cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Exploratory Analysis of Data Breaches from 2005-2011: Trends and Insights

AbstractData breaches have become one of the biggest problems for organizations, costing an average of $7.2 million per breach (Symantec, 2011). Previous research on data breaches has focused on: (...
Dual inhibition of human type 4 phosphodiesterase isostates by (R, R)-(+/-)-methyl 3-acetyl-4-[3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]-3- methyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate.

Purified recombinant human type 4 phosphodiesterase B2B (HSPDE4B2B) exists in both a low- and a high-affinity state that bind (R)-rolipram with Kd's of ca. 500 and 1 nM, respectively [Rocque, W. J., Tian, G., Wiseman, J. S., Holmes, W. D., Thompson, I. Z., Willard, D. H., Patel, I. R., Wisely, G. B., Clay, W. C., Kadwell, S. H., Hoffman, C. R., and Luther, M. A. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 14250−14261]. Since the tissue distribution of the two isostates may be significantly different, development of inhibitors that effectively inhibit both forms may be advantageous pharmacologically. In this study, enzyme inhibition and binding of HSPDE4B2B by (R*,R*)-(±)-methyl 3-acetyl-4-[3-(cyclopentyloxy)-4-methoxyphenyl]-3-methyl-1-pyrrolidinecarboxylate (1), a novel inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4), were investigated. Binding experiments demonstrated high-affinity binding of 1 to HSPDE4B2B with a stoichiometry of 1:1. Inhibition of PDE activity showed only a single transition with an observed Ki similar to the a...
Indirect effects of chlorinated wastewater on bacteriovorous protozoa

Abstract Comparisons were made among ciliate population growth on chlorinated Escherichia coli , irradiated E. coli , live Pseudomonas sp. and irradiated Pseudomonas sp. No differences were observed in protozoan population growth when chlorinated E. coli , irradiated E. coli and irradiated Pseudomonas sp. were used, whereas significant differences resulted between live and irradiated Pseudomonas sp. as food. Food selectivity, determined by feeding experiments with chlorinated 14 C-labelled E. coli and live Pseudomonas sp., showed that significant consumption of chlorinated coliforms occurred in the presence of live bacteria. To assess the extent to which dead bacterial cells may be available to bacteria-feeders in water receiving chlorinated effluents, percentages of living (respiring) bacteria to total bacteria were determined for several sites downstream of a effluent and in a cchlorine contact basin of the treatment plant. Populations upstream had a significantly higher percentage of respiring bacteria than those at the contact basin and a site 20 m downstream, but not those at a site 60 m downstream. Toxicity tests on upstream bacteria revealed significant decreases in the percentage of respiring bacteria after 24 hours' exposure to water from both downstream sites, as well as water from the contact basin. These data indicate that dead bacterial cells can serve as food for ciliates, resulting in decreased ciliate production compared with growth on live bacteria. The treated effluent appeared to contribute dead cells by direct discharge of cells to the stream and via lethal toxicity to native stream bacteria.
Homogeneous preparations of 3'-phosphoglycolate-terminated oligodeoxynucleotides from bleomycin-treated DNA as verified by electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry.

Abstract Single- and double-strand breaks bearing 3′-phosphoglycolate termini are among the most frequent lesions formed in DNA by ionizing radiation and other oxidative mutagens. In order to obtain homogeneous preparations of defined 3′-phosphoglycolate substrates for repair studies, 5′- 32 P-end-labeled partial duplex DNAs were treated with bleomycin, and individual cleavage products were isolated from polyacrylamide gels. The fragments were then treated with alkaline phosphatase and further purified by reverse-phase HPLC. Electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (ESI-FTICR) mass spectrometry of the purified oligomers produced molecular ions of the expected masses, with no detectable contaminants. Gas-phase sequencing by tandem mass spectrometry of these single species yielded the expected sequence ions and confirmed the presence of phosphoglycolate on the 3′-terminal fragments only. The fragments could be relabeled with polynucleotide kinase to yield highly purified, high-specific-activity substrates for repair studies.
Minimization of thermoelastic stresses in Czochralski grown silicon: application of the integrated system model

Abstract A quasi-steady-state, integrated system model describing high temperature heat transfer, solidification, and the action of capillarity in the Czochralski crystal growth process for silicon is applied as a design tool to find optimum processing conditions and system configurations. The objective of this analysis is to minimize the thermoelastic stresses generated in the growing crystal as a result of nonuniform cooling. The modifications to the basic CZ heat transfer system that are tested include employing three separately controlled heaters, using a cold sink, and changing the geometrical configuration of the heat shield. The details of the temperature field that is generated for each test configuration gives insight into what other modifications should be made to achieve the desired low thermal gradients in the crystal.
Oxytocin‐Induced Paw Sucking in Infant Rats

In addition to the role of oxytocin in affiliative behaviors of adult mammals, some evidence also indicates that oxytocin may modulate the affiliative behavior of mammalian infants. Pharmacological and comparative studies have indicated that central oxytocin may attenuate the production of ultrasonic vocalizations in isolated rodents.'.2 Recently it was reported that in infant rats, central oxytocin antagonism blocked the acquisition of a preference for a maternally associated odor.3 Understanding the behavioral significance of oxytocin in infant rats may provide insights into the developmental establishment of affiliative behaviors. We report here a behavioral phenomenon, paw sucking, that we have observed in infant rats following central oxytocin administration. Ten-day-old pups (n = 27, from 6 litters) were removed from the nest and injected intracranially with saline solution, oxytocin (50 ng), or the oxytocin antagonist OTA (500 ng). Injections in a volume of 5 pl were made directly through the uncalcified skull. Pups were then placed in a glass dish for 10 minutes. For the first 5 minutes, pups were not disturbed. For the second half of the test session, pups were intermittently stroked with a cotton swab directed at the side of the face and vibrissae. Pups were videotaped from a camera placed underneath the dish during the test period. These tapes were later analyzed for oral behaviors. A two-variable ANOVA for drug treatment and stimulation revealed a significant drug effect on paw sucking (F (2,24) = 5.5, p < 0.05) and a significant stimulation effect on mouthing (F (1,24) = 16.4, p c 0.001). A significant drug effect was also evident on grooming, but only during the stimulation phase (F (2,24) = 7.0, p c 0.01). In the adult rat, many affiliative behaviors such as licking, grooming, nesting, and retrieving young engage the perioral region, and many of these behaviors are thought to be mediated by central oxytocinergic projections. In the rat pup, affiliative behavior likewise involves a great deal of perioral activity. Suckling, probing, and even huddling contain strong perioral components. The central administration of oxytocin induced an array of oral behaviors in 10-day-old rats, and the central administration of an oxytocin antagonist reduced oral behaviors. These drug effects were most pronounced during somatosensory stimulation. These results indicate that the oxytocinergic substrates for oral behaviors and perhaps the oxytocinergic substrates for certain affiliative behaviors develop at an early age in rats. Furthermore,
Numerical Computation of Multivariate Normal Probabilities

Abstract The numerical computation of a multivariate normal probability is often a difficult problem. This article describes a transformation that simplifies the problem and places it into a form that allows efficient calculation using standard numerical multiple integration algorithms. Test results are presented that compare implementations of two algorithms that use the transformation with currently available software.
Water-use efficiency and relative growth rate mediate competitive interactions in Sonoran Desert winter annual plants

UNLABELLED PREMISE OF THE STUDY A functional approach to investigating competitive interactions can provide a mechanistic understanding of processes driving population dynamics, community assembly, and the maintenance of biodiversity. In Sonoran Desert annual plants, a trade-off between relative growth rate (RGR) and water-use efficiency (WUE) contributes to species differences in population dynamics that promote long-term coexistence. Traits underlying this trade-off explain variation in demographic responses to precipitation as well as life history and phenological patterns. Here, we ask how these traits mediate competitive interactions. • METHODS We conducted competition trials for three species occupying different positions along the RGR-WUE trade-off axis and compared the effects of competition at high and low soil moisture. We compared competitive effect (ability to suppress neighbors) and competitive response (ability to withstand competition from neighbors) among species. • KEY RESULTS The RGR-WUE trade-off predicted shifts in competitive responses at different soil moistures. The high-RGR species was more resistant to competition in high water conditions, while the opposite was true for the high-WUE species. The intermediate RGR species tended to have the strongest impact on all neighbors, so competitive effects did not scale directly with differences in RGR and WUE among competitors. • CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal mechanisms underlying long-term variation in fitness: high-RGR species perform better in years with large, frequent rain events and can better withstand competition under wetter conditions. The opposite is true for high-WUE species. Such resource-dependent responses strongly influence community dynamics and can promote coexistence in variable environments.
Sex Differences in Molecular and Cellular Substrates of Stress

Women are twice as likely as men to suffer from stress-related psychiatric disorders, like unipolar depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Although the underlying neural mechanisms are not well characterized, the pivotal role of stress in the onset and severity of these diseases has led to the idea that sex differences in stress responses account for this sex bias. Corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) orchestrates stress responses by acting both as a neurohormone to initiate the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis and as a neuromodulator in the brain. One target of CRF modulation is the locus coeruleus (LC)–norepinephrine system, which coordinates arousal components of the stress response. Hypersecretion of CRF and dysregulation of targets downstream from CRF, such as the HPA axis and LC–norepinephrine system, are characteristic features of many stress-related psychiatric diseases, suggesting a causal role for CRF and its targets in the development of these disorders. This review will describe sex differences in CRF and the LC–norepinephrine system that can increase stress sensitivity in females, making them vulnerable to stress-related disorders. Evidence for gonadal hormone regulation of hypothalamic CRF is discussed as an effect that can lead to increased HPA axis activity in females. Sex differences in the structure of LC neurons that create the potential for hyperarousal in response to emotional stimuli are described. Finally, sex differences at the molecular level of the CRF1 receptor that make the LC–norepinephrine system more reactive in females are reviewed. The implications of these sex differences for the treatment of stress-related psychiatric disorders also will be discussed.
Transient rolling friction model for discrete element simulations of sphere assemblies

Abstract The rolling resistance between a pair of contacting particles can be modeled with two mechanisms. The first mechanism, already widely addressed in the DEM literature, involves a contact moment between the particles. The second mechanism involves a reduction of the tangential contact force, but without a contact moment. This type of rotational resistance, termed creep-friction, is the subject of the paper. Within the creep-friction literature, the term “creep” does not mean a viscous mechanism, but rather connotes a slight slip that accompanies rolling. Two extremes of particle motions bound the range of creep-friction behaviors: a pure tangential translation is modeled as a Cattaneo–Mindlin interaction, whereas prolonged steady-state rolling corresponds to the traditional wheel–rail problem described by Carter, Poritsky, and others. DEM simulations, however, are dominated by the transient creep-friction rolling conditions that lie between these two extremes. A simplified model is proposed for the three-dimensional transient creep-friction rolling of two spheres. The model is an extension of the work of Dahlberg and Alfredsson, who studied the two-dimensional interactions of disks. The proposed model is applied to two different systems: a pair of spheres and a large dense assembly of spheres. Although creep-friction can reduce the tangential contact force that would otherwise be predicted with Cattaneo–Mindlin theory, a significant force reduction occurs only when the rate of rolling is much greater than the rate of translational sliding and only after a sustained period of rolling. When applied to the deviatoric loading of an assembly of spheres, the proposed creep-friction model has minimal effect on macroscopic strength or stiffness. At the micro-scale of individual contacts, creep-friction does have a modest influence on the incremental contact behavior, although the aggregate effect on the assembly's behavior is minimal.
Integrated microfluidic device with an electroplated palladium decoupler for more sensitive amperometric detection of the 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) DNA adduct

8-Hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) DNA adduct is one of the most frequently used biomarkers reporting on the oxidative stress that leads to DNA damage. More sensitive and reliable microfluidic devices are needed for the detection of these biomarkers of interest. We have developed a capillary electrophoresis (CE)-based microfluidic device with an electroplated palladium decoupler that provides significantly improved detection limit, separation efficiency, and resolving power. The poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS)/glass hybrid device has fully integrated gold microelectrodes covered in situ with palladium nanoparticles using an electroplating technique. The performance and coverage of the electrodes electroplated with palladium particles were evaluated electrochemically and via scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging, respectively. The performance of the device was tested and evaluated with different buffer systems, pH values, and electric field strengths. The results showed that this device has significantly improved resolving power, even at separation electric field strengths as high as 600 V cm−1. The detection limit for the 8-OH-dG adduct is about 20 attomoles; the concentration limit is on the order of 100 nM (S/N = 3). A linear response is reported for both 8-OH-dG and dG in the range from 100 nM to 150 μM (≈100 pA μM−1) with separation efficiencies of approximately 120,000–170,000 plates m−1.
Explicit melioration by a neural diffusion model.

Abstract When faced with choices between two sources of reward, animals can rapidly adjust their rates of responding to each so that overall reinforcement increases. Herrnstein's ‘matching law’ provides a simple description of the equilibrium state of this choice allocation process: animals reallocate behavior so that relative rates of responding equal, or match, the relative rates of reinforcement obtained for each response. Herrnstein and colleagues proposed ‘melioration’ as a dynamical process for achieving this equilibrium, but left details of its operation unspecified. Here we examine a way of filling in the details that links the decision making and operant conditioning literatures and extends choice proportion predictions into predictions about inter-response times. Our approach implements melioration in an adaptive version of the drift diffusion model (DDM), which is widely used in decision making research to account for response time distributions. When the drift parameter of the DDM is 0 and its threshold parameters are inversely proportional to reward rates, its choice proportions dynamically track a state of exact matching. A DDM with fixed thresholds and drift that is determined by differences in reward rates can produce similar, but not identical, results. We examine the choice probability and inter-response time predictions of these models, separately and in combination, and the possible implications for brain organization provided by neural network implementations of them. Results suggest that melioration and matching may derive from synapses that estimate reward rates by a process of leaky integration, and that link together the input and output stages of a two-stage stimulus–response mechanism.
Racial differences in health care utilization among children in foster care

Abstract Health services utilization patterns of foster children in Baltimore City, MD are described and health services utilization is compared between black and white foster children. Utilization data were obtained on a sample of 417 children receiving health service payments through the Maryland Medical Assistance program and data cover one year for all children. Black and white children were found to have similar family, and health status characteristics. The total sample had a mean number of 4.6 outpatient visits during the study year with 16.8% having no health care utilization. White children had significantly more mean visits overall (7.1) than did black children (3.9), significantly higher utilization when examined by provider type or reason for visit, and a significantly higher use of ancillary services. A larger proportion of black children had no utilization during the study period. Possible explanations and policy implications of these results are discussed.
Test structures for propagation delay measurements on high-speed integrated circuits

The accuracy of high-speed wafer-level measurements on digital IC's is limited by the probe interface. This limitation strongly encourages the use of built-in on-chip test hardware to reduce the number of critical off-chip high-speed interfaces. A novel synchronous propagation delay test structure is described which will provide accurate parametric data under typical automatic test conditions. Built-in test features added to complex combinational circuits are shown which are useful for delay measurement and which reduce the total number of high-speed I/O connections while still providing acceptable fault coverage in many cases.
A rapid, dispersion-based wavelength-stepped and wavelength-swept laser for optical coherence tomography.

Abstract: Optical-domain subsampling enables Fourier-domain OCT imaging at high-speeds and extended depth ranges while limiting the required acquisition bandwidth. To perform optical-domain subsampling, a wavelength-stepped rather than a wavelength-swept source is required. This preliminary study introduces a novel design for a rapid wavelength-stepped laser source that uses dispersive fibers in combination with a fast lithium-niobate modulator to achieve wavelength selection. A laser with 200 GHz wavelength-stepping and a sweep rate of 9 MHz over a 94 nm range at a center wavelength of 1550 nm is demonstrated. A reconfiguration of this source design to a continuous wavelength-swept light for conventional Fourier-domain OCT is also demonstrated.
Differentiation of the origin of wide QRS complexes by the net amplitude of the QRS in lead V6

Abstract Wide QRS rhythms may be ventricular in origin or may be supraventricular conducted with functional aberration, fmed bundle branch block or preexcitation. The mechanism determines proper therapy and prognosis and is usually based on electrocardiographic data.1 Unfortunately, signs such as atrioventricular dissociation are infrequently recognized and therefore other criteria including QRS morphology must be used.1–8 Most QRS criteria have been derived by comparing ventricular tachycardia (VT) to supraventricular tachycardia with functional aberrancy, and have excluded QRS patterns due to preexisting bundle branch block or preexcitation.5,6 While a correct diagnosis can frequently be achieved using these criteria,9 it requires knowledge of the baseline electrocardiogram and proper application of multiple signs. Misdiagnosis still occurs because of misconceptions about the hemodynamics of VT and ignorance or misapplication of these criteria.10–12 A simpler approach to wide QRS differentiation would be useful. In this study we analyzed wide QRS complexes, including those due to fixed bundle branch block and preexcitation, to clarify the value of previously proposed criteria in determining the site of origin of all forms of wide QRS. A new sign—the net amplitude of the QRS in lead V6, applied independently of the bundle branch block pattern and without knowledge of the baseline electrocardiogram—was also investigated as a means of simplifying arrhythmia diagnosis.
The complexity of the set of squares in the homeomorphism group of the circle

The set of squares in the group of autohomeomorphisms of the circle is complete analytic, and hence analytic but not Borel.
A. Philip Randolph, pioneer of the civil rights movement

Explains how Randolph organized the first all-black labor union, and helped create economic and civil rights organizations.
Radionuclide and chemical hazards of a radium ore revigator

A study to characterize the radionuclide and chemical components in a radium-ore revigator has been completed. Measured activities of dissolved 222Rn, 226Ra, and U isotopes, determined in the water using radioanalytical techniques, exceeded recommended limits in drinking-water supplies. Trace-metal concentrations, determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, increased in the water with exposure time and exceeded recommended drinking-water limits for V and As. The contribution to, and dose from, the airborne radon-gas level in a room due to radon emanation from a revigator were evaluated. The annual committed effective dose resulting from consuming the radionuclides in the revigator water were estimated to be ~100 μSv/y for combined uranium and radium.
Online Training for Paraeducators to Support the Communication of Young Children.

Paraeducators are frequent sources of support for young children with disabilities in early childhood settings. However, they typically have limited training in providing communication opportunitie...
Multiply resonant photonic crystal nanocavities for nonlinear frequency conversion

We describe a photonic crystal nanocavity with multiple spatially overlapping resonances that can serve as a platform for nonlinear frequency conversion. We show nonlinear characterization of structures with two resonances nearly degenerate in frequency. We also demonstrate structures with resonances separated by up to 523 nm.
Elastic radiation from a point force in an anisotropic medium

An expression for the displacement field due to a point force in an unbounded, anisotropic elastic medium is derived using a radon-transform method. The field is thus a Green's function for the anisotropic elastic whole space. A relatively simple algebraic expression for the asymptotic field is then found by means of the principle of stationary phase together with certain aspects of the differential geometry of the slowness surface. The general results are applied to the transversely isotropic medium; numerical results are presented for the hexagonal crystals of cobalt and apatite. The results of this work should be of value in the disciplines of crystal physics and seismology.
Effects of Age and Passage Difficulty on Listening-Rate Preferences for Time-Altered Speech

When younger and older adults were allowed to adjust the speech rate of time-compressed and time-expanded speech passages, older adults tended to select as preferred rates significantly slower speech rates than the younger adults. Both age groups, however, selected slower rates for difficult speech passages (low cloze predictability) than for easy passages (high cloze predictability). Recall performance showed effects of speech rate and passage difficulty, with participants' recall at their selected speech rates comparable to their performance at slower rates. Results suggest that older adults are as effective as the young in their ability to monitor the difficulty of a speech passage as it is being heard and to moderate their listening rate selections accordingly. 'T'IME compression of natural speech has served as a valuable A tool for examining upper limits on processing speed in young (Foulke, 1971), older (Wingfield, 1996), and neurologically impaired (Blumstein, Katz, Goodglass, Shrier, & Dworetsky, 1985) individuals. The most common method of time compression is the sampling method, in which small unnoticed segments are periodically deleted at regular intervals from the speech signal, with the remaining segments then abutted in time. By deleting segments from both word and silent durations, the compressed signal preserves the temporal patterning of the original speech. The method also preserves the original pitch contour and other features of the speech prosody. The degree of time compression is controlled by the frequency with which the segments are deleted. Speech can be expanded in time by reversing the process and reiteratively resampling the signal so as to lengthen the duration of the speech elements and .silent intervals (Foulke, 1971). Older adults arcknown to find time-compressed speech very difficult to comprehend and to recall, a finding that holds even when young and older listeners are equated for pure tone hear
A mechanism for equitable bandwidth allocation under QoS and budget constraints

Equitable bandwidth allocation is essential when QoS requirements and purchasing power vary among users. To this end, we present a mechanism for bandwidth allocation based on differential pricing. In our model, the QoS vs. cost trade-off induces a minimum acceptable allocation, a maximum acceptable allocation, and a unique optimal allocation for each user. We analyze the fairness and truthfulness properties of our mechanism from a game-theoretic perspective. We show that it produces allocations that provably satisfy a variant of the classical notion of max-min fairness. It ensures that flows with higher QoS requirements need to pay at higher rates to increase their likelihood of being served. Furthermore, the Nash equilibrium induced by our mechanism leads to allocations that are comparable to "socially optimal" allocations; hence users gain very little by being untruthful.
An Alternative Method of Intermaxillary Fixation for Simple Pediatric Mandible Fractures.

Purpose Mandibular fractures represent a substantial portion of facial fractures in the pediatric population. Pediatric mandibles differ from their adult counterparts in the presence of mixed dentition. Avoidance of injury to developing tooth follicles is critical. Simple mandibular fractures can be treated with intermaxillary fixation (IMF) using arch bars or bone screws. This report describes an alternative to these methods using silk sutures and an algorithm to assist in treating simple mandibular fractures in the pediatric population. Patients and Methods A retrospective chart review was performed and the records of 1 surgeon were examined. Pediatric patients who underwent treatment for a mandibular fracture in the operating room from 2011 to 2015 were identified using Common Procedural Terminology codes. Data collected included age, gender, type of fracture, type of treatment used, duration of fixation, and presence of complications. Results Five patients with a mean age of 6.8 years at presentation were identified. Fracture types were unilateral fractures of the condylar neck (n = 3), bilateral fractures of the condylar head (n = 1), and a unilateral fracture of the condylar head with an associated parasymphyseal fracture (n = 1). IMF was performed in 4 patients using silk sutures, and bone screw fixation was performed in the other patient. No post-treatment complications or malocclusion were reported. Average duration of IMF was 18.5 days. Conclusions An algorithm is presented to assist in the treatment of pediatric mandibular fractures. Silk suture fixation is a viable and safe alternative to arch bars or bone screws for routine mandibular fractures.
Internet and the Other IP

Copyrights have dominated the legal treatment of works of authors to the detriment of the theory of public domain treatment after a limited period of time. The imbalance should be addressed, as should the handling of rights in a digital regime where copying and distribution is trivially achieved. Recoding of rights and rights transfers for all works could be part of the solution to managing rights in a digital environment.
Clinical predictors of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks (results of the CASCADE trial)

Abstract The Cardiac Arrest in Seattle, Conventional Versus Amiodarone Drug Evaluation (CASCADE) study evaluated antiarrhythmic drug therapy in high-risk survivors of out-of-hospital ventricular fibrillation. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy for 228 patients was randomized to amiodarone or conventional antiarrhythmic drugs. Additional therapy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator was provided to 105 of these patients. Clinical predictors of shocks were evaluated for the 88 patients with coronary artery disease (amiodarone 46, conventional 42), treated with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Survival free of all shocks at 2 years was 77% for patients taking amiodarone and 42% for those receiving conventional therapy (p = 0.014). Two-year survival free of syncopal shocks was 98% for amiodarone-treated patients and 81% for those receiving conventional agents (p = 0.01). Multiple clinical factors were evaluated by Cox analysis for potential clinical predictors of shocks. The independent clinical predictors of shocks were low ejection fraction (p = 0.002), female gender (p = 0.007) and conventional antiarrhythmic drug therapy (p = 0.015). The only independent predictor of a shock associated with syncope was conventional antiarrhythmic drug therapy (p = 0.035). Patients treated with amiodarone receive fewer shocks than patients treated with conventional drug therapy.
Improved Trichoderma spp. for promoting crop productivity

Abstract Bacteria have potential advantages over fungi in biocontrol of plant diseases. Among these is the ability of some bacteria to colonize the rhizospheres of roots from inoculation onto seed. This property is known as rhizosphere competence. Fungal mutants have been produced, however, that are rhizosphere competent. These can not only protect developing roots from microbial attack in soil but also produce a plant growth-stimulating factor.
Integration of self assembly for semiconductor microelectronics

Self assembling polymers can autonomously form regular patterns at sublithographic dimensions. Integration of these materials with semiconductor processing enables high-resolution patterning of microelectronic circuit elements and offers a nontraditional pathway for continued improvements in integrated circuit performance. We discuss our efforts in IBM to demonstrate key applications of self assembly for semiconductor device fabrication.
Surface-based modeling of white matter fasciculi with orientation encoding

In this paper, we describe a novel technique for modeling sheet-like white matter (WM) fasciculi using continuous medial representation (cm-rep). In the cm-rep framework, the skeleton of a fasciculus is described by a parametric surface patch. This modeling scheme is particularly appropriate for sheet-like structures, because the shapes of such objects can be effectively captured by their skeletons. We show that dimensionality reduction can be achieved without much loss of spatial specificity by projecting data along the "less interesting" thickness direction onto the skeletons. We demonstrate that local fiber orientation of the modeled fasciculi can be encoded in our framework and show how this information can be leveraged for deriving and analyzing brain connectivity patterns on the skeleton themselves.
An Assessment of the Coulter Gen•S Automated Flagging System

instrumentation [generalist | hematology | cytology] An Assessment of the Coulter Gen•S Automated Flagging System Gene L. Gulati, PhD,1,2 William Kocher, MD,1,2 Roland Schwarting, MD,1,2 Lawrence J. Hyland, MD,1,2 Ali Issa, BSMT,1 Robert Arwood, BSMT,1 and Manmohan Dhanjal, BSMT(ASCP)SH1 From the 1Hematology Laboratory, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, and the 2Department of Pathology, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Eight nonnative plants in western Oregon forests: associations with environment and management.

Nonnative plants have tremendous ecological and economic impacts on plant communities globally, but comprehensive data on the distribution and ecological relationships of individual species is often scarce or nonexistent. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of vegetation type, climate, topography, and management history on the distribution and abundance of eight selected nonnative plant taxa in forests in western Oregon. These eight taxa were selected as being reliably detected by a multi-resource inventory of 1127 systematically-placed plots on nonfederal forest lands from 1995 to 1997 by the USFS Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program. One or more of the eight nonnative taxa studied were found on 20% of the sampled subplots in the study area, but relatively few stands were dominated by them. Overall abundance of nonnative taxa was likely much greater, because few composites and graminoids were identified to species in this general-purpose inventory. Distribution of most taxa was more closely associated with low density of overstory trees than with climate. Nonnative taxa were significantly more abundant in stands that had been recently clearcut or thinned than in stands that had not. Frequencies of several taxa decreased with elevation, which may reflect proximity to source populations and intensive land use rather than any climatic constraints. Although the greatest potential for displacement of native forest species appears to be in early-successional communities, the potential for spread of some shade-tolerant evergreen shrubs also seems high.
A new algorithm for computer-aided fault tree synthesis

Abstract Fault tree analysis (FTA) has been used in the chemical process industry (CPI) for systematic safety and reliability analysis during the past decades. Conventional manual construction of fault trees can be extremely time consuming and vulnerable to human error. A computer-aided fault tree synthesis methodology can be an initial step, or as an independent check to assist or supplement manual FTA. However, no entirely satisfactory algorithm has been published for fault tree synthesis, especially when control loops are encountered. A potential methodology to construct fault trees automatically is proposed in this paper. This algorithm works directly form the system block diagram, thus avoids the tedious work of generating digraphs, transition tables, decision tables, and knowledge-based rules. Mini cause-and-effect trees are used to model the cause and effect logics around each item of equipment. Control loops are treated by special cause-and-effect unit models — logical combinations of the unit models of their constituent components. Multiple or complex control loops can be easily taken into account by providing their corresponding cause-and-effect unit models. In particular, the fault tree construction algorithm presented here is based on a component-by-component basis instead of a loop-by-loop or node-by-node basis. The tree structure is much more concise and easier to read. An example is embedded in the description of the methodology for better understanding. Analysis shows that the fault tree generated here is equivalent to the published result.
A simple and fast physics-based analytical method to calculate therapeutic and stray doses from external beam, megavoltage x-ray therapy

State-of-the-art radiotherapy treatment planning systems provide reliable estimates of the therapeutic radiation but are known to underestimate or neglect the stray radiation exposures. Most commonly, stray radiation exposures are reconstructed using empirical formulas or lookup tables. The purpose of this study was to develop the basic physics of a model capable of calculating the total absorbed dose both inside and outside of the therapeutic radiation beam for external beam photon therapy. The model was developed using measurements of total absorbed dose in a water-box phantom from a 6 MV medical linear accelerator to calculate dose profiles in both the in-plane and cross-plane direction for a variety of square field sizes and depths in water. The water-box phantom facilitated development of the basic physical aspects of the model. RMS discrepancies between measured and calculated total absorbed dose values in water were less than 9.3% for all fields studied. Computation times for 10 million dose points within a homogeneous phantom were approximately 4 min. These results suggest that the basic physics of the model are sufficiently simple, fast, and accurate to serve as a foundation for a variety of clinical and research applications, some of which may require that the model be extended or simplified based on the needs of the user. A potentially important advantage of a physics-based approach is that the model is more readily adaptable to a wide variety of treatment units and treatment techniques than with empirical models.
Hybrid-ARQ Code Combining for MIMO Using Multidimensional Space-Time Trellis Codes

A hybrid automatic repeat-request (ARQ) code combining scheme employing different multidimensional space- time trellis codes (MSTTCs) over a multiple-input, multiple- output (MIMO) channel is described. The retransmission codes are designed using sub-optimal partition chains of the MSTTC super-constellation using a relatively simple search. The MSTTCs designed using the sub-optimal partition chain are, by themselves, not optimal codes. But when combined with the coded packet used for previous transmission(s), they provide better error control than using the same code for all transmissions. Theoretical performance analysis and simulation results are provided.
A systematic approach to writing in the Department of Defense

Highly educated subject matter experts in the Department of Defense (DoD) analyze technical issues and regions of the world and write documents to keep the secretary of defense informed. But some documents are so detailed and technical that they can take hours to analyze, and the implications may still be unclear. In an effort to improve written communication, DoD has begun writing training programs so that DoD personnel can learn to write clear and concise documents.
Behavior of Multicomponent Gas Bubbles in Glass Melts

A mathematical model is proposed to study the behavior of multicomponent gas bubbles in glass melts. The effects of the melt temperature on bubble radius, trajectory, and composition were studied as a function of time, both accounting for and disregarding bubble boundary motion. It is shown that accounting for the boundary motion results in shorter refining times, smaller bubbles, and larger concentrations of the gaseous species than if this motion is disregarded. It is also shown that the bubble trajectory is almost a linear function of time and that mass transfer has a very small effect on bubble trajectory and refining times; however, it has a strong influence on the bubble radius, which, in the absence of mass transfeir, increases linearly with the temperature.
Towards Probabilistic Operator-Multiple Robot Decision Models

Coupled operator-multiple vehicle systems are modelled in a unified framework using probabilistic graphs to yield a methodology for analyzing semi-autonomous systems. The framework uses conditional probabilistic dependencies between all elements, leading to a Bayesian network (BN) with probabilistic evaluation capability. Vehicle attitude/navigation states and target/classification states can be evaluated using nonlinear estimators such as the EKF, multiple model filter, information filter, or other approaches. Discrete operator decisions are being modeled as Bayesian network blocks, with conditional dependencies on the vehicle and tracking estimators. Initial decision models use combinations of softmax and discrete probability distributions.
Accuracy versus migration overhead in real-time multiprocessor reweighting algorithms

We consider schemes for enacting task share changes - a process called reweighting - on real-time multiprocessor platforms. Our particular focus is reweighting schemes that are deployed in environments in which tasks may frequently request significant share changes. Prior work has shown that fair scheduling algorithms are capable of reweighting tasks with minimal allocation error. However, in such schemes preemption and migration overheads can be high. In this paper, we consider the question of whether the lower migration costs of partitioning-based schemes can provide improved average-case performance relative to fair-scheduled systems. Our conclusion is that partitioning-based schemes are capable of providing significantly lower overall error (including ''error" due to preemption and migration costs) than fair schemes in the average case. However, partitioning-based schemes are incapable of providing strong fairness and real-time guarantees.
In vivo analysis of the functions of γ-tubulin-complex proteins

To enhance our understanding of the function(s) of γ-tubulin-complex proteins (GCPs), we identified and analyzed the functions of the Aspergillus nidulans homologs of GCP2-GCP6 (here designated GCPB-GCBF). The γ-tubulin small complex (γ-TuSC) components, γ-tubulin, GCPB and GCPC, are essential for viability and mitotic spindle formation, whereas GCPD-GCPF are not essential for viability, spindle formation or sexual reproduction. GCPD-GCPF function in reducing the frequency of chromosome mis-segregation and in the assembly of large γ-tubulin complexes. Deletion of any of the γ-TuSC components eliminates the localization of all GCPs to the spindle pole body (SPB), whereas deletion of GCPD-GCPF does not affect localization of γ-TuSC components. Thus, GCPD-GCPF do not tether the γ-TuSC to the SPB, but, rather, the γ-TuSC tethers them to the SPB. GCPD-GCPF exhibit a hierarchy of localization to the SPB. Deletion of GCPF eliminates GCPD-GCPE localization to the SPB, and deletion of GCPD eliminates GCPE (but not GCPF) localization. All GCPs localize normally in a GCPE deletion. We propose a model for the structure of the γ-tubulin complex and its attachment to polar microtubule organizing centers.
Saccadic deterioration in spinocerebellar degeneration

Two frequent findings in cases of inherited ataxias involving the pons are the severe reduction of saccadic velocities and the presence of saccadic hypometria. The patients described here were initially observed to make frequent, severely hypometria refixations, composed of a sequence of small saccades of normal velocity. The saccadic gain was so low that these refixations appeared clinically to be continuous, slow movements. Over time, the small saccades then became slow but the overall movement remained hypometria. Also present initially but becoming more frequent with time were refixations consisting of a single, extremely slow saccade. This longitudinal study revealed a progressive deterioration in the saccadic system, possibly indicating an early defect in the way in which fast eye movements are programmed, followed by dysfunction in the pathways which actually generate them.
Unsteady stagnation-point flow over a plate moving along the direction of flow impingement

Abstract Unsteady plane and axisymmetric stagnation flow of an incompressible viscous fluid on the body that moves along the oncoming flow with a time-dependent velocity is studied in this work. Similarity solutions for the full Navier–Stokes equations are obtained and the results of the flow velocity, shear stress and stream lines are reported for both plane two dimensional flow and axisymmetric flow. The results show that the features of the similar boundary flow highly depends on a characteristic parameter β. There exists a critical value βc below which no similarity solution to the flow is found. When βc
Mosaics of scenes with moving objects

Image mosaics are useful for a variety of tasks in vision and computer graphics. A particularly convenient way to generate mosaics is by 'stitching' together many ordinary photographs. Existing algorithms focus on capturing static scenes. This paper presents a complete system for creating visually pleasing mosaics in the presence of moving objects. There are three primary contributions. The first component of our system is a registration method that remains unbiased by movement-the Mellin transform is extended to register images related by a projective transform. Second an efficient method for finding a globally consistent registration of all images is developed. By solving a linear system of equations, derived from many pairwise registration matrices, we find an optimal global registration. Lastly, a new method of compositing images is presented. Blurred areas due to moving objects are avoided by segmenting the mosaic into disjoint regions and sampling pixels in each region from a single source image.
Plant Introduction as a Federal Service to Agriculture

Publisher Summary With the establishment of primitive agriculture came the first true introductions of plants from the wild into man's garden plots. Individual officials recognized the importance of plant introduction, but governmental recognition is much slower. Under the United States Department of Agriculture, plant introduction continued to expand and many valuable contributions to American agriculture have been made. Of the earlier fruit introductions that have become of major importance, the Washington navel orange, introduced from Brazil in about 1870, is an example. The Section of Plant Introduction also maintains agricultural explorers in the foreign field; an Inspection House in downtown Washington, D. C. , through which all departmental plant materials entering or leaving the country are funneled; and isolated propagation facilities at Glenn Dale, Maryland, for introductions requiring quarantine. It administers four federal plant introduction gardens and has a cooperative part in the operations of five regional and interregional state-federal introduction stations at widely scattered locations to aid in the preliminary increase, testing, distribution, and maintenance of plant introductions.
A Public Health of Consequence--March 2016.

An introduction is presented in which the authors discuss various reports within the issue on topics including public health in America, U.S. government expenditures on the nation's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and a forecast about American government health care spending.
Tax Increases and the Price Level

Tax increases cause the overall price level to rise if they are accommodated by the Federal Reserve. A tax increase is likely to be accommodated only if it significantly reduces the real wages employers are willing to pay, as would be true for the introduction of a large VAT or retail sales tax.