cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Randomized trial of permissive hypercapnia in preterm infants.

Objective. To determine whether a ventilatory strategy of permissive hypercapnia (PHC) reduces the duration of assisted ventilation in surfactant-treated neonates weighing 601 to 1250 g at birth. Design. Forty-nine surfactant-treated preterm infants (birth weight: 854 ± 163 g; gestational age: 26 ± 1.4 weeks) receiving assisted ventilation were randomized during the first 24 hours of age to a PHC group (Paco2: 45–55 mm Hg) or to a normocapnia group (NC; Paco2: 35–45 mm Hg). The primary outcome measure was the total number of days on assisted ventilation. Uniform extubation and reintubation criteria were used for both groups. All patients received aminophylline before extubation. Results. The total number of days on assisted ventilation expressed as median (25th–75th percentiles) was 2.5 (1.5–11.5) in the PHC group and 9.5 (2.0–22.5) in the NC group (Mann-Whitney U test). The number of patients on assisted ventilation throughout the first 96 hours after randomization was lower in the PHC group (log rank test). During that period, the ventilated patients in the PHC group had a higher Paco2 and lower peak inspiratory pressure, mean airway pressure, and ventilator rate than did those in the NC group. The percentage of patients requiring reintubation within 24 hours postextubation (PHC 17% vs NC 28%) and supplemental oxygen at 28 days of life (PHC 43% vs NC 64%) and the total days of oxygen supplementation (PHC 15 [4–53] vs NC 32 [17–50]) did not differ between the groups. There were no differences in mortality, air leaks, intraventricular hemorrhage, periventricular leukomalacia, retinopathy of prematurity, or patent ductus arteriosus. Conclusion. A ventilatory strategy of PHC in preterm infants who receive assisted ventilation is feasible, seems safe, and may reduce the duration of assisted ventilation. assisted ventilation, respiratory distress syndrome, gentle ventilation, lung injury.
Radar Scattering Properties of Steep-Sided Domes on Venus

More than 100 quasi-circular steep-sided volcanic domes, with diameters ranging from 6 to 60 km, have been observed on the surface of Venus by the Magellan radar mapper. Assuming that they have the shape of a solidified high-viscosity Newtonian fluid, their radar scattering properties can be studied in detail from Magellan images, since a typical radar swath resolves each dome into several tens of thousands of measurements of radar cross section at incidence angles varying fom 15 deg to 55 deg. Through examination of 20 domes in detail, it appears that many of those situated on lava plains scatter radar in a manner that is indistinguishable from that of the surrounding material, suggesting that either (1) they were formed of a relatively high-density high-viscosity material, e.g., andesite, rather than a lower-density one, e.g., rhyolite or dacite; or (2) that their surfaces share a common origin with those of their surroundings, e.g., through in situ weathering or aeolian deposition.
Anthropomorphizing Dogs: Projecting One's Own Personality and Consequences for Supporting Animal Rights

ABSTRACTThe purpose of this paper was twofold: First, to test if people project their own personality traits onto dogs, and second, to examine if considering the psychological state of dogs increases support for animal rights more broadly. In studies 1 and 2, participants read descriptions of dog behaviors and were asked whether the behaviors indicated the presence of certain traits (guilt, loneliness, anxiety) in those dogs. Participants also completed measures that assessed the presence of those traits in themselves. In both studies, participants who were prone to feeling guilt in their own lives were more likely to believe that dogs who show submission after a misdeed are feeling guilt and that dogs who show activity are feeling anxious. In study 2, we manipulated whether participants were asked to consider the psychological state of dogs by having only some participants read and rate the ambiguous dog behaviors from study 1. We found that doing so increased participants' support for animal rights rela...
RNA-templated DNA repair

Although RNA is used to synthesize DNA by specialized enzymes such as reverse transcriptase and telomerase, it has never been shown to be used directly in DNA repair. Here Resnick and colleagues find that short RNA oligonucleotides which are complementary to the sequences at a DNA double-strand break can serve as a template for repair by the normal replicative DNA polymerases, suggesting that information contained in an RNA molecule could be transferred into the genome. RNA can act as a template for DNA synthesis in the reverse transcription of retroviruses and retrotransposons1 and in the elongation of telomeres2. Despite its abundance in the nucleus, there has been no evidence for a direct role of RNA as a template in the repair of any chromosomal DNA lesions, including DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs), which are repaired in most organisms by homologous recombination or by non-homologous end joining3. An indirect role for RNA in DNA repair, following reverse transcription and formation of a complementary DNA, has been observed in the non-homologous joining of DSB ends4,5. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in which homologous recombination is efficient3, RNA was shown to mediate recombination, but only indirectly through a cDNA intermediate6,7 generated by the reverse transcriptase function of Ty retrotransposons in Ty particles in the cytoplasm8. Although pairing between duplex DNA and single-strand (ss)RNA can occur in vitro9,10 and in vivo11, direct homologous exchange of genetic information between RNA and DNA molecules has not been observed. We show here that RNA can serve as a template for DNA synthesis during repair of a chromosomal DSB in yeast. The repair was accomplished with RNA oligonucleotides complementary to the broken ends. This and the observation that even yeast replicative DNA polymerases such as α and δ can copy short RNA template tracts in vitro demonstrate that RNA can transfer genetic information in vivo through direct homologous interaction with chromosomal DNA.
Report of panel on compact FELs

Abstract This report is composed of two parts: first, a general discussion of compact FELs, to orient the reader and identify the critical issues; and second, an account of the presentations made before the panel by various contributors concerning their special compact devices or other special interests.
Weighted intrinsic viscosity relationships for polysaccharide mixtures in dilute aqueous solutions

The weighted intrinsic viscosities of polysaccharide mixtures in dilute aqueous solutions have been studied. The purpose of this investigation is to demonstrate that average intrinsic viscosities would scale with the weight fraction of the individual components for polysaccharide mixtures in 0.5N NaOH(aq). The polysaccharides examined in this study were composed of polymers differing in their molecular weights, degree of branching, and bond linkages. Excellent agreement between theory and experiment was observed for the three different mixed polymer systems examined. This observation validates certain aspects of proposed theoretical treatments which employ this fundamental assumption and allows for further advances in experimental analytical developments of water-soluble polymer systems.
Assessing collective firm behavior: comparing industrial symbiosis with possible alternatives for individual companies in Oahu, HI

Are companies better off acting collectively in sharing resources, such that one company's waste becomes another company's feedstock, or is it strategically preferable to act individually to minimize resource flows? Eleven enterprises on Oahu, HI, were found to be exchanging nine different materials, constituting previously undocumented industrial symbiosis collaboration, anchored by a coal-fired power plant in the Campbell Industrial Park. The environmental and economic performance of eight companies exchanging six of these materials is assessed based on price and quantity data collected during interviews with the participants. The largest environmental benefits were found to be reduced landfilling and conservation of primary materials, including 40 million gallons of fresh water and approximately 17 800 tons of coal annually. The research finds that symbiotic solutions, when made visible, are often preferable, especially on an island. Indeed, company managers who fail to consider symbiotic solutions for resource issues risk overlooking the most effective strategic options. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.
Echo-Cancellation for Ultrasonic Data Transmission through a Metal Channel

The process control industry has shown great interest in implementation of low cost, low power wireless sensor networks. Such networks are much easier to deploy and reconfigure compared to wired alternatives. In this paper, we describe the use of radio-frequency (RF) based sensor networks in sensing and control applications on naval vessels. In this environment, metal bulkheads (which divide the ship into watertight compartments) and other metallic obstacles can lead to unreliable network connectivity. We propose to address the challenge by augmenting the RF network with ultrasonic data repeaters. The repeaters are designed to pass data from one side of a watertight bulkhead to the other without requiring the bulkhead to be physically penetrated. Through experimentation, we observed that echoes of pulses transmitted through the ultrasonic channel (i.e. the bulkhead) lead to considerable intersymbol interference and hinder high data rate transmission. In this paper, we investigate the nature of this interference and propose a method of mitigating its effect. The method applies a pre-distortion filter to the data which leads to destructive interference that reduces the echo amplitude.
The Bivalent Fear of Evaluation Model of Social Anxiety: Further Integrating Findings on Fears of Positive and Negative Evaluation

Accumulating evidence supports the premise that fear of evaluation in general is important in social anxiety, including fear of positive evaluation (FPE) as well as fear of negative evaluation (FNE). This study tested various hypotheses pertaining to a novel, expanded conceptualization of social anxiety involving these two distinct fears: the bivalent fear of evaluation (BFOE) model. Responses from a large undergraduate sample (N = 585) were examined. In addition, responses from a subsample of participants qualifying for a probable diagnosis of social anxiety disorder (SAD; n = 133) were examined, via mediational analyses, for potential mechanisms underlying FPE within highly socially anxious individuals. FPE exhibited a unique and significantly stronger relationship with concerns of social reprisal due to making positive impressions than did FNE. FPE related uniquely and negatively to trait positive affect/automatic thoughts, whereas FNE, FPE, and social anxiety all related uniquely and positively to trait negative affect/automatic thoughts. FPE, FNE, and social anxiety all related uniquely and positively to disqualification of positive social outcomes (DPSO). However, FPE related most strongly to DPSO attributions at the level of the self, and these attributions mediated the relationship between FPE and negative automatic thoughts in an analog clinical sample. Concerns of social reprisal due to making positive impressions on others mediated the relationship between FPE and DPSO attributions to others in an analog clinical sample. The obtained findings replicate and extend support for the BFOE model of social anxiety. Implications for the theoretical conceptualization and treatment of SAD are discussed.
Computation and Experimentation on the Web with Application to Internal Combustion Engines

The internal combustion (IC) engine is a complex engineering system with rich thermal/fluid science applications. We have developed Web-based software written in Java to introduce thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and heat transfer applications typical of IC engines. In addition, an “on-line” engine research facility has been constructed to allow engine experimentation over the laboratory Internet using Web browsers. We include a discussion of pedagogical guidelines to be considered for effective on-line experiments. The engine hardware and architecture of the data acquisition/control/ communication systems are described.
Burmese bells and Chinese eroticism: Southeast Asia's cultural influence on China

By utilising a large number of historical and literary sources in Chinese and European languages, this article discusses the spread of Burmese bells (penis inserts) to China between the late sixteenth and early twenty-first centuries, a topic that has hitherto been understudied. It details the social factors behind each phase of transmission, the Chinese adaptation of a Southeast Asian practice, and physical description of Burmese bells. The research provides a new perspective to Southeast Asian–Chinese interactions and stresses the Southeast Asian cultural influence on Chinese society and sexual behaviour. It also argues that aphrodisiacs, like other commodities, have a legitimate place in Asian history.
The roles of Neogene geology and late Pleistocene lake levels in shaping the genetic structure of the Lahontan redside shiner Richardsonius egregius (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)

Shifting drainage patterns in western North America, shaped by geological activity and changing global climates, have influenced the evolution of many aquatic taxa. We investigated the role of late Pleistocene high stands in pluvial Lake Lahontan on the genetic structure of Richardsonius egregius, a minnow endemic to the Lahontan Basin of the western Great Basin. We used the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene to generate a phylogeny and assess intraspecific genetic diversity, to estimate divergence times between clades, and to evaluate whether gene flow currently occurs. The results obtained show that R. egregius exhibits genetic divergence between eastern and western Lahontan Basin populations. Divergence time estimates show that intraspecific genetic diversification began in the Pliocene or early Pleistocene, before the pluvial lake high stands associated with the last glacial maximum. These results imply that the fluctuating water levels in pluvial Lake Lahontan had a minimal effect on shaping the genetic architecture of R. egregius. Coalescent analyses using the immigration with migration model show that contemporary gene flow between eastern and western Lahontan Basin populations does not occur. © 2011 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 104, 163–176.
Verification bias in diagnostic accuracy studies for fine- and core needle biopsy of salivary gland lesions in otolaryngology journals: a systematic review and analysis.

Background Diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) studies for needle biopsy are frequently published in otolaryngology journals, but this body of literature has not been assessed for verification bias. Methods We conducted a systematic review of DTA studies on needle biopsy of salivary gland lesions appearing in otolaryngology journals. Studies were assessed by 2 reviewers for verification bias. Results We identified 95 DTA studies for needle biopsy of salivary gland lesions. Eighty-one studies (84%) had verification bias. Five of the biased studies provided sufficient data to estimate the extent of bias. Verification bias was associated with an overestimate of sensitivity and an underestimate of specificity. Studies on core needle biopsy (CNB) had a lower rate of verification bias than fine-needle aspiration (FNA) studies. Conclusion Verification bias is common in DTA studies of needle biopsy for salivary gland lesions published in ear, nose, and throat (ENT) journals. Such studies overestimated sensitivity and underestimated specificity. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 36: 1654–1661, 2014
Endogenous NO Regulates Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 During Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition

To test the hypothesis that NO contributes to effects of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors on fibrinolysis, fibrinolytic balance was assessed in 17 normal subjects during placebo and after randomized, double-blind 4-week treatment with the NO precursor L-arginine (3 g TID), ramipril (10 mg QD), or L-arginine+ramipril. Neither L-arginine nor ramipril alone affected basal plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 or tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) antigen in these salt-replete subjects in whom plasma renin activity was suppressed (mean+/-SD 0.7+/-0.5 ng angiotensin I/mL per hour). In contrast, L-arginine+ramipril reduced morning plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen (10.8+/-9.5 ng/mL) and the molar ratio of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1:t-PA (2.3+/-1.6) compared with placebo (13.5+/-10.8 ng/mL, P=0.006; ratio 2.9+/-2.1, P=0.015) or ramipril alone (15.2+/-13.2 ng/mL, P=0.009; ratio 3.7+/-3.3, P=0.005). L-arginine and ramipril synergistically increased d-dimers (23.1+/-31.5, 29.7+/-50.0, 35.1+/-50.0, and 57.1+/-144.8 ng/mL during placebo, L-arginine, ramipril, and L-arginine+ramipril, respectively; P<0.05 for L-arginine+ramipril versus any other group). During ramipril, the NO synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester (2 mg/kg) significantly increased plasminogen activator inhibitor-antigen after 2 hours (from 9.4+/-8.6 ng/mL during vehicle to 13.5+/-11.0 ng/mL during L-NG-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester; P=0.020), consistent with an effect on expression but rapidly increased t-PA activity (from 0.4+/-0.3 to 0.5+/-0.4 IU/mL; P=0.031), consistent with an effect on release. Both effects of L-NG-nitro-arginine-methyl-ester were reversed by L-arginine. During angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, endogenous NO decreases plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen and improves fibrinolytic balance in normotensive salt-replete subjects.
Fungal oil with EPA in Mucor circinelloides cultivated on thin stillage from corn-to-ethanol production

This study demonstrates the potential of the oleaginous fungus Mucor circinelloides for synthesizing oil rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids when cultivated in thin stillage (TS) and centrifuged thin stillage (CTS) from corn-to-ethanol production. Biomass yield, oil yield and its EPA content were studied at different cultivation periods and carbon to nitrogen ratios. The fungal biomass yield (g/L) and its oil content (g/L) were found to be twice as high in TS as in CTS when harvested after two to six days. EPA content doubled in TS and increased by 2.6 times in CTS when the cultivation period was extended from three to six days. Glycerol supplementation at 20g/L of C led to an 18% increase and 63.6% decrease in fungal oil yield in TS and CTS respectively. Glycerol addition also increased EPA content by 33% in TS and 60% in CTS. Adding 5g/L N using ammonium sulfate as a nitrogen source enhanced the fungal oil yield by 34% in TS and 26% in CTS and EPA content by 32% in TS and 12% in CTS. Urea at 0.5 g/L of N increased the EPA content by 22% in TS and 33% in CTS and oil content by 12% in TS and 13% in CTS. Potassium nitrate at 5g/L of N increased EPA content by 28% in TS and 33% in CTS at 0.5 g/L of N dosage and increase in oil yield by 18% in TS and decreased oil yield in CTS by 37%. .
Identification of Human Cytomegalovirus UL84 Virus- and Cell-Encoded Binding Partners by Using Proteomics Analysis

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) UL84 is a phosphoprotein that shuttles from the nucleus to the cytoplasm and is required for oriLyt-dependent DNA replication and viral growth. UL84 was previously shown to interact with IE2 (IE86) in infected cells, and this interaction down-regulates IE2-mediated transcriptional activation in transient assays. UL84 and IE2 were also shown to cooperatively activate a promoter within HCMV oriLyt. UL84 alone can interact with an RNA stem-loop within oriLyt and is bound to this structure within the virion. In an effort to investigate the binding partners for UL84 in infected cells, we pulled down UL84 from protein lysates prepared from HCMV-infected human fibroblasts by using a UL84-specific antibody and resolved the immunoprecipitated protein complexes by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. We subsequently identified individual proteins by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-tandem time of flight analysis. This analysis revealed that UL84 interacts with viral proteins UL44, pp65, and IE2. In addition, a number of cell-encoded proteins were identified, including ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2, casein kinase II (CKII), and the multifunctional protein p32. We also confirmed the interaction between UL84 and IE2 as well as the interaction of UL84 with importin alpha. UL44, pp65, and CKII interactions were confirmed to occur in infected and cotransfected cells by coimmunoprecipitation assays followed by Western blotting. Ubiquitination of UL84 occurred in the presence and absence of the proteasome activity inhibitor MG132 in infected cells. The identification of UL84 binding partners is a significant step toward the understanding of the function of this significant replication protein.
Two-scatterer laser

We demonstrated lasing in a microscopic cavity made of two nanoparticles in a homogeneous gain medium. The particles, either dielectric or metallic, acted as nano-mirrors. Such laser had well-defined lasing frequencies and produced directional output.
The impact of time on seizure prediction performance in the FSPEEG database.

Abstract We demonstrate evidence that high discriminability between preictal and interictal intracranial electroencephalogram (iEEG) recordings [1] , [2] of the Freiburg database (FSPEEG) may be due to the amount of time that occurred between recordings, as opposed to the underlying seizure state, i.e., preictal or interictal. After replicating published classification methods and results, we performed two experiments. In the first experiment, almost perfect discriminability between discontinuous interictal recordings and almost perfect discriminability between discontinuous preictal recordings were observed as the amount of time between recordings increased. Further, a second experiment demonstrated that the classification performance for patients with large time gaps between preictal and interictal recordings was noticeably higher than the classification performance for patients with contiguous preictal and interictal files. These results provide evidence that time likely plays a major role in the discriminability of the iEEG features considered in this study, regardless of the underlying seizure state. Feature nonstationarity is present and may, under certain conditions, lead to overestimation or underestimation of the probability of seizure occurrence.
Evolving options for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer: Progression-free survival as an endpoint

Because of its direct clinical relevance, overall survival is the gold standard endpoint for measuring clinical efficacy. However, achieving improvements in overall survival can be confounded by factors such as crossover to active treatment arms and subsequent treatment with non-experimental active therapies. Powering studies to detect significant overall survival increases requires prohibitively large patient numbers and long follow-up and may not always be practical. Trials incorporating progression free survival (PFS) or time to progression (TTP) as primary outcome measures are likely to be shorter, require fewer patients and are usually more affordable, which may ultimately translate into a more rapid evaluation of potentially effective experimental therapies. In heavily pretreated metastatic breast cancer, significant improvements in progression-free survival may indicate a clinically meaningful benefit for patients with otherwise limited salvage therapy options available. Approval for several newer agents in the advanced resistant or refractory metastatic breast cancer setting has been based on prolonged progression-free survival or time to progression as primary trial endpoints. In this paper, clinical trial data relating to OS, PFS and TTP endpoints are reviewed and the use of surrogate markers of survival for the evaluation of new drugs is considered.
Learning from actions not taken: a multiagent learning algorithm

Learning in multiagent systems is generally slow because the agent has to extract its correct policy through not only through its interaction with the environment, but also from its interactions with other learning agents. In this paper, we present an approach that significantly improves the learning speed in multiagent systems by allowing an agent to up-date its estimate of the rewards for all its available actions, not just the action that was taken. Our results show that the rewards on such "actions not taken" are beneficial early in training, particularly when agent teams are leveraged to estimate those rewards.
The Power of a Nonparametric Test for Seasonality

A computer simulation study was carried out to assess the performance of the test for seasonality of Hewitt et al. with monthly incidence rates. This test can be very powerful against an annual sinusoidal pattern. The test's power against a semi-annual sinusoidal pattern or against a “one-pulse” pattern is very small for the parameter values considered in this study.
Interface trap-enhanced gate-induced leakage current in MOSFET

Interface traps are shown to significantly affect the gate-induced drain-leakage current in a MOSFET or gated diode. The leakage current in a p/sup +/-gated diode can increase by two orders of magnitude when the interface trap density is increased from 10/sup 11/ to 10/sup 12/ cm/sup -2/-eV/sup -1/. The fact that thermal annealing at 300 degrees C can eliminate both the generated interface traps and the excessive leakage current supports the close correlation between the two. The p/sup +/-gated diode is found to be more susceptible to this interface-trap related leakage current than the n/sup +/-device, which can be explained qualitatively by an interface-trap-assisted tunneling model. >
Issues in event analysis for recursive simulation

Recursive simulation allows decision making entities within a simulation to themselves use simulation as a way of projecting their situation into the future. In these imagined futures, events occur that can significantly affect the entity, and if the information about those events can be captured and related to the entity's present, better decision making may result. This paper explores this concept, and some of the issues that arise, in the context of force on force military simulation.
Toward a unified theory of modulation&#8212;Part II: Zero manipulation

Part I of this two-part paper began with a study of band-limited signals which exhibit simultaneous phase and envelope fluctuations. The real and complex zeros of such signals were shown to be crucial parameters, and a viewpoint was established wherein zeros are regarded as fundamental informational attributes of signals. In Part II, the concept of modulation as zero manipulation is developed. This concept allows one to manipulate the zeros of a signal (i.e., to modulate the signal) in any practically convenient manner provided that the original zeros can be recovered in a demodulation process. The major portion of Part II is an illustrated survey of modulation processes. Narrow-band processes are dealt with first. Both well-known techniques, such as AM and SSB, and unconventional techniques are classified and explained in terms of zero manipulations. Conventional and single-sided forms of angle modulation are studied next. The zero-manipulation concept provides insight into the nature of the redundancy in wide-band angle modulation and suggests why angle modulation is both noise resistant and inefficient as a coding process. The final portion of the paper shows that the zero-manipulation concept can be used constructively as well as interpretively. Two topics are discussed: angle coding via zero conjugation, and interpolation of binary signals.
B → X transitions in HgI caused by collisions of N2+ -CO + ions with HgI 2 molecules

Collision-induced dissociative excitation reactions involving collisions of N2+ and CO+ ions and HgI2 molecules have been studied in the kinetic energy range of 100–1000 eV (laboratory frame). Emission spectra from the B → X transition of the HgI radical as well as atomic mercury lines from various highly excited energy levels have been observed and analyzed. Emission cross sections of the most intense molecular band of the HgI(B2∑+,v′ = 0 → X2∑+,v″ = 22) transition at 445 nm have been determined.
Coordinate interleaving TCM for flat fading and AWGN channels

Previously (Jelicic and Roy, 1993), a new algorithmic approach for designing QAM-TCM schemes based on coordinated interleaving was introduced. Simulations performed under ideal assumptions showed significant coding gains with respect to standard TCM schemes. In this work, we undertake a more thorough investigation of code performance including the effect of finite interleaving and imperfect channel state information (CSI). We show that despite being more sensitive to the above impairments, coordinated interleaving TCM largely preserve their coding gains and have a much lower error floor than standard symbol interleaving TCM. Finally the coding gains observed in simulations are substantiated by cut-off rate computations.
Comparing Oceanic Heat Uptake in AOGCM Transient Climate Change Experiments

The transient response of both surface air temperature and deep ocean temperature to an increasing external forcing strongly depends on climate sensitivity and the rate of the heat mixing into the deep ocean, estimates for both of which have large uncertainty. In this paper a method for estimating rates of oceanic heat uptake for coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation models from results of transient climate change simulations is described. For models considered in this study, the estimates vary by a factor of 2 ‰. Nevertheless, values of oceanic heat uptake for all models fall in the range implied by the climate record for the last century. It is worth noting that the range of the model values is narrower than that consistent with observations and thus does not provide a full measure of the uncertainty in the rate of oceanic heat uptake.
Screening for parental substance abuse in pediatric primary care.

Objective Parental alcohol and drug abuse may have significant deleterious effects on children. Although screening in the pediatric office is recommended, few screening measures have been evaluated for use in this setting. We sought to validate a 2-question screening tool for parental substance abuse. Methods A total of 216 caregivers bringing children to a primary care clinic completed a brief screening for psychosocial problems that contained 2 substance abuse questions. To assess reliability and validity of the questionnaire, recruited caregivers returned within 2 months to complete a computerized study protocol that contained the brief screening questions and the substance abuse sections of the Composite International Diagnostic Inventory (CIDI). Results Sixteen percent of caregivers acknowledged a problem with drugs or alcohol on the CIDI. A "yes" response to either screening question had a sensitivity of 29%, specificity of 95%, positive predictive value of 17%, and negative predictive value of 98% for drug abuse. Values were 13%, 96%, 33%, and 87%, respectively for predicting alcohol abuse. Conclusions Brief screening in pediatric primary care can identify many, but not all, parents who may need intervention for problems with drugs and/or alcohol. Children should benefit from such screening if it enables parents to acknowledge and receive treatment for substance abuse. Further research is needed to assess whether sensitivity of screening can be improved without sacrificing brevity.
Sample design for observing classes of objects

We consider optimal sample designs for observing classes of objects. Suppose we will take a simple random sample of equal-sized sectors from a study population and observe the classes existing on these sectors. The classes might be many different things, for example, herbaceous plant species (in sampling quadrats), microinvertebrate species (in sampling cores), and side effects from a drug (in conducting medical trials). Under a nonparametric mixture model and data from a previous related study, we first estimate the optimal number of sample sectors of a given size. Then for negative binomial dispersions of individuals with a common aggregation parameter k, we consider the optimal size as well as number of sample sectors. A simple test exists to check our common k assumption and our optimal size method requires far less data than would be required by a grid method or other method which utilizes data from sample sectors of several different sizes.
Genetic absence of nNOS worsens fetal alcohol effects in mice. II: microencephaly and neuronal losses.

Background Prenatal alcohol exposure can kill developing neurons, leading to microencephaly and mental retardation. However, not all fetuses are equally vulnerable to alcohol’s neurotoxic effects. While some fetuses are severely affected and are ultimately diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), others have no evidence of neuropathology and are behaviorally normal. These widely different outcomes among alcohol-exposed fetuses are likely due, in part, to genetic differences. Some fetuses possess genotypes that make them much more vulnerable than others to alcohol’s teratogenic effects. However, to date, only one gene has been identified whose mutation can worsen alcohol-induced behavioral deficits in an animal model of FAS. That gene is neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). The purpose of this study was to determine whether mutation of nNOS can likewise worsen alcohol-induced microencephaly and lead to permanent neuronal deficits.
Performance Analysis and Evaluation of Mellanox ConnectX InfiniBand Architecture with Multi-Core Platforms

InfiniBand is an emerging networking technology that is gaining rapid acceptance in the HPC domain. Currently, several systems in the Top500 list use InfiniBand as their primary interconnect, with more being planned for near future. The fundamental architecture of the systems are undergoing a sea-change due to the advent of commodity multi-core computing. Due to the increase in the number of processes in each compute node, the network interface is expected to handle more communication traffic as compared to older dual or quad SMP systems. Thus, the network architecture should provide scalable performance as the number of processing cores increase. ConnectX is the fourth generation InfiniBand adapter from Mellanox Technologies. Its novel architecture enhances the scalability and performance of InfiniBand on multi-core clusters. In this paper, we carry out an in-depth performance analysis of ConnectX architecture comparing it with the third generation InfiniHost III architecture on the Intel Bensley platform with Dual Clovertown processors. Our analysis reveals that the aggregate bandwidth for small and medium sized messages can be increased by a factor of 10 as compared to the third generation InfiniHost III adapters. Similarly, RDMA-Write and RDMA-Read latencies for 1 -byte messages can be reduced by a factor of 6 and 3, respectively, even when all cores are communicating simultaneously. Evaluation with communication kernel Halo reveals a performance benefit of a factor of 2 to 5. Finally, the performance of LAMMPS, a molecular dynamics simulator, is improved by 10% for the in.rhodo benchmark.
Mechanisms and Genetics of Resistance to Sodium Lauryl Sulfate in Strains of Shigella and Escherichia coli

The sensitivity to sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) of Shigella flexneri and Escherichia coli is determined by at least three genes. One site is located near the lactose operon, and two loci are cotransducible with the arabinose operon. Calcium ions protect against SLS lysis. One gene is concerned with the relative ability of the bacterium to retain calcium against such chelating agents as ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid or phosphate buffer. This was first observed in a mutation from virulence to avirulence in S. flexneri with a concomitant loss of ability to penetrate the intestinal epithelium. The avirulent strain is far less sensitive to lysis by SLS in the presence of phosphate buffer than its virulent parent. The avirulent strain is also less sensitive to lysozyme and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. E. coli K-12 is much more sensitive to SLS than both of these Shigella strains. An E. coli-S. flexneri hybrid, which is unable to survive well in the gut and thus only produces an abortive infection, has inherited this extreme sensitivity to SLS.
Chemical plume tracing via an autonomous underwater vehicle

Olfactory-based mechanisms have been hypothesized for biological behaviors including foraging, mate-seeking, homing, and host-seeking. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) capable of such chemical plume tracing feats would have applicability in searching for environmentally interesting phenomena, unexploded ordinance, undersea wreckage, and sources of hazardous chemicals or pollutants. This article presents an approach and experimental results using a REMUS AUV to find a chemical plume, trace the chemical plume to its source, and maneuver to reliably declare the source location. The experimental results are performed using a plume of Rhodamine dye developed in a turbulent, near-shore, oceanic fluid flow.
Online semi-supervised perception: Real-time learning without explicit feedback

This paper proposes an algorithm for real-time learning without explicit feedback. The algorithm combines the ideas of semi-supervised learning on graphs and online learning. In particular, it iteratively builds a graphical representation of its world and updates it with observed examples. Labeled examples constitute the initial bias of the algorithm and are provided offline, and a stream of unlabeled examples is collected online to update this bias. We motivate the algorithm, discuss how to implement it efficiently, prove a regret bound on the quality of its solutions, and apply it to the problem of real-time face recognition. Our recognizer runs in real time, and achieves superior precision and recall on 3 challenging video datasets.
Estimating causal effects from multiple cycle data in studies of in vitro fertilization

Prospective studies of reproductive outcomes frequently record data at multiple cycles. For example, studies of in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) follow women or couples for possibly several IVF cycles and record outcomes such as pregnancy status and embryo implantation. Several time-varying covariates, such as age and diagnostic markers, typically are available as well. When attention is focused on measurement of exposure effects, the use of multiple cycle data poses several complications. If the study is observational, the exposure probability may depend on subject characteristics. Moreover, attrition rates in IVF-ET can be substantial, and the attrition process can be expected to depend heavily on prior outcome. In fact, both success (pregnancy) and failure (lack of embryo implantations) can be prognostic of dropout. In this paper, we illustrate the use of causal modeling for multiple cycle data. Key assumptions are reviewed, and inference based on weighted estimating equations is described in detail. The methods are applied to a study of the effects of hydrosalpinx among women with tubal disease undergoing IVF-ET.
Dynamics of insecticide resistance alleles in house fly populations from New York and Florida

The frequency of insecticide-resistance alleles for two genes (Vssc1 and CYP6D1) was studied in field collected populations of house flies from two different climates. While the frequency of these resistance alleles in flies at dairies from four states has recently been reported, there is no information on the relative change of these allele frequencies over time. House flies were collected during the 2003-2004 season from New York and Florida before the first application of permethrin, during the middle of the field season, after the final application, and again the following spring (following months without permethrin use). Bioassay results indicated that homozygous susceptible and extremely resistant flies were rare, while moderately and highly resistant individuals were relatively common at all times in both states. The frequency of resistance alleles at the New York dairy rose during the season and declined over the winter, suggesting an overwintering fitness cost associated with these alleles. The super-kdr allele was detected for the first time in North America at the end of 2003. In Florida the frequency of the resistance alleles did not increase during the spray season or decrease during the winter, suggesting there is substantial immigration of susceptible alleles to the Florida dairy and no overwintering fitness cost associated with resistance alleles in this climate. Resistance to permethrin correlated well with the frequency of the Vssc1 and CYP6D1 resistance alleles in flies from New York, but not as well in the population from Florida. This suggests there may be a new resistance mechanism or allele evolving in Florida.
Clinical and pharmacological evaluation of buprenorphine and naloxone combinations: why the 4:1 ratio for treatment?

Although only a partial μ-opiate agonist, buprenorphine can be abused and diverted from medical therapy to the illicit drug market. A combination of buprenorphine and naloxone for sublingual administration may discourage diversion and abuse by precipitating opiate withdrawal when taken parenterally. Because opiate-abusing populations are not homogeneous and have varying levels of opiate dependence, the efficacy of buprenorphine and naloxone in precipitating opiate withdrawal or in attenuating the pleasurable effects of buprenorphine may vary. This chapter describes the effects of sublingual and parenteral buprenorphine and naloxone combinations in several populations of opiate-dependent people. We conclude that buprenorphine and naloxone combinations should not diminish the efficacy of sublingual buprenorphine, but should have lower abuse liability than buprenorphine alone.
The Radar “Three-Body Scatter Spike”: An Operational Large-Hail Signature

Abstract Recently, a rare radar artifact called the “flare echo” or “three-body scatter signature” has been examined by several researchers. Here, this midlevel storm signature is called the “three-body scatter spike” (TBSS) and is examined in detail for some severe storms scanned by operational WSR-88Ds. The TBSS is a generally 10–30-km long region of echo aligned radially downrange from a highly reflective (>63 dBZ) echo core. It is found almost exclusively aloft and is characterized by low reflectivity and is usually characterized by near-zero or weak inbound velocities. Spectrum widths are very broad and often noise like. The aforementioned research concluded that it is caused by non-Rayleigh radar microwave scattering (Mie scattering) from a region of large hydrometeors; most likely large, wet hail. This conclusion is supported and expanded upon. WSR-88D data are presented concerning a storm attended by a TBSS that produced giant (>5 cm) hail and violent surface winds. In this case, the three-body si...
International Human Rights and Comparative Mental Disability Law: The Universal Factors

An examination of comparative mental disability law reveals that there are at least five dominant, universal, core factors that must be considered carefully in any evaluation of the key question of whether international human rights standards have been violated. Each of these five factors is a reflection of the shame that the worldwide state of mental disability law brings to all of us who work in this field. Each is tainted by the pervasive corruption of sanism that permeates all of mental disability law. Each reflects a blinding pretextuality that contaminates legal practice in this area. These are the factors that I identify: - Core factor #1: Lack of comprehensive legislation to govern the commitment and treatment of persons with mental disabilities, and failure to adhere to legislative mandates - Core factor #2: Lack of independent counsel and lack of consistent judicial review mechanisms made available to persons facing commitment and those institutionalized - Core factor # 3: A failure to provide humane care to institutionalized persons - Core factor #4: Lack of coherent and integrated community programs as an alternative to institutional care - Core factor # 5: Failure to provide humane services to forensic patients In this paper, I discuss each of these universal factors, and offer examples from many regions of the world (not primarily from caselaw nor from sophisticated jurisprudential analyses but mostly from reports done by advocacy agencies and non-governmental organizations). Although the picture I paint is bleak, there are some rays of optimism: involvement (albeit tardily) of global human rights groups such as Amnesty International, heroic work by mental disability law-specific groups such as Mental Disability Rights International and the Mental Disability Advocacy Center, the greater readiness of international human rights courts and commissions to consider the substantive claims in institutional condition cases, and the publication of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Sperm Donation: Legal Aspects

Sperm donation and the legal relationships formed through the use of this technology are only partially regulated by the law. Federal regulation of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) includes maintaining laboratory safety and quality, and preventing the transmission of communicable diseases. The remaining legal regulation is by the states. Through statutes and judicial decisions, states have created a patchwork of laws relating to sperm donation and parentage, child support, contractual arrangements, privacy, informed consent, physician licensing, and clinic and laboratory qualifications. Professional societies such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), have called for some controls on sperm donation. However, their recommendations are not legally binding, although members must comply with them to retain membership. The lack of comprehensive regulation of sperm donation leaves legal and ethical aspects of sperm donation unanswered. For example, what happens when an ART clinic inseminates a woman with sperm meant for another woman? Should there be limits on donor sperm compensation? Should all sperm donors be tested and screened for genetic diseases? We discuss these issues, as well as provide an overview of the legal aspects of sperm donation.
Q-space truncation and sampling in diffusion spectrum imaging

Purpose To characterize the q-space truncation and sampling on the spin-displacement probability density function (PDF) in diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI). Methods DSI data were acquired using the MGH-USC connectome scanner (Gmax = 300 mT/m) with bmax = 30,000 s/mm2 , 17 × 17 × 17, 15 × 15 × 15 and 11 × 11 × 11 grids in ex vivo human brains and bmax = 10,000 s/mm2 , 11 × 11 × 11 grid in vivo. An additional in vivo scan using bmax =7,000 s/mm2 , 11 × 11 × 11 grid was performed with a derated gradient strength of 40 mT/m. PDFs and orientation distribution functions (ODFs) were reconstructed with different q-space filtering and PDF integration lengths, and from down-sampled data by factors of two and three. Results Both ex vivo and in vivo data showed Gibbs ringing in PDFs, which becomes the main source of artifact in the subsequently reconstructed ODFs. For down-sampled data, PDFs interfere with the first replicas or their ringing, leading to obscured orientations in ODFs. Conclusion The minimum required q-space sampling density corresponds to a field-of-view approximately equal to twice the mean displacement distance (MDD) of the tissue. The 11 × 11 × 11 grid is suitable for both ex vivo and in vivo DSI experiments. To minimize the effects of Gibbs ringing, ODFs should be reconstructed from unfiltered q-space data with the integration length over the PDF constrained to around the MDD. Magn Reson Med 76:1750-1763, 2016. © 2016 International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine.