whether an interactive training administered to community parents significantly increases their children’s reported comfort interacting with PLwHIV. Methods A randomized clinical trial with random-quota dwelling unit sampling and a random invitation to treatment had 238 parent and 238 child participants. Results For children of trained parents, significant increases in comfort were obtained, baseline to 6-month follow-up, on 14 of 22 reported daily activities with PLwHIV. For children who recently interacted with a person living with HIV, this comfort predicted the number of recent activities, even after controlling for closeness to the person living with HIV and for the number of persons with HIV known, living or deceased. Conclusions Training parents to be HIV health educators of their children significantly impacts youth and shows promise for reducing HIV-related stigma and social isolation.
Interconnections in Multi-Core Architectures: Understanding Mechanisms, Overheads and Scaling

This paper examines the area, power, performance, and design issues for the on-chip interconnects on a chip multiprocessor, attempting to present a comprehensive view of a class of interconnect architectures. It shows that the design choices for the interconnect have significant effect on the rest of the chip, potentially consuming a significant fraction of the real estate and power budget. This research shows that designs that treat interconnect as an entity that can be independently architected and optimized would not arrive at the best multi-core design. Several examples are presented showing the need for careful co-design. For instance, increasing interconnect bandwidth requires area that then constrains the number of cores or cache sizes, and does not necessarily increase performance. Also, shared level-2 caches become significantly less attractive when the overhead of the resulting crossbar is accounted for. A hierarchical bus structure is examined which negates some of the performance costs of the assumed base-line architecture.
Creep Deformation of 0° Sapphire

Creep deformation of 0° sapphire was studied between 1600°and 1800°C at stresses up to 114 MN/m2. Microscopical evidence (dislocation structures observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and by etch pits) suggested that Nabarro climb was the predominant deformation mechanism. Both the experimental creep rates and stress exponents were in good agreement with those predicted by this model. Although non-basal dislocations with a ½〈101〉 Burgers vector were present, the good creep resistance of 0° sapphire was attributed to the difficulty of activating pyramidal slip.
LEAKPOINT: pinpointing the causes of memory leaks

Most existing leak detection techniques for C and C++ applications only detect the existence of memory leaks. They do not provide any help for fixing the underlying memory management errors. In this paper, we present a new technique that not only detects leaks, but also points developers to the locations where the underlying errors may be fixed. Our technique tracks pointers to dynamically-allocated areas of memory and, for each memory area, records several pieces of relevant information. This information is used to identify the locations in an execution where memory leaks occur. To investigate our technique's feasibility and usefulness, we developed a prototype tool called LEAKPOINT and used it to perform an empirical evaluation. The results of this evaluation show that LEAKPOINT detects at least as many leaks as existing tools, reports zero false positives, and, most importantly, can be effective at helping developers fix the underlying memory management errors.
Glucagon-like Peptide 2: A New Treatment for Chemotherapy-Induced Enteritis

Background. Glucagon-like peptide 2 (GLP-2) is a recently identified intestinal epithelium-specific growth factor that has been shown to reduce the severity of inflammatory disorders of the intestine in rodent models. We hypothesized that GLP-2 administration would be beneficial in chemotherapy-induced enteritis either by preventing injury or by promoting recovery. Material and methods. Rats received no drug (control), chemotherapy alone [5-fluorouracil (5-FU), 190 mg/kg, ip] (Chemo), 5-FU followed by 3 days of GLP-2 analog (ALX-0600, 0.1 μg, sc twice daily) (CH-G), or GLP-2 analog for 6 days prior to 5-FU and for 3 days afterward (G-CH-G). Animals were pair fed. Rats received 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (Br-dU, 50 mg/kg, 2.5 h prior to sacrifice on Day 3 postchemotherapy) for immunohistochemical assessment of cellular proliferation. Results. Chemotherapy induced significant reductions in body weight, villus height, and crypt depth compared with controls. Intestinal wet weight, villus height, and crypt depth were significantly higher for the CH-G group compared with the Chemo group. The CH-G group also showed a significant improvement in villus height compared with the G-CH-G group. Crypt depth, but not jejunal wet weight or villus height, was significantly improved in the G-CH-G group compared with the Chemo group. The percentage of Br-dU-labeled cells in the intestinal crypts did not differ among the groups. Conclusions. These results suggest, for the first time, that GLP-2 treatment initiated after chemotherapy administration enhances intestinal recovery. In contrast, GLP-2 treatment initiated prior to chemotherapy administration to prevent injury has less beneficial effect. GLP-2 administration may be beneficial to patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced enteritis.
An architecture for intelligent decision support with applications to emergency management

In this paper we present the results of our initial efforts to develop an architecture for designing intelligent decision support systems (DSS) that can be used to aid and assist in emergency management and response systems (EMS). Our methodology for designing DSSs is based on a modelling technique that uses binary Petri nets (BPN). The paper begins by contrasting the standard methodology of DSS design with the model-based approach that we propose. We then discuss the different types of models that one might consider in our approach and describe why BPNs are useful for modelling DSS. Next we present a description of interconnected binary Petri nets. This is followed by an example of applying BPNs to a toy EMS problem. The concluding section discusses how our approach can be extended to develop intelligent DSSs. >
Laboratory observations of sand ripple evolution using bimodal grain size distributions under asymmetric oscillatory flows

ABSTRACT Calantoni, J., Landry, B.J. and Penko, A.M., 2013. Laboratory observations of sand ripple evolution using bimodal grain size distributions under asymmetric oscillatory flows The heterogeneity of sand beds has been suggested to significantly impact the resulting sand ripple morphodynamics. However, the majority of previous experiments for sand ripple morphodynamics were conducted using only unimodal grain size distributions. Here we performed a series of ripple growth and transition experiments in a small oscillatory flow tunnel in the Sediment Dynamics Laboratory at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. Sand beds were constructed from mixtures of two unimodal sands median grain sizes of 0.30 mm (blue) and 0.70 mm (white), respectively. Experiments were performed with compositions of bimodal mixtures with percent by mass of 10/90, 25/75, 50/50, 75/25, 90/10. Additionally, similar experiments were performed for each of the unimodal cases (i.e., 100/0, 0/100). For each experiment, starting from a plan...
Response to Zadoff on Kwall

This paper furnishes a reply to Ethan Zadoff's paper, Zadoff on Kwall: A Historian's Critique, which appeared in Cardozo Law Review De Novo. Zadoff reviewed my article, The Cultural Analysis Paradigm: Women and Synagogue Ritual as a Case Study, 34 Cardozo L. Rev. 609 (2012).
Influence of temperature on populations within a guild of mesquite bruchids (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The effect that harsh, variable desert temperatures might have on the structure and population dynamics of a guild of Bruchidae (Coleoptera) that feed in the seeds of mesquite, Prosopis velutina Wooten, was examined in a 3-yr field and laboratory study. Metabolic rate, fecundity, longevity, developmental times, survivorship, and body size were measured across the temperature spectrum in which the species normally live. The 4 species that compose the guild-Algarobius prosopis (LeConte), Mimosestes amictis (Horn), Mimosestes protractus (Horn), and Neltumius arizonensis (Schaeffer)-livide the use of the resource temporally. The first 2 species dominate resource use and overlap entirely in time, whereas the 2 latter minor species utilize opposite ends of the temporal resource spectrum. Of the two dominants, M. amicus functions as a physiological generalist, apparently sacrificing resource adaptation for greater temperature adaptation and very high reproductive output. In contrast, A. prosopis is well adapted to both the use of mesquite as a resource and also to the desert thermal environment. The 2 minor species seem to be less well adapted to both the resource and the environment. Temperature clearly plays a strong role in determining the structure of this guild of bruchids.
Economic burden of foot and ankle surgery in the US Medicare population.

Background:Musculoskeletal diseases affecting the foot and ankle are common and can result in debilitating pain and chronic disability. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden associated with operative interventions targeting these afflictions in the Medicare population.Methods:Procedure incidence was determined using data from Medicare Part B National Summary Data Files (for 2000-2011). Health care and productivity costs were estimated for each year using an incidence-based cost model, using demographic information from 10 633 patient encounters at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics over the period January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2010.Results:The estimated economic burden of foot and ankle surgery in the Medicare population was $11 billion in 2011, up 38.2% since 2000. Direct health care costs were responsible for only 11% of this total, while indirect productivity costs contributed the remainder. Procedures targeting the foot accounted for over two-thirds of total econom...
Electron Microscope Observations of Mechanisms of thin Film Delamination from Substrates

Transmission electron microscope techniques have been applied to the problem of thin film delamination from substrates during film formation. Model systems involving metal films on single crystal silicon substrates have been used and it is found that delamination of the films is initiated by the formation of damage in the substrate. This understanding removes some of the fundamental problems regarding delamination.
Massachusetts Pediatricians’ Views Toward Body Mass Index Screening in Schools Continued Controversy

Objective Evaluate Massachusetts pediatricians' views toward school-based body mass index screening since its implementation. Methods Survey of 286 members of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics on attitudes toward screening and perceived impact on clinical practice. Results Overall, 36.3% supported screening, with suburban or rural pediatricians significantly less likely (vs urban) to indicate support. Less than 10% of pediatricians agreed or strongly agreed that screening improved communication with schools (4.2%), communication with families (8.9%), or helped them care for patients (7.0%), with suburban or rural pediatricians significantly less likely to agree. Most pediatricians reported contact from patients regarding screening (59.4%) and identifying concerns from patients regarding screening during office visits (60.4%), including bullying and self-esteem. Suburban or rural pediatricians were significantly more likely to report patient contact and concerns related to screening. Conclusions Support for school-based body mass index screening is low among Massachusetts pediatricians, particularly among suburban and rural pediatricians.
Modifying Demagnetization Field and Measuring Method of Delta-M Curves of Perpendicular Magnetic Recording Films

Magnetic intergranular interactions and other magnetic properties of perpendicular magnetic recording films can be judged by Delta-M curves.The magnetic properties of Co23Pt77 perpendicular magnetic recording film prepared by direct current magnetron sputtering method were characterized by using vibrating sample magneto-meter(VSM,Lakeshore7407).The measurement techniques and demagnetization factor correction of isothermal remanent magnetization(IRM)and direct current demagnetization remanence(DCD)of perpendicular recording media were presented in detail.Corrected methods of demagnetization field were determined.In addition,the calculation methods of Delta-Mcurve from corrected demagnetization IRM curve as well as DCD curve were introduced.
Functional outcomes and rehabilitation: an acute care field study

The effectiveness of intervention including occupational therapy in combination with other rehabilitation services was investigated in 193 acute care patients with a variety of diagnostic conditions. The study was conducted in two phases. In both phases, patients who received occupational therapy in conjunction with other services were compared to patients who did not receive occupational therapy. In the first phase, patients (N = 77) were matched according to diagnostic category, age, sex, and severity of impairment. In both phases, outcome measures included length of hospital stay, Barthel Index change scores, and discharge destination. Results revealed statistically significant findings for the measure of discharge destination. Patients who received occupational therapy as part of their rehabilitation program were more likely to be discharged to home environments. This result occurred despite the fact that patients receiving occupational therapy were rated as more severely impaired than patients who did not receive occupational therapy as part of their rehabilitation program.
Effect of testosterone on hepcidin, ferroportin, ferritin and iron binding capacity in patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and type 2 diabetes.

SummaryContext As the syndrome of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) is associated with anaemia and the administration of testosterone restores haematocrit to normal, we investigated the potential underlying mechanisms. Design Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Methods We measured basal serum concentrations of erythropoietin, iron, iron binding capacity, transferrin (saturated and unsaturated), ferritin and hepcidin and the expression of ferroportin and transferrin receptor (TR) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) of 94 men with type 2 diabetes. Forty-four men had HH (defined as subnormal free testosterone along with low or normal LH concentrations) while 50 were eugonadal. Men with HH were randomized to testosterone or placebo treatment every 2 weeks for 15 weeks. Blood samples were collected at baseline, 3 and 15 weeks after starting treatment. Twenty men in testosterone group and 14 men in placebo group completed the study. Results Haematocrit levels were lower in men with HH (41·1 ± 3·9% vs 43·8 ± 3·4%, P = 0·001). There were no differences in plasma concentrations of hepcidin, ferritin, erythropoietin, transferrin or iron, or in the expression of ferroportin or TR in MNC among HH and eugonadal men. Haematocrit increased to 45·3 ± 4·5%, hepcidin decreased by 28 ± 7% and erythropoietin increased by 21 ± 7% after testosterone therapy (P < 0·05). There was no significant change in ferritin concentrations, but transferrin concentration increased while transferrin saturation and iron concentrations decreased (P < 0·05). Ferroportin and TR mRNA expression in MNC increased by 70 ± 13% and 43 ± 10%, respectively (P < 0·01), after testosterone therapy. Conclusions The increase in haematocrit following testosterone therapy is associated with an increase in erythropoietin, the suppression of hepcidin, and an increase in the expression of ferroportin and TR.
Detecting mutation rate change in Barrett’s Esophagus after treatment with NSAIDs

B29 BACKGROUND: To prevent or delay progression to cancer, it is vital to assess the effect of exposures such as alcohol, tobacco smoke, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) on the clonal evolution that drives neoplastic progression. NSAIDs have been shown to reduce the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EA) in Barrett’s Esophagus (BE) patients (Vaughan et al., Lancet Oncol. 2005;6(12):945-52). However, the mechanism through which NSAIDs delay progression to EA is not well understood. >Four parameters determine the rate of evolution of neoplastic clones: mutation rate, stem cell population size and generation time, and clonal expansion rate. We hypothesize that NSAID use slows clonal evolution by reducing mutation rate. To test this hypothesis in-vivo, Illumina SNP arrays can be used to detect loss of heterozygosity (LOH) events in frozen longitudinal biopsies from BE patients from the Seattle Barrett’s Esophagus cohort. Using coalescent theory, the observed LOH events, known sampling times and known onset of NSAIDs treatment we can estimate the rate of LOH per year, the stem cell population size, and changes in these parameters after treatment. >METHODS: We performed in-silico analysis of the power to detect mutation rate changes, which is critical for selecting the number of time points and biopsies per time point to assay per patient. We modified SerialSimCoal (Excoffier et.al. J. Hered., 91, 506-509) to simulate a scenario in which 4 biopsies were taken from patients every 2 years for 10 years, with NSAID use beginning in year 5, and asked whether we could reliably detect mutation rate changes of various intensities (1.1, 2, 5, 10, and 100-fold). We varied stem cell population sizes and base mutation rates over 3 orders of magnitude on DNA sequences of 8,000 loci. We used BEAST (Drummond et.al. Genetics 161, 1307-1320) to estimate population sizes and mutation rates before and after year 5. >RESULTS: For 91% (41/45) of parameter combinations, we had >80% power to detect a 1.1- to 100- fold decrease in mutation rate (paired Wilcoxon test, p 70% power to detect 1.1- to 10- fold decrease in mutation rate. >CONCLUSION: These results allow for the design of longitudinal studies to be carried out in BE cohorts to determine the in-vivo effects of NSAIDs and other exposures. Our results suggest that assaying 24 longitudinal samples will give >80% power to detect as small as a 1.1-fold change in mutation rate associated with an intervention. We are currently adapting these methods to use SNP arrays to measure the rate of loss of heterozygosity events, number of stem cells and time since initiation in neoplastic progression.
Modeling DC-DC converter efficiency and power management in ultra low power systems

This paper presents a model for DC-DC converters that is used to study power management techniques like dynamic voltage and frequency scaling (DVFS) etc. It accurately predicts the behavior of DC-DC converters of varying topologies across output voltage and load current and predicts the relative benefits of different power management options down to low voltage and current levels.
The effect of regadenoson-induced transient disruption of the blood brain barrier on temozolomide delivery to rat brain parenchyma.

2066 Background: The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a serious challenge of effective delivery of systemically administered agents to the central nervous system. Temozolomide is the only systemical...
Low-Power On-Chip Network Providing Guaranteed Services for Snoopy Coherent and Artificial Neural Network Systems

During the transition to packet-switched on-chip networks we lose the relative timing and ordering of requests, which are essential for shared memory coherency and the communication of spikes in hardware-based artificial neural networks. We present a bufferless network architecture that enforces a time-based sharing of multi-hop single-cycle paths, providing guaranteed services at low cost. We guarantee ordered delivery of requests, fixed network latency, and jitter-free neural spikes. In a 64-node network, we achieve a 84% lower latency and 7.5× higher throughput than SCORPIO. Full-system 36-core simulations show a 9% lower runtime than SCORPIO, with 39% lower power and 36% lower area.
Reduced deuterium retention in simultaneously damaged and annealed tungsten

Abstract Deuterium (D) retention in polycrystalline tungsten (W) with copper (Cu) ion damage concurrently produced at elevated surface temperature is investigated. An in situ heated stage held W samples at a controlled temperature up to 1243 K, which were subjected to displacement damage produced by 3.4 MeV Cu ions. D retention is subsequently explored by exposure of the W samples held at 383 K to a D2 plasma ion fluence of 1024 D+/m2. Nuclear reaction analysis (NRA), utilizing the D(3He,p)4He nuclear reaction, is used to probe the D concentration in the near surface up to 6 μm. Thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS) is used to measure outgassed HD and D2 molecules to determine the bulk D concentration. Both NRA and TDS measure a significant reduction in D retention for samples damaged at elevated temperature. TDS quantitatively shows that the lowest energy trap remains largely unaffected while higher energy traps, induced by Cu ions, are annealed and approach intrinsic concentrations as the temperature during ion damage approaches 1243 K. Analysis of TDS data yields an activation energy of (0.10 ± 0.02) eV for recovery of ion-damage induced traps at elevated temperature.
Enhancement of intestinal growth in neonatal rats by epidermal growth factor in milk

Breast milk has been shown to enhance neonatal intestinal growth. Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) is present in the milk of various mammalian species, the hypothesis was tested that EGF in rodent milk mediates, in part, the breast milk-enhanced intestinal growth in neonatal rat. Fifty-eight rat pups fed artificial formula that contained 1.2, 3.0, and 6.0 micrograms/ml EGF for 39 h had greater incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA and DNA content of intestine than 29 pups fed unsupplemented formula. Pups fed EGF for 5 days had significantly greater body weight, intestinal weight, length, and DNA content than control pups. Conversely, pups fed pooled rat milk containing rabbit-derived antibody to EGF for 39 h had intestines of lower weight that contained less DNA than animals fed rat milk containing normal rabbit serum. EGF appears to mediate in part, breast milk-enhanced neonatal intestinal growth.
Eclecticism and Appropriation of the New Scientific Methods by the Greek-Speaking Scholars in the Ottoman Empire

Implicitly or explicitly, a great deal of recent historiography of science takes the distinction between scientific centers and scientific peripheries as granted. Historians who inquire into the emergence of modern science primarily focus on areas and events that gave birth to what we now consider “original” science, and confine the rest of the story to a more or less straightforward process of distribution of the sciences to areas which did not participate in the formation of the “original” theories and practices. Due to the lack of local innovation, those areas are described as importers of “new products, new technologies, new ideas” which emanated from the centers and were transferred to the periphery by means of migration.
Recovery of Benthic Microalgal Biomass and Community Structure Following Beach Renourishment at Folly Beach, South Carolina

One method of preserving beaches against the effects of erosion and sea level rise is beach renourishment. While there have been many studies assessing the impact of renourishment on macrofauna, few studies have looked at its effects on microbes. Benthic microalgae (BMA) are important primary producers, representing the basis of nearshore food webs. BMA also secrete extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which bind sediment and thus help prevent erosion. The objective of this study was to monitor recovery of BMA in terms of relative biomass (estimated as sediment chlorophyll a) and community structure (characterized using high-throughput DNA sequencing) following renourishment of Folly Beach, SC in 2014. We also examined the relationships among biomass, EPS, and erosion. Sediment samples were collected intermittently (n = 9) from two renourished and two control sites within three intertidal zones (high, mid, low) from June 2014 to January 2015. Biomass recovered in sequence from low to high intertidal, corresponding to when the artificially-raised beach once again experienced regular tidal inundation (between 93 and 169 days post-renourishment). Alpha diversity metrics misleadingly indicated recovery around this same time within the high intertidal, but compositional changes through time were unlike those seen in control samples, and these communities had yet to recover at ~ 7 months post-renourishment. Renourishment therefore appears to impact BMA communities via artificial elevation of the beach face. While there were relationships between chl a, EPS, and erosion, BMA most likely play a minimal role in sediment stabilization in high-energy environments like Folly Beach.