cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Approach to Multivariate Network Traffic Analysis

Network traffic analysis is one of the core functions in network monitoring for effective network operations and management. While online traffic analysis has been widely studied, it is still intensively challenging due to several reasons. One of the primary challenges is the heavy volume of traffic to analyze within a finite amount of time due to the increasing network bandwidth. Another important challenge for effective traffic analysis is to support multivariate functions of traffic variables to help administrators identify unexpected network events intuitively. To this end, we propose a new approach with the multivariate analysis that offers a high-level summary of the online network traffic. With this approach, the current state of the network will display patterns compiled from a set of traffic variables, and the detection problems in network monitoring (e.g., change detection and anomaly detection) can be reduced to a pattern identification and classification problem. In this paper, we introduce our preliminary work with clustered patterns for online, multivariate network traffic analysis with the challenges and limitations we observed. We then present a grid-based model that is designed to overcome the limitations of the clustered pattern-based technique. We will discuss the potential of the new model with respect to the technical challenges including streaming-based computation and robustness to outliers.
Design and experimental validation on acoustic valley Hall edge states in reconfigurable phononic elastic waveguides

We report on the design and experimental validation of a tunable topological elastic lattice capable of supporting guided waves that are robust against back-scattering from disorder and defects. The topological lattice consists in a patterned aluminum thin plate having through-holes arranged in a hexagonal periodic configuration. The occurrence of the topological edge state is attributed to the acoustic analogue of the electron quantum valley Hall effect. By connecting two lattices having broken space inversion symmetry due to the application of opposite tunable strain fields, a topological transition emerges at the domain wall (i.e., the interface between them). Such a domain wall supports the formation and propagation of quasi-unidirectional edge states. The experimental validation of the topological waveguide is conducted on an aluminum plate that is already fabricated in a deformed (i.e., broken symmetry) configuration. The results confirm the existence of quasi-unidirectional edge states traveling along the domain wall and robust against sharp corners back-scattering. The experimental results also confirm the presence of mechanical energy flux vortices within the unit cell that are used to investigate the origin of the edge states robustness against disorder.
Synthesis and biological activities of tetrahydroquinazoline analogs of aminopterin and methotrexate

(6R,6S)-5,8-Dideaza-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroaminopterin (1) and (6R,6S)-5,8-dideaza-5,6,7,8-tetrahydromethotrexate (2) were synthesized as potential inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) and as antitumor agents. Cyclohexanone-4-carboxaldehyde dimethyl acetal, a key intermediate [10] was synthesized from cyclohexane-1,4-dione monoethylene ketal, which was converted via a Wittig reaction to its exocyclic 4-methylene derivative which in turn, was converted to the 4-aldehyde via a hydroboration-oxidation sequence. Selective protection of the 4-aldehyde as the dimethylacetal and cyclization with dicyandiamide afforded the 6-dimethylacetal of 2,4-diamino-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroquinazoline. Protection of the 2,4-diamino moieties and selective deprotection of the 6-aldehyde followed by reductive amination with p-aminobenzoyl-L-glutamate afforded 2,4-bisacetamido-5,8-dideaza-5,6,7,8-tetrahydroaminopterin (11). Deprotection of 11 afforded 1. Compound 2 was obtained from 11 via N10-methylation and deprotection. The N10-methyl analogue 2 was 2–10 fold more potent than 1 as an inhibitor of various DHFRs. In the in vitro preclinical screening program of the National Cancer Institute, compound 2 inhibited the growth of eighteen of the twenty nine tumor cell lines in culture at a GI50 > 1.0 × 10−8 M.
Lanthanide−Transition-Metal Complexes: From Ion Pairs to Extended Arrays

New lanthanide−transition-metal (Ln−M) compounds were prepared and the structural relationships of the metal combinations were discerned. Numerous compounds derived from divalent or trivalent lanthanides and from transition metals in groups 7−11 were isolated. Three different types of interactions were observed: (1) Ln−M direct bonds, (2) ionic associations, and (3) carbonyl or cyanide linkers between the metals. These assorted Ln−M interactions influence the assembly of the compounds, and discrete molecules or polymeric arrays were encountered. The extended arrays spanning one, two, and three dimensions can function as heterogeneous catalyst precursors. Two classes of systems, Ln−M carbonyls and cyanides, are described.
Genetics, epidemiology, and clinical manifestations of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii.

Summary Acinetobacter baumannii infections have become an emerging health concern in hospitals across the world and are often associated with nosocomial infections with poorer clinical outcomes in patients with prolonged hospital stay. Management of infections involves prompt identification of the infecting strain, isolating the source of infection, and proper choice of antibiotic regimen. However, resistance to first-line antimicrobial drugs, combined with a lack of equally effective alternatives, complicates the treatment of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. Presently, multidrug-resistant A. baumannii is a serious health concern in hospitals and long-term care facilities and requires immediate and sustained prevention efforts to control the rate of incidence. This review describes trends in epidemiology, genetic markers, and other factors that influence the incidence of multidrug-resistant A. baumannii. Current and emerging treatments as well as infection control strategies are discussed.
Elucidation of a non-thermal mechanism for DNA/RNA fragmentation and protein degradation when using Lyse-It.

Rapid sample preparation is one of the leading bottlenecks to low-cost and efficient sample component detection. To overcome this setback, a technology known as Lyse-It has been developed to rapidly (less than 60 seconds) lyse Gram-positive and–negative bacteria alike, while simultaneously fragmenting DNA/RNA and proteins into tunable sizes. This technology has been used with a variety of organisms, but the underlying mechanism behind how the technology actually works to fragment DNA/RNA and proteins has hitherto been studied. It is generally understood how temperature affects cellular lysing, but for DNA/RNA and protein degradation, the temperature and amount of energy introduced by microwave irradiation of the sample, cannot explain the degradation of the biomolecules to the extent that was being observed. Thus, an investigation into the microwave generation of reactive oxygen species, in particular singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radicals, and superoxide anion radicals, was undertaken. Herein, we probe one aspect, the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is thought to contribute to a non-thermal mechanism behind biomolecule fragmentation with the Lyse-It technology. By utilizing off/on (Photoinduced electron transfer) PET fluorescent-based probes highly specific for reactive oxygen species, it was found that as oxygen concentration in the sample and/or microwave irradiation power increases, more reactive oxygen species are generated and ultimately, more oxidation and biomolecule fragmentation occurs within the microwave cavity.
Adverse Childhood Experiences, Trauma Symptoms, Mindfulness, and Intimate Partner Violence: Therapeutic Implications for Marginalized Men

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and trauma symptoms have been linked with intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization among men, yet the field lacks depth in several key areas hampering progress toward violence intervention. Specifically, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) dominates the field's scope of trauma symptoms under study, limiting understanding of other manifestations of trauma especially among men. Furthermore, most research focuses exclusively on men's physical IPV perpetration and rarely focuses on other types of IPV, severity of violence, or men's victimization. Also, few studies examine potential protective factors grounded in the ACE framework, such as mindfulness, among clinical populations. Finally, most research has not focused on men of color, despite some racial/ethnic minority groups disproportionate rates of IPV exposure. Therefore, the relationships between IPV frequency and severity (psychological, physical, injury) and ACEs, PTSD, trauma symptomology (separate from PTSD), and mindfulness self-efficacy were examined in a sample of 67 predominantly low-income men of color in a batterer intervention program. More than half of the sample (51.5%) reported exposure to four or more ACEs, and 31.1% met the clinical cutoff for a probable PTSD diagnosis. Higher ACE scores predicted increased rates for nearly all types of self-reported IPV perpetration and victimization. PTSD symptoms and complex trauma symptom severity together explained between 13% and 40% of IPV outcomes, and each was uniquely associated with certain types of self-reported IPV victimization and perpetration frequency and severity. Mindfulness self-efficacy was associated with decreased self-report psychological IPV perpetration and victimization frequency and severity. Clinical implications relevant to marginalized men are reviewed, including screening, training, and potential therapeutic interventions.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Presurgical Staphylococcus aureus PCR Assay Compared with Culture and Post-PCR Implementation Surgical Site Infection Rates

Nasal colonization with Staphylococcus aureus is a well-referenced risk factor for postoperative surgical site infections (SSIs). Our health care system that performs >40,000 surgeries per year assessed both the diagnostic accuracy of the BD MAX StaphSR assay (MAX StaphSR), a PCR-based test that detects and differentiates S. aureus and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), compared with our standard of care culture and the subsequent clinical impact on SSIs 1 year after implementation. In addition, residual specimens were tested by broth-enriched culture. Performance parameters for all methods were determined using latent class analysis. Direct culture was the least sensitive for S. aureus (85.1%) and MRSA (76.7%), whereas the MAX StaphSR assay and broth-enriched culture had similar sensitivities (96.7%) for MRSA. Prospective assessment using MAX StaphSR during a 1-year, postimplementation period revealed a lower rate of SSIs per 100 targeted surgeries (0.3) compared with MRSA-only screening (1.10) and no screening (2.28) (P
Evolutionary Optimization for Neuromorphic Systems

Designing and training an appropriate spiking neural network for neuromorphic deployment remains an open challenge in neuromorphic computing. In 2016, we introduced an approach for utilizing evolutionary optimization to address this challenge called Evolutionary Optimization for Neuromorphic Systems (EONS). In this work, we present an improvement to this approach that enables rapid prototyping of new applications of spiking neural networks in neuromorphic systems. We discuss the overall EONS framework and its improvements over the previous implementation. We present several case studies of how EONS can be used, including to train spiking neural networks for classification and control tasks, to train under hardware constraints, to evolve a reservoir for a liquid state machine, and to evolve smaller networks using multi-objective optimization.
Economic and Environmental Impact of Single-use Plastics at a Large Ophthalmology Outpatient Service.

PReCIS:: The use of disposable tonometer prisms and gonioscopy lenses at a large ophthalmology outpatient service incurs significant financial and environmental waste that may not be justified given the limited data surrounding arguments for their use. Purpose To quantify the economic and environmental burden of single-use plastics from an ophthalmology outpatient service at a large tertiary hospital and describe the relative value and evidence for the safety of disposable versus nondisposable tonometer prisms and gonioscopy lenses. Methods The total number of single-use applanation tonometer prisms and gonioscopy lenses used per year at Boston Medical Center (BMC) was estimated, and the average dollars spent and plastic waste generated in kilograms per year were then determined. These values were compared with the total spending and waste that would be produced if the clinic were to use nondisposable tonometer prisms and gonioscopy lenses exclusively. Results Single-use tonometer prisms cost an average of $70,282 per year and produce ~100.8 kg of plastic waste per year at BMC. Single-use gonioscopy lenses cost ~$9,040 per year and produce 8.8 kg of plastic waste per year at BMC. An excess of $65,185 and 109.6 kg of plastic waste could be avoided each year by only using nondisposable tonometer prisms and gonioscopy lenses at the BMC ophthalmology outpatient service. Conclusions Single-use plastics in ophthalmology outpatient services generate significant environmental waste and financial cost compared with nondisposable instruments. This cost may outweigh the benefits of these instruments given the limited data surrounding arguments for their use.
Effect of Mycophenolate Mofetil Dosing on 6-month Risk of Acute Cellular Rejection, Leukopenia and CMV Viremia in Heart Transplant

Purpose Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) is a cornerstone of heart transplant (HT) therapy. MMF dose is associated with leukopenia and infections (eg CMV). Despite widespread use, the optimal MMF dose to balance risk of rejection with leukopenia and infection is unknown. Our center recently transitioned from a high-dose (HD) 3g/day to low-dose (LD) 2g/day MMF protocol. We tested whether LD-MMF is associated with: i) lower rates of leukopenia and CMV, and ii) comparable rates/severity of acute cellular rejection (ACR) at 6-months after HT. Methods 108 pts who received HT between 6/16 to 8/20 were included. Pts were categorized based on LD- vs HD-MMF. ACR was defined according to ISHLT criteria. A total rejection score (TRS) was calculated as follows: 0R=0, 1R =1, 2R=2, 3R=3 by dividing summed scores by total number of biopsies during study period. Leukopenia = WBC Results Baseline characteristics of HD- (n=71) vs LD-MMF (n=37) pts were similar including WBC and CMV match status; 80% vs 86% of pts were discharged at target doses. 59 ACR, 71 leukopenia and 10 CMV events occurred at 6-months. Freedom from first ACR, leukopenia and CMV in HD- vs L`D-MMF are shown in Fig 1a-c. Total ACR events in HD- vs LD- MMF group were 50/722 (6.9%) biopsies in 71 pts vs 9/272 (3.3%) biopsies in 37 pts. However, ACR events in HD-MMF group were less likely to be high grade (≥2R): 12% vs 55% (p=.002). TRS did not differ between groups: .075±.12 vs .05±.11, p=.08. After multivariable adjustments, HD-MMF was associated with higher risk of any ACR (HR=2.23, p=.043) and higher risk of leukopenia (HR=1.71 p=.049) (Fig 1d). Conclusion LD-MMF was associated with less leukopenia. However this came at the cost of more clinical significant ≥2R rejections. Further studies are warranted to address the long-term implications of these findings.
Genomics in the Horse Industry: Discovering New Questions at Every Turn

The sheer diversity of heritable physiological traits, and the ingenuity of genome derived research technologies, extends the study of genetics to impact diverse scientific fields. Equine science is no exception, experiencing a number of genome-enabled discoveries that spur further research in areas like nutrition, reproduction, and exercise physiology. Yet unexpected findings, especially those that over-turn commonly held beliefs in the horse industry, can create challenges in outreach, education and communication with stakeholders. For example, studies of ancient DNA revealed that the oldest domesticated equids in the archeological record were in fact another species, the Przewalski's horse, leaving the origins of our modern horses a mystery yet to be solved. Genomic analysis of ancestry can illuminate relationships older than our prized pedigree records, and in some cases, identify unexpected inconsistencies in those pedigrees. Even our interpretation of what constitutes a genetic disease is changing, as we re-examine common disease alleles; how these alleles impact equine physiology, and how they are perceived by breeders and professionals in the industry. Effectively translating genetic tools for utilization in horse management and preparing our community for the debate surrounding ethical questions that may arise from genomic studies, may be the next great challenges we face as scientists and educators.
Reflections in excitable media linked to existence and stability of one-dimensional spiral waves

When propagated action potentials in cardiac tissue interact with local heterogeneities, reflected waves can sometimes be induced. These reflected waves have been associated with the onset of cardiac arrhythmias, and while their generation is not well understood, their existence is linked to that of one-dimensional (1D) spiral waves. Thus, understanding the existence and stability of 1D spirals plays a crucial role in determining the likelihood of the unwanted reflected pulses. Mathematically, we probe these issues by viewing the 1D spiral as a time-periodic antisymmetric source defect. Through a combination of direct numerical simulation and continuation methods, we investigate existence and stability of a 1D spiral wave in a qualitative ionic model to determine how the systems propensity for reflections are influenced by system parameters. Our results support and extend a previous hypothesis that the 1D spiral is an unstable periodic orbit that emerges through a global rearrangement of heteroclinic orbits and we identify key parameters and physiological processes that promote and deter reflection behavior.
“Dancing” Together: Infant–Mother Locomotor Synchrony

Pre-mobile infants and caregivers spontaneously engage in a sequence of contingent facial expressions and vocalizations that researchers have referred to as a social "dance." Does this dance continue when both partners are free to move across the floor? Locomotor synchrony was assessed in 13- to 19-month-old infant-mother dyads (N = 30) by tracking each partner's step-to-step location during free play. Although infants moved more than mothers, dyads spontaneously synchronized their locomotor activity. For 27 dyads, the spatiotemporal path of one partner uniquely identified the path of the other. Clustering analyses revealed two patterns of synchrony (mother-follow and yo-yo), and infants were more likely than mothers to lead the dance. Like face-to-face synchrony, locomotor synchrony scaffolds infants' interactions with the outside world.
Ischemic and bleeding outcomes of potent P2Y12 inhibitor antiplatelet agents versus clopidogrel in elderly patients with acute coronary syndrome: A meta-analysis of randomized trials.

BACKGROUND The role of P2Y12 inhibition in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) has been well described in literature. However, the agent of choice is less clear among elderly patients (>65 years) who are at increased risk of bleeding. This meta-analysis was designed to investigate the efficacy and safety of potent P2Y12 inhibitors vs. clopidogrel in this population. METHODS AND RESULTS PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Clinical Trials, EMBASE, and ClinicalTrial.gov (inception through February 25, 2021) were searched for randomized studies comparing potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors to clopidogrel in elderly population presenting with ACS. Study endpoints included major adverse cardiac events (MACE), major bleeding, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, and stroke. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were computed and p<0.05 was considered significant. Eight randomized studies with a total 10,081 patients were included in the final analysis. At mean follow up of 26 months, there were no significant differences between potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors and clopidogrel in MACE (HR 0.97, 95% CI [0.82-1.15]; p=0.73), all-cause mortality (HR 0.91, 95% CI [0.75-1.10]; p=1.00), MI (HR 0.95, 95% CI [0.78-1.17]; p=0.64), and stroke (HR 1.24, 95% CI [0.82-1.86]; p=0.31). However, potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors were associated with a reduction in cardiovascular mortality (HR 0.82, 95% CI [0.68-0.98]; p=0.03), and an increase in major bleeding events (HR 1.32, 95% CI [1.09-1.59]; p<0.01). CONCLUSION In comparison with clopidogrel, the use of potent oral P2Y12 inhibitors in elderly patients with ACS, is associated with a reduction in the risk of cardiovascular mortality with increased risk of bleeding events and no significant change in MACE outcomes.
Simulations of directed energy thrust on rotating asteroids

Asteroids that threaten Earth could be deflected from their orbits using directed energy to vaporize the surface, because the ejected plume creates a reaction thrust that alters the asteroid’s trajectory. One concern regarding directed energy deflection is the rotation of the asteroid, as this will reduce the average thrust magnitude and modify the thrust direction. Flux levels required to evaporate surface material depend on surface material composition and albedo, thermal, and bulk mechanical properties of the asteroid, and rotation rate. The observed distribution of asteroid rotation rates is used, along with an estimated range of material and mechanical properties, as input to a 3D thermal-physical model to calculate the resultant thrust vector. The model uses a directed energy beam, striking the surface of a rotating sphere with specified material properties, beam profile, and rotation rate. The model calculates thermal changes in the sphere, including vaporization and mass ejection of the target material. The amount of vaporization is used to determine a thrust magnitude that is normal to the surface at each point on the sphere. As the object rotates beneath the beam, vaporization decreases, as the temperature drops and causes both a phase shift and magnitude decrease in the average thrust vector. A surface integral is calculated to determine the thrust vector, at each point in time, producing a 4D analytical model of the expected thrust profile for rotating objects.
Distributed Job Scheduling Using Snapshots

A methodology is developed for the solution of dynamic graph problems through the idea of snapshots. A snapshot of a dynamic graph is a collection of consistent local snapshots, where a local snapshot defines the neighborhood of a process. The methodology is illustrated by solving the distributed job scheduling problem. The solution combines a given snapshot algorithm with existing solutions to the dining philosophers and δ-coloring problems. The time and message complexities of the resulting algorithm depend minimally on global parameters.
Local heat transfer augmentation in channels with two opposite ribbed surfaces

The local heat transfer coefficient distribution of a square channel with two opposite ribbed walls was determined. The square channel was connected to a sudden contraction entrance in order to simulate the inlet condition of the turbine blade cooling passages. The test channel was heated by thin stainless steel foils with a thickness of 0.000025 m, and instrumented with 180 thermocouples. The brass ribs of a square cross-section were glued periodically, in line, onto the top and bottom walls of the foil-heated channel in patterns to achieve the desired spacing and angle-of-attack. The local heat transfer coefficients on the smooth side and the ribbed side walls, at the channel entrance and the downstream regions, were measured for eight rib configurations and three Reynolds numbers (Re = 10,000, 30,000, and 60,000).
Predicting protein-DNA interactions by full search computational docking.

Protein-DNA interactions are essential for many biological processes, X-ray crystallography can provide high-resolution structures, but protein-DNA complexes are difficult to crystallize and typically contain only small DNA fragments. Thus, there is a need for computational methods that can provide useful predictions to give insights into mechanisms and guide the design of new experiments. We used the program DOT, which performs an exhaustive, rigid-body search between two macromolecules, to investigate four diverse protein-DNA interactions. Here, we compare our computational results with subsequent experimental data on related systems. In all cases, the experimental data strongly supported our structural hypotheses from the docking calculations: a mechanism for weak, non-sequence-specific DNA binding by a transcription factor, a large DNA-binding footprint on the surface of the DNA-repair enzyme uracil-DNA-glycosylase, viral and host DNA-binding sites on the catalytic domain of HIV integrase, and a three-DNA-contact model of the linker histone bound to the nucleosome. In the case of uracil-DNA-glycosylase, the experimental design was based on the DNA-binding surface found by docking, rather than the much smaller surface observed in the crystallographic structure. These comparisons demonstrate that the DOT electrostatic energy gives a good representation of the distinctive electrostatic properties of DNA and DNA-binding proteins. The large, favorably-ranked clusters resulting from the dockings identify active sites, map out large DNA-binding sites, and reveal multiple DNA contacts with a protein. Thus, computational docking can not only help to identify protein-DNA interactions in the absence of a crystal structure, but also expand structural understanding beyond known crystallographic structures.
The Plural of Anecdote is Not Data: Teaching Law Students Basic Survey Methodology to Improve Access to Justice in Unemployment Insurance Appeals

A large number of individuals who appear before the District of Columbia Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) are self-represented, and many of them would benefit from having legal representation or at least more legal information about the hearing process. This article details one effort to ascertain whether self-represented parties, both employees and employer, in unemployment insurance (UI) appeals perceive a need for more legal assistance. Law students from The Catholic University of America administered a survey that asked self-represented parties in UI appeals whether, based on their experiences in the hearing, they perceived a need for more legal assistance and whether there were aspects of the hearings that they found particularly challenging. While this project began as an effort to improve access to justice in one particular setting, it evolved into something more — an interdisciplinary collaboration between a sociologist (Professor Pumar) and a lawyer (Professor Mullen) using a service-learning model to educate law students about how they could use survey methodology to improve access to justice. The hope was that the students would learn how to conduct empirical research, which might inspire them to undertake similar work after graduation and make them more astute consumers of data. This article details that collaboration, including how the research was conducted, with emphasis on the key role played by students in framing the research questions and drafting, pretesting, and administering the survey. The article also reports the results of the survey and its implications for improving access to justice. The article offers a model for others who might wish to engage students in similar law and sociology collaborations.
A Process for Solidifying Sodium Nitrate Waste in Polyethylene

A laboratory-scale process has been developed for the solidification of nitrate salt wastes in polyethylene. The process uses a commercially available single-screw extruder which continuously discharges prescribed polyethylene-waste mixtures from the hoppers to the output die, where it is extruded into a container while still in the molten form. The molten mixture (∼110 to 120°C) conforms to the shape of the container and solidifies upon cooling. Proportional feeders maintain waste-to-binder ratio and homogeneity of the waste form. Present studies use dry wastes, although wet solid wastes can be processed using vented extruders of the type used for the bitumen solidification process. Tests were performed to determine leachability and mechanical stability. Emphasis is placed upon leaching of nitrates from the waste forms. Leach tests were performed according to ANS 16.1 as well as the EPA extraction procedure (EP). For polyethylene waste forms containing 30 to 70 weight percent sodium nitrate, ANS 16.1 leach indices range from 11 to 7.8, respectively. Compressive yield strengths range from 18 to 5 MPa (after 90 days' water immersion). The results of the EP indicate that the nitrate release levels for waste forms containing as much as 70 weight % sodium nitrate are not defined as characteristically hazardous waste. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to confirm the compatability of polyethylene and simulated salt wastes at elevated temperatures. Components of the polyethylene/ sodium nitrate system, alone and in combination, were tested by DSC at temperatures to 400°C. At these temperatures, no chemical interactions were observed between polyethylene and nitrate waste compositions.
Hash functions for datatype signatures in MPI

Detecting misuse of datatypes in an application code is a desirable feature for an MPI library. To support this goal we investigate the class of hash functions based on checksums to encode the type signatures of MPI datatype. The quality of these hash functions is assessed in terms of hashing, timing and comparing to other functions published for this particular problem (Gropp, 7th European PVM/MPI Users’ Group Meeting, 2000) or for other applications (CRCs). In particular hash functions based on Galois Field enables good hashing, computation of the signature of unidatatype in $\mathcal{O}$(1) and computation of the concatenation of two datatypes in $\mathcal{O}$(1) additionally.
Structure of the cooperative allosteric anthranilate synthase from Salmonella typhimurium

We have determined the X-ray crystal structure of the cooperative anthranilate synthase heterotetramer from Salmonella typhimurium at 1.9 A resolution with the allosteric inhibitor l-tryptophan bound to a regulatory site in the TrpE subunit. Tryptophan binding orders a loop that in turn stabilizes the inactive T state of the enzyme by restricting closure of the active site cleft. Comparison with the structure of the unliganded, noncooperative anthranilate synthase heterotetramer from Sulfolobus solfataricus shows that the two homologs have completely different quarternary structures, even though their functional dimer pairs are structurally similar, consistent with differences in the cooperative behavior of the enzymes. The structural model rationalizes mutational and biochemical studies of the enzyme and establishes the structural differences between cooperative and noncooperative anthranilate synthase homologs.
High Frequent Value Reduct in Very Large Databases

One of the main contributions of rough set theory to data mining is data reduction. There are three reductions: attribute (column) reduction, row reduction, and value reduction. Row reduction is merging the duplicate rows. Attribute reduction is to find important attributes. Value reduction is to reduce the decision rules to a logically equivalent minimal length. Most recent attentions have been on finding attribute reducts. Traditionally, the value reduct has been searched through the attribute reduct. This paper observes that this method may miss the best value reducts. It also revisits an old rudiment idea [11], namely, a rough set theory on high frequency data: The notion of high frequency value reduct is extracted in a bottom-up fashion without finding attribute reducts. Our method can discover concise and important decision rules in large databases, and is described and illustrated by an example.
Life, the Lab, and Everything. Ian Wilkinson. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 1996. 178 pp. Soft cover, $19.95. ISBN 0-915274-85-X.

In today’s clinical laboratory, an increased emphasis is being placed on management issues such as personnel, budgeting, and informatics. With these challenges in mind, this book defines commonly used business terms in a uniquely uncommon manner. The author lists numerous business-related terms in alphabetical order and describes their application to the clinical laboratory. His definition of each term is made with clear and direct statements that are not only factual but also usually humorous. To provide the reader with some understanding of the approach the author takes, a few examples of definitions are listed here:
Adolescent pregnancy: do expectations affect intentions?

Abstract Objective To establish the relationship between expectations about the effects of childbearing on specific aspects of life and the strength of the desire to remain nonpregnant during adolescence. We hypothesized that the absence of negative childbearing expectations is associated with an increase in the odds that sexually active, inadequately contracepting teenage girls are cognitively susceptible to conception. Method A racially and ethnically diverse group of 351 nulligravida, inadequately contracepting teenagers was studied. Participants responded to 60 items that asked about their expectation about the effects of becoming pregnant and not doing so. Analyses were performed to determine the factorial structure of the childbearing expectations items and their relationship to cognitive susceptibility to conception, defined as the lack of desire to remain nonpregnant. Results The analysis yielded a 9-factor solution for the childbearing expectations items. All 9 sub-scales exhibited acceptable reliability coefficients, stable factor patterns, and correlated significantly with the desire to remain nonpregnant. A dose-dependent relationship suggestive of causality was also apparent. In stepwise regression the sub-scales that assessed the anticipated effect of childbearing on future plans, self-esteem, and boyfriend relations remained significant and accounted for 56% of the variance in the desire to remain nonpregnant. The lengthy research instrument was reduced to an 8-item screening tool without loss of psychometric integrity or explanatory power. Conclusions Childbearing expectations reflect distinct concepts and account for a significant portion of the variance in the desire to remain nonpregnant during adolescence. Thus the 8-item screening tool we validated might be used to formulate a differential diagnosis for the enigmatic behavior of teens who say they do not "want" to become pregnant but do not "mind" doing so enough to try to avoid conceiving by default.
Membrane-mediated alterations of intracellular Na+ and K+ in lytic-virus-infected and retrovirus-transformed cells

Infection of chick-embryo fibroblasts and other cells by certain animal viruses results in alterations in the intracellular concentrations of Na+ and K+. Dramatic alterations in monovalent-cation concentrations of lytic-virus-infected cells may favor the synthesis of viral proteins over cellular proteins. More subtle alterations in retrovirus-transformed cells may result in the expression of many morphological and biochemical changes associated with the transformed phenotype.
Does chemotherapy modify the immune surveillance of hematological malignancies

Malignant diseases induce immune responses against them which have variable success in controlling progression of disease. A variety of congenital and acquired disorders provide evidence in support of T cell or NK cell immune surveillance mechanisms in human hematological malignancies. Furthermore, clinical experience with stem cell transplantation underlines the potential for both T and NK cell-mediated antileukemia effects. Animal models of tumor surveillance and viral-driven lymphoproliferative diseases in man emphasize the dynamic nature of the equilibrium between tumors and the immune system, which can lead to tumor escape in individuals with normal immune function. In hematological malignancies the implication of a dynamic immune surveillance model is that chemotherapy may disrupt potentially competent immune surveillance mechanisms leading to disease recurrence following successful tumor bulk reduction by chemotherapy. This possibility deserves further investigation with a view to developing strategies to boost immune function following chemotherapy so as to combine the beneficial effect of chemotherapy with an immune response capable of sustaining remissions.
The surface hydroxyl population in bone mineral

Lithium aluminium hydride reagent has been employed in the determination of surface OH groups in bone mineral which may be described as an impure hydroxyapatite. The dehydrated sample is dropped into a diglyme solution of LiAlH4 and hydrogen gas evolution is measured. One mole of hydrogen is evolved by each mole of OH groups. The total surface is previously measured by the B.E.T. nitrogen adsorption method. Thus it is possible to compare the number of surface OH groups found per unit area with that estimated on the basis of the known crystal lattice. Less than fifty percent of the estimated number is found. Several possible explanations for the apparent discrepancy are offered. Perhaps the most compelling one is the suggestion of an actual deficiency of surface hydroxyl groups.
Age-Dependent Parasitism ofCulicoides variipennis sonorensis(Diptera: Ceratopogonidae) byHeleidomermis magnapapula(Nematoda: Mermithidae) and Considerations for Assessing Parasite Impact

Abstract Laboratory and field studies were conducted to determine whether all larval stages ofCulicoides variipennis sonorensisWirth and Jones were susceptible to parasitism byHeleidomermis magnapapulaPoinar and Mullens. All four larval instars (L1–L4) were readily attacked in the laboratory, although parasites took significantly longer to enter older hosts (average of 119 s for L1 to 199 s for L4). Field studies indicated that free-living adult nematodes, and presumably the preparasitic (infective) stages, were distributed above the waterline, where early-stage host larvae (L1 and L2) were most common. Dissection of field-collected hosts over a full host generation showed maximum parasitism was lower in L4 (40%) than in L1 (71%), L2 (64%), and L3 (64%) hosts. Second stage parasites were found only in L1 and L2 hosts. Absence of second stage parasites in L3 and L4 hosts showed that older larvae were seldom attacked in nature. The mature parasites emerge primarily from L4 hosts. Collecting L4 hosts in the field can significantly underestimate parasitism due to emergence ofH. magnapapulafrom L4 hosts prior to sampling or premature host mortality due to parasitism. Dissection of L3 hosts should result in the most accurate parasitism estimates, but these estimates still ignore some parasite-induced mortality in the early host stages.
Tourettism and dystonia after subcortical stroke

The term “tourettism” has been used to describe Tourette syndrome (TS)-like symptoms secondary to some specific cause. Tics associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), or both, are commonly present in TS, but this constellation of symptoms has been rarely attributed to stroke. We describe two boys who suffered a subcortical stroke and subsequently developed hemidystonia, tics, and behavioral comorbidities. Both had right hemispheric stroke involving the basal ganglia at 8 years of age, and in both the latency from the stroke to the onset of left hemidystonia was 2 weeks. In addition to ADHD and OCD, both exhibited cranial-cervical motor tics but no phonic tics. The temporal relationship between the stroke and subsequent TS-like symptoms, as well as the absence of phonic tics and family history of TS symptoms in our patients, argues in favor of a cause and effect relationship, and the observed association provides evidence for an anatomic substrate for TS and related symptoms. © 2002 Movement Disorder Society
The purification and properties of aspartase from Escherichia coli

Abstract Aspartase has been purified to apparent homogeneity from Escherichia coli , strain B, and has an absolute requirement for a divalent metal ion. The enzyme has an S 20,w of 8.3 at various pH values and in the presence and absence of Mg 2+ and under catalytic conditions. The molecular weight was determined to be 170,000 by Sephadex gel chromatography, and the enzyme appears to have four subunits of 45,000 mol wt. It is insensitive to sodium cyanoborohydride and sodium borohydride treatment. Cooperative kinetics are observed at pH values above 7, and the enzyme is generally quite similar in properties to the aspartase studied by Williams and Lartigue (1) from Bacterium cadaveris . The E. coli enzyme is much more stable than their preparation and can be shown to be absolutely dependent on the presence of a divalent metal ion for activity.
The carbon dioxide hydration activity of purified teleost red cell carbonic anhydrase. Inhibition by sulfonamides and anions

Abstract 1. 1. Carbonic anhydrase is present as a single isozyme of molecular weight 29000 in the erythrocytes of the teleost, sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). 2. 2. The amino acid composition of this enzyme is generally similar to those of the mammalian isozymes of types I and II, although some notable incongruencies exist. 3. 3. The Michaelis-Menten kinetic constants (Km and kcat) for CO2 hydration by the sheepshead red cell carbonic anhydrase have been determined at pH 7.5–7.6 and at two temperatures, 1 and 25°C. This enzyme is not quite as active as the human red cell carbonic anhydrase isozyme II, although the turnover number is about 3 times that of human isozyme I at both temperatures. 4. 4. The pattern of inhibition of the sheepshead enzyme, by sulfonamides and monovalent anions, is similar to that of the mammalian high activity (type II) isozyme and is different from that exhibited by isozyme I.
An Algorithm for Treatment of Nasal Defects

Nasal defects are common after cancer resection, and the goal of treatment is to appropriately define the defect and then to select the best reconstructive options. The plastic surgeon must reestablish all deficient layers of the nose (support, lining, and external cover). The authors' algorithm is based on defect location and orientation, with the nose divided transversely into three zones, and then into subunits. In this article, using the aforementioned algorithm, the authors simplify the complex topic of nasal reconstruction, concentrating on local and regional flap reconstruction. The appropriate treatment for full-thickness defects, including options for reconstruction of lining and support, is also discussed.
Regulation of Intrinsic Axon Growth Ability at Retinal Ganglion Cell Growth Cones

Purpose Mammalian central nervous system neurons fail to regenerate after injury or disease, in part due to a progressive loss in intrinsic axon growth ability after birth. Whether lost axon growth ability is due to limited growth resources or to changes in the axonal growth cone is unknown. Methods Static and time-lapse images of purified retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) were analyzed for axon growth rate and growth cone morphology and dynamics without treatment and after manipulating Kruppel-like transcription factor (KLF) expression or applying mechanical tension. Results Retinal ganglion cells undergo a developmental switch in growth cone dynamics that mirrors the decline in postnatal axon growth rates, with increased filopodial adhesion and decreased lamellar protrusion area in postnatal axonal growth cones. Moreover, expressing growth-suppressive KLF4 or growth-enhancing KLF6 transcription factors elicits similar changes in postnatal growth cones that correlate with axon growth rates. Postnatal RGC axon growth rate is not limited by an inability to achieve axon growth rates similar to embryonic RGCs; indeed, postnatal axons support elongation rates up to 100-fold faster than postnatal axonal growth rates. Rather, the intrinsic capacity for rapid axon growth is due to both growth cone pausing and retraction, as well as to a slightly decreased ability to achieve rapid instantaneous rates of forward progression. Finally, we observed that RGC axon and dendrite growth are regulated independently in vitro. Conclusions Together, these data support the hypothesis that intrinsic axon growth rate is regulated by an axon-specific growth program that differentially regulates growth cone motility.
A weighted buddy method for dynamic storage allocation

An extension of the buddy method, called the weighted buddy method, for dynamic storage allocation is presented. The weighted buddy method allows block sizes of 2k and 3·2k, whereas the original buddy method allowed only block sizes of 2k. This extension is achieved at an additional cost of only two bits per block.Simulation results are presented which compare this method with the buddy method. These results indicate that, for a uniform request distribution, the buddy system has less total memory fragmentation than the weighted buddy algorithm. However, the total fragmentation is smaller for the weighted buddy method when the requests are for exponentially distributed block sizes.
Etiology of Bipolar Disorder Across the Lifespan: Essential Interplay With Diagnosis, Classification, and Assessment

Bipolar disorder has garnered increasing attention as many argue that rates of bipolar disorder are skyrocketing and the definition of the classic bipolar disorder phenotype should be expanded, especially among children and adolescents. Understanding the psychosocial etiologies of bipolar disorder across the lifespan is critically important, and Alloy and colleagues' (2009) scholarly review makes an important contribution. Given the debate and controversy surrounding the description, diagnosis, and phenotype of bipolar disorder, having an accurate, reliable, and valid classification for definition, diagnosis, and assessment is critical for explicating potential etiology. Likewise, advanced understanding of etiology, especially when grounded in basic psychological science as Alloy and colleagues' review is, can importantly inform clinical phenomenology, course, assessment, and intervention. In summary, there is an essential interplay among description, classification, assessment, etiology, and intervention, such that a deeper understanding of all these areas is necessary for advancing an empirically based practice of assessment and intervention.
El engañol y el cuco: metaphors in the nexus between language and status in Puerto Rico

The year leading up to the 2012 plebiscite on Puerto Rico's political status coincided with the proposal of a project to ‘guarantee’ bilingualism through English instruction in the schools. The intimate nexus between the Island's political status and issues of language was highlighted during that time not only in the news media on the Island but also in the US presidential campaign speeches during which candidates divulged their perspectives. This paper analyzes metaphors on language in Puerto Rico, including, among others, those based on el enganol or el cuco, particularly where these appeared in connection with the plebiscite on status, focusing on news articles and opinion columns published between December 2011 and April 2013, from the time the plebiscite was announced through the follow-up coverage several months after it was held. The paper concludes that the debates on language as related to status in Puerto Rico maintain some well-known metaphors, but that other, third-way metaphorical expressions...