cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Tale of Two Josephines: Class, Gender and Self‐sovereignty in Gilded Age

Using court records and newspaper accounts, this article analyses the ‘Blann-Ammon’ controversy in the context of nineteenth-century liberal feminism. Risking social ostracism and imprisonment, Josephine Ammon, a wealthy and well connected Cleveland matron, sought to defend the legal rights and autonomy of Josephine Blann, her neighbour of working-class origins; but in her efforts to empower Blann, Ammon constructed perceptions of Blann, and of the case, to serve her own political and ideological purposes. This article suggests the class limitations on both constructions of womanhood and notions of feminist self-sovereignty.
Development of a predictive model for defining subsurface sand bodies

Abstract Numerous hazardous and toxic waste sites are underlain by sedimentary deposits. The delineation of buried paleochannels is a prime concern during the characterization of these sites. Buried paleochannels often provide direct conduits for contamination to move rapidly in the subsurface. Historically the method used to define a discontinuous sand body was to grid the entire area of interest and start drilling closely spaced holes. The grid pattern method is expensive and potentially hazardous. Geologists in the petroleum industry have developed techniques to predict the size, shape and orientation of subsurface sedimentary deposits by defining local environments of deposition of geologic materials within regional settings. Based on the depositional history of the paleochannel deposits empirical equations have been developed which allow for the calculation of channel depths as well as channel and meander belt widths. By combining geostatistics (kriging), paleogeomorphic studies and probability techniques, a predictive model was developed which has application in both ground water investigations and in oil and gas exploration.
Radio-Transit Telescopes steerable in Azimuth

WHEN considering radio-transit telescopes, one ordinarily speaks in terms of instruments steerable in altitude. However, transit telescopes steered in azimuth have potentialities which should be evaluated. Bracewell1 and Drake2 have made suggestions for azimuth steerability. Both their designs utilize offset foci and the concept of a segmented reflecting surface.
Variability of plasma aprotinin concentrations in pediatric patients undergoing cardiac surgery

Abstract Objectives Infants and children undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for repair of congenital heart defects are at substantial risk for excessive bleeding, contributing greatly to morbidity and mortality. Aprotinin significantly reduces bleeding and transfusion requirements in adults but is of indeterminate value for pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to determine plasma aprotinin concentrations in these patients with a functional aprotinin assay. Methods Thirty patients less than 16 years of age scheduled for cardiac surgery with aprotinin were enrolled. Aprotinin was administered as a 25,000 KIU/kg bolus, 35,000 KIU/kg cardiopulmonary bypass prime, and 12,500 KIU · kg −1 · h −1 continuous infusion. Blood samples for aprotinin concentrations (kallikrein-inhibiting units/milliliter) were obtained before aprotinin; 5 minutes post-bolus; 5 minutes after cardiopulmonary bypass initiation; 30 and 60 minutes on cardiopulmonary bypass; on discontinuation of aprotinin; 1 hour after aprotinin discontinuation; and 4 hours after permanent separation from cardiopulmonary bypass. For analysis, patients were grouped according to weight ( 20 kg). Differences between weight groups were assessed using an exact test for categoric variables and 1-way analysis of variance for continuous variables. Results Aprotinin concentrations differed significantly across weight groups. Five minutes after aprotinin bolus and initiation of cardiopulmonary bypass, there was significant correlation between weight and aprotinin concentration ( r = .57, P = .003; r = .69, P = .001, respectively). Conclusion A functional assay reveals significant variability in aprotinin concentration for pediatric patients using current weight-based aprotinin dosing. Additional investigation is necessary to determine target aprotinin concentration dosing regimens to provide better efficacy.
Connecting the clouds with low-latency, low-cost virtual private lines enabled by sliceable optical networks

Cloud computing is evolving as a major priority for many enterprises. Better wide-area networks with low latency and cost are needed to interconnect geographically-distributed data centers and offices using virtual private lines (VPLs). We propose novel network architectures based on sliceable optical networks to implement future VPLs. Optimal designs of the new network architectures and the traditional packet-over-optical network architecture are proposed and compared. It is found that the new architectures can achieve the ‘lowest-possible’ latency with potentially lower cost than traditional architecture.
DUALITY AND DILATON

We review and elaborate on the issue of the dilaton transformation under the usual r → α′/r target space duality and its "non-static" generalization (or σ-model duality). It is found that the transformation law r → α′/r, which guarantees duality at the one-loop σ-model level should be modified at two (and higher) loop order. The "non-static" duality is illustrated on the example of "cosmological" solutions in D ≥ 2 with time-dependent radii of space torus.
Arsenic, Cadmium, Copper, Lead, and Selenium in Migrating Blue-Winged Teal (Anas discors L.)

The blue-winged teal (Anas discors L.), an abundant waterfowl species in North America, winters primarily in Mexico, Central America, and South America. Its transcontinental migratory behavior provides the opportunity to examine contaminant acquisition across a diverse biogeographic landscape that has varied environmental regulations and wildlife laws. We determined concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and selenium (Se) in liver samples of blue-winged teal migrating through southern Texas during autumn 1998 (n = 47) and spring 1999 (n = 46). Concentrations for As (range 0.006 to 0.22 μg/g wet weight [ww]), Cd (range 0.007 to 8.14 μg/g ww), and Pb (range 0.012 to 1.79 μg/g ww) were at background levels for birds, whereas Cu (8.1 to 227.3 μg/g ww) and Se (0.36 to 5.07 μg/g ww) were increased in several individuals. All 24 hatch-year (HY) blue-winged teal had detectable levels of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Se, and eight had detectable levels of As. A seasonal effect was found for Cd, in which the mean Cd concentration in autumn was lower (p 0.05) were found for the five elements examined. Results indicated that blue-winged teal were acquiring all five elements; that HY blue-winged teal were exposed to these elements in North America; and that increased Se concentrations in 15% of the 93-bird sample were at levels known to cause impairment in birds.
Proposal and application of the interdisciplinarity borrowing index: Determining the degrees of interdisciplinarity of ILS dissertations

This work proposes an interdisciplinary borrowing index and applies this index to the field of Information and Library Science. The study examines the interdisciplinarity of LIS dissertations, with an emphasis on evolution of the disciplinary influences on the field over time.
Integration of electro-optical mechanical systems and medicine: Where are we and where can we go?

Microfabricated chip technologies offer researchers novel types of analysis of human clinical samples. Current examples of such technology include DNA amplification and analysis,and fluorescent cell analysis by flow cytometry. Potential applications include the development of rapid techniques for examining large numbers of cells in tissue or blood. This paper will outline criteria that successful devices must satisfy.
Acute and temporary ventricular support with bioMedicus centrifugal pump

Abstract Background . Short-term ventricular and pulmonary support can be provided by the Medtronic BioMedicus (Eden Prairie, MN) centrifugal pump, which is available in most cardiovascular surgery centers. This versatile pump can provide support during cardiopulmonary resuscitation, cardiopulmonary bypass, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and ventricular assistance. A common use of the pump is to provide ventricular assistance for patients after cardiotomy or cardiogenic shock. Methods . From January 1986 to September 1995, 141 patients at The Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas were placed on the BioMedicus centrifugal pump after postcardiotomy cardiac failure. Patient treatment and postimplant complications are discussed. Results . Fifty-four percent of the patients were weaned; however, only 22% survived to discharge. There was a very high mortality rate in the early stage after support was discontinued, after weaning, and after device removal. Conclusions . A high incidence of complications and death is likely related to the period of attempted weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass before the initiation of ventricular support. When weaning a patient from the pump during cardiopulmonary bypass or during ventricular assistance, it is important to optimize preload, afterload, ventricular function, and cardiac rhythm. In patients who have had postcardiotomy support, avoiding fluid overload, low colloid oncotic pressure, hypoperfusion, and use of excessive inotropic and vasoactive medications improve results.
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) disease in the setting of transplantation.

Purpose of reviewHuman herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) frequently reactivates after solid-organ and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), and it has been associated with important outcomes in these settings. In 1–2% of recipients or donors, HHV-6 was inherited through chromosomal integration. Although HHV
Three-dimensional simulation of Ubitron/free electron laser amplifiers with an axial guide field

Abstract A fully three-dimensional nonlinear analysis and a particle simulation code have been developed to calculate the efficiency of the Ubitron/FEL interaction. The motion of the electrons in the combined presence of a helical wiggler field and an axial guide field is considered. For a monoenergetic electron beam with zero emittance, a millimeter-wave Ubitron/FEL amplifier may have an efficiency on the order of 21–47% and a bandwidth in the range of 40–50%. Electrons moving in Group II type orbits have the highest efficiency, reaching 47% for the examples considered.
“Seeded” in the Market Economy: Schooling and Social Transformations on Mount Kilimanjaro

This article examines the role of schooling in some of the remarkable social and economic transformations that are going on in sub–Saharan Africa today. It compares Chagga cultural ideas about land and livestock with the model of social development presented in the Tanzanian agricultural science syllabus. The argument–that schooling constitutes a broadening of “value” on Mount Kilimanjaro–has implications for understanding social and material differences that are created in connection with schooling.
Synthesis of ring B unsaturated estriols. Confirming the structure of a diagnostic analyte for Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome.

Brief partial syntheses are described for ring B unsaturated estriols, which are candidate metabolites diagnostic for Smith−Lemli−Opitz syndrome prenatally. These steroids are also likely metabolites of the Premarin preparation used in estrogen replacement therapy. Equilin (8) was converted in three steps to 7-dehydroestriol, which was isomerized to 8-dehydroestriol. The simplicity of the transformations belies the lability of these previously inaccessible metabolites and their synthetic precursors.
Outpatient Psychiatric Medications and Glaucoma

and anti parkinsonian drugs.3.16.17.22.23 The so-called "minor tranquilizers" (benzodiazepines, hydroxyzine etc) have not been implicated in increased lOP. A review of the revelant literature reveals little prac­ tical cause for alarm2.6,14.18.24-33 and most studies agree that even in older patients with active closed- or open­ angle glaucoma, continuation of topical glaucoma medication and occasional monitoring of symptoms and signs is sufficient ocular protection. D ,24.21-2D Never­ theless, a recent survey of psychiatrists and ophthal­ mologists 31 revealed that about 6.5 % of physicians re­ sponding (nearly all ophthamologists) had seen one or occasionally two cases of glaucoma which they felt might be an instance of adverse reaction to psychotropic medication. The most frequently implicated drug was amitriptyline, although problems were rare and the age group predisposed to treatment with amitriptyline is also the age group most susceptible to coincidental glaucoma. 2 The authors, being exposed to both the conservative medical community of the University Center and the crowded, more scientifically-isolated environment of the community mental health center, devised the fol­ lowing clinical study as part of a larger, multidepart­ mental examination of psychotropic medications and glaucoma. 35
SCHOONERS: absorption and refraction of starlight from space for atmospheric profiles

The Self-Calibrating H2O and O3 Nighttime Environmental Remote Sensor (SCHOONERS) is a compact, integrated UV-IR imaging spectrograph and imager. The instrument has a 25 cm diameter aperture and employs a two- axis gimbaled telescope to provide acquisition and tracking of the star. It also uses a two-axis high-precision vernier mirror to correct for spacecraft jitter and maintain the star within the field-of-view. The imaging spectrograph, covering a spectral range between 300 and 900 nm, measures the varying absorption of starlight as a star sets through the nighttime Earth's atmosphere to determine vertical profiles of atmospheric constituents. The relative star position measured by the co-aligned imager not only provides position feedback to the acting tracking loop of the vernier mirror, but also measures the star refraction angle for determining the atmospheric density and temperature profiles. The SCHOONERS scanning platform and its high- precision tracking mirrors provide 44 microradian azimuth pointing stability and 60 microrad altitude tracking accuracy (3(sigma) ). Its built-in image tracking and motion compensation mechanism, coupled with its small size and limited spacecraft resources required, makes it suitable for deployment on existing and future commercial spacecraft platforms as an instrument-of-opportunity after the year 2002. A laboratory facility has been developed to demonstrate the instrument performance, especially its capability to acquire and track a setting, refracting, and scintillating star, to compensate for various degrees of platform jitter, and to provide the pointing knowledge accuracy required for the determination of atmospheric density and temperature. Hardware includes an accurately moving variable intensity point source to simulate the star and motion stages to generate jitter at the instrument. Software simulates the stellar refraction, attenuation, and scintillation for a full end-to-end test of the instrument.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Linking Synoptic-scale Climate Phenomena to Lake-Level Variability in the Lake Michigan-Huron Basin

Abstract Lake-level change in the mid-latitudes is causally linked to variability in precipitation and evaporation that are dynamically linked to cyclone passages and larger-scale atmospheric variability across temporal scales. Hence, lake-level variability is both a product of and a record of synoptic-scale climate variability. Here, a daily synoptic classification for 1956–1999 is used to evaluate historical Lake Michigan-Huron water levels in the context of changes in the frequency and intensity of synoptic-scale phenomena. The results demonstrate that both within-type evolution and shifts in the relative frequency of synoptic types contributed to precipitation and evaporation anomalies through the historical period with the former reflecting the importance of the Great Lakes in determining the regional climate. Shifts in the frequency and intensity of synoptic winter types are also demonstrated to be contributing anomalous precipitation and evaporation coincident with phases of lake level associated with the 30-year quasi-periodicity. The synoptic-scale mechanisms of lake-level change over longer time scales illuminated here can be used to infer information about past climate states and improve projections of lake level from model simulations.
Effective material properties in the limit of large defect concentration

Abstract The present summary of the elastic percolation theory is intended as an illustration of a novel field of statistical physics which can be fruitfully applied in the analysis of elastic materials with a heterogeneous microstructure. A short precis of effective continua and mean field theories is provided as a rationale for the application of percolation theory. Characteristic lengths are used to define the statistical homogeneity.
Achieving urinary continence in children

Achievement of urinary continence is an important developmental step that most children attain with the assistance of their parents and caregivers. Debate continues as to the best time to toilet train; in some Asian and African cultures children are trained as infants, while training at age 2-3 years is more typical in Western cultures. Infant voiding is not merely a spinal reflex, as the sensation of bladder filling is relayed to the brain. However, the ability of the brain to inhibit bladder contractions, and to achieve coordinated bladder contraction with sphincter relaxation, matures over time. While there is a concern that later toilet training may be responsible for an increase in urinary incontinence in children, no controlled studies on early versus late toilet training exist to evaluate this hypothesis. A number of medical conditions such as spina bifida, posterior urethral valves, cerebral palsy and autism can cause incontinence and difficulties in toilet training. The decision to start toilet training a child should take into account both the parents' expectation of how independent the child will be in terms of toileting, and the child's developmental readiness, so that a realistic time course for toilet training can be implemented.
EPISODIC ACIDIFICATION OF A COASTAL PLAIN STREAM IN VIRGINIA

This study investigates the episodic acidification of Reedy Creek, a wetland-influenced coastal plain stream near Richmond, Virginia. Primary objectives of the study were to quantify the episodic variability of acid-base chemistry in Reedy Creek, to examine the seasonal variability in episodic response and to explain the hydrological and geochemical factors that contribute to episodic acidification. Chemical response was similar in each of the seven storms examined, however, the ranges in concentrations observed were commonly greater in summer/fall storms than in winter/spring storms. An increase in SO inf4 sup2− concentration with discharge was observed during all storms and peak concentration occurred at or near peak flow. Small increases in Mg2+, Ca2+, K+ concentrations and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were observed during most storms. At the same time, ANC, Na+ and Cl− concentrations usually decreased with increasing discharge. In summer/fall storms, the absolute increase in SO inf4 sup2− concentration was one-third to 15 times the increase observed in winter/spring storms; the decrease in ANC during summer/fall storms was usually within the range of the decrease observed in winter/spring storms. In contrast, the decrease in Na+ and Cl− concentrations during winter/spring storms was much greater than that observed during summer/fall storms. Data show that while base flow anion deficit was higher in summer/fall than in winter/spring, anion deficit decreased during most summer/fall storms. In contrast, base flow anion deficit was lower in spring and winter, but increased during winter/spring storms. Increased SO inf4 sup2− concentration was the main cause of episodic acidification during storms at Reedy Creek, but increased anion deficit indicates organic acids may contribute to episodic acidification during winter/spring storms. Changes in SO inf4 sup2− concentration coincident with the hydrograph rise indicate quick routing of water through the watershed. Saturation overland flow appears to be the likely mechanism by which solutes are transported to the stream during storm flow.
Biometric identification: a holistic perspective

Significant advances continue to be made in biometric technology. However, the global war on terrorism and our increasingly electronic society have created the societal need for large-scale, interoperable biometric capabilities that challenge the capabilities of current off-the-shelf technology. At the same time, there are concerns that large-scale implementation of biometrics will infringe our civil liberties and offer increased opportunities for identity theft. This paper looks beyond the basic science and engineering of biometric sensors and fundamental matching algorithms and offers approaches for achieving greater performance and acceptability of applications enabled with currently available biometric technologies. The discussion focuses on three primary biometric system aspects: performance and scalability, interoperability, and cost benefit. Significant improvements in system performance and scalability can be achieved through careful consideration of the following elements: biometric data quality, human factors, operational environment, workflow, multibiometric fusion, and integrated performance modeling. Application interoperability hinges upon some of the factors noted above as well as adherence to interface, data, and performance standards. However, there are times when the price of conforming to such standards can be decreased local system performance. The development of biometric performance-based cost benefit models can help determine realistic requirements and acceptable designs.
Detecting Differential Item Functioning of Polytomous Items for an Ideal Point Response Process

There has been growing use of ideal point models to develop scales measuring important psychological constructs. For meaningful comparisons across groups, it is important to identify items on such scales that exhibit differential item functioning (DIF). In this study, the authors examined several methods for assessing DIF on polytomous items generated by an ideal point process. Two paradigms (i.e., null hypothesis significance testing [NHST] and effect size quantification) were utilized, and three test statistics (i.e., the log-likelihood ratio [LR], the Akaike information criterion [AIC], and Lord’s chi-square) and two approaches to DIF testing (i.e., the constrained and free baseline methods) were evaluated. In addition, the authors investigated three levels of impact. The results revealed that DIF effect sizes were moderately large for the .50 uniform DIF conditions and small for nonuniform DIF; moreover, the LR test in general yielded the best results. When there was small to moderate impact, the free...
Gallbladder infarction and liver abscess formation following right hepatic artery chemoembolization for metastatic neuroendocrine tumor

A 42-year-old Iraqi woman with hypertension, peptic ulcer disease, and metastatic carcinoid disease presented to the emergency department (ED) with right upper quadrant pain and subjective fevers following chemoembolization for a neuroendocrine tumor of the liver diagnosed by biopsy in Iraq in 2000. The patient had undergone chemoembolization with polyvinyl alcohol particles 3 weeks prior to arrival. Two days following the embolization, because of concern for acute cholecystitis, the patient underwent a right upper quadrant ultrasound. The ultrasound demonstrated a small amount of sludge with no significant gallbladder wall thickening. No detectable blood flow was identified in the anterior gallbladder wall, which was concerning for gallbladder wall ischemia. Following improvement in pain and tolerating a regular diet without difficulty, she was discharged home. She returned to the ED exactly 3 weeks following her procedure. Her exam demonstrated diffuse abdominal tenderness, greatest to palpation in the right upper quadrant. Her laboratory values were unremarkable except an elevated alkaline phosphatase of 231. She underwent a repeat right upper quadrant ultrasound, which demonstrated a partially collapsed gallbladder with a fenestration in the fundus and associated fluid collection, consistent with gallbladder perforation (Fig. 1). She was taken to the interventional radiology suite and underwent the placement of a percutaneous cholecystostomy tube. Three months later, due to persistent pain in the right upper quadrant despite repeated catheter changes, a cholecystectomy was performed. Pathology showed acute and chronic cholecystitis with necrosis. The patient now reports much improvement in her symptoms. Fig. 1 Long view of gallbladder showing fenestration and pericholecystic fluid Emergency physicians should have an understanding of the possible complications of chemoembolization. The most common complication is postembolization syndrome, which occurs in up to 90% of patients. Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and fever are characteristic. Fever should typically be low grade and last 1 week [1]. Gallbladder infarction is rare and reported at 1.1% [2]. Though guided by the patient’s history, an emergency physician should have a low threshold for ancillary radiographic imaging to rule out possible complications, some of which may be fatal if missed.
Chemotherapy of Fish Diseases: a Review

Fish suffer from environmental, nutritional, viral, bacterial, parasitic, and neoplastic diseases, many of which are similar to those of higher animals. The prevention and treatment of these diseases follow the same principles as diseases of other animals. Fish culture is similar to poultry husbandry in that large numbers of animals are crowded into relatively small areas, feeding is free choice, and medication for systemic infections is usually oral. External treatment of fishes is more common than of poultry, due to a higher frequency of external diseases. Many of the drugs and chemicals used in chemotherapy of fishes are the same as for higher animals. The following is a brief review of the more important drugs and their methods of administration.
Microswitches and a speech-generating device seem to increase the communicative engagement of students with profound, multiple disabilities1

1. Can participants be taught to communicate using a speech-generating device and microswitches simultaneously? 1 Abstracted from: Lancioni, G. E., O’Reilly, M. F., Singh, N. N., Sigafoos, J., Oliv...
How to Assess and Customize Service Value for IT Cloud Services Clients

This article describes our novel methodology to ascertain the IT Cloud customer's perceived service value in terms of non-functional requirements and our experience applying this methodology to clients using a Virtual Desktop Service running on an IT Cloud.
Compositional Analysis of Microwave Chemically Treated Biomass Samples

The compositional analysis of slurries generated from the microwave-assisted pretreatment of switchgrass, prairie cordgrass, and distillers dried grains with solubles were investigated. The biomass samples were treated under acidic, alkali or neutral conditions at 1200 W and 200°C for 10 min. The supernatants were analyzed for sugars, whereas the compositional analysis of the remaining solid fractions was performed using an integrated scheme based on the Standard Laboratory Analytical Procedures for raw biomass developed at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. The experimental results show that little to no arabinose was found in these treated substrates. Substrates treated under alkaline conditions resulted in the highest carbohydrate content with the lowest lignin amount, whereas acidic pretreatments with 0.5 % H2SO4 resulted in hemicellulose-free biomass. A minute amount of hemicellulose was still present in prairie cordgrass and switchgrass after treatment with 0.2 % H2SO4 and this amount increased for pretreatments with H2O and 0.3 % H2O2. Pretreatments under alkaline conditions with 1 % NaOH were the least aggressive treatments methods because they retained the most carbohydrates in the biomass pulp while having the lowest lignin amount.
Protein bodies in Bryopsis hypnoides: their relationship to wound-healing and branch septum development.

The development of a proteinaceous substance involved in both wound-healing and the formation of basal septa in a siphonous green alga is described. The protein accumulates within swollen cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum. In the later stages of development the protein is cleaved by numerous complex fracture planes. The mature protein bodies pass into the large central vacuolar system where they lose their limiting membrane. The naked protein body is then broken down, first into rodlike structures, then into a granular-fibrillar substance. It is chiefly in this latter form that the protein participates in the formation of wound walls and basal septa of branches.
Further studies of rat ovarian 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase

Abstract Rat Ovarian 20α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase has been purified 25 fold by fractional ammonium sulfate precipitation and DEAE-cellulose chromatography. The pH optimum for reduction of the 20-ketone is between pH 5.6 and 6, the optimum for oxidation of the 20α-hydroxyl between pH 8 and 9. Kinetic constants for a number of steroid substrates were measured. Steroids with a 5β-pregnane nucleus are good substrates while those with a 5β-pregnane nucleus react less well. It was concluded that a planar α-face of the steroid ring is not necessary for reactivity. 20β-Hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one, 17β-hydroxy-androst-4-en-3-one and 21-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one are competitive inhibitors of 20α-hydroxysteroid oxidation.
Modeling the influence of river rehabilitation scenarios on bed material sediment flux in a large river over decadal timescales

[1] A stochastic flood generator and calibrated sediment transport formulae were used to assess the decadal impact of major river rehabilitation strategies on two fraction bed material sediment flux and net storage, first-order indicators of aquatic riverine habitat, in a large river system. Model boundary conditions were modified to reflect the implementation of three major river rehabilitation strategies being considered in the Sacramento River Valley: gravel augmentation, setting back of levees, and flow alteration. Fifty 30-year model simulations were used to compute probabilities of the response in sediment flux and net storage to these strategies. Total annual average bed material sediment flux estimates were made at six gauged river cross sections, and ∼60 km reach-scale sediment budgets were evaluated between them. Gravel augmentation to improve spawning habitat induced gravel accumulation locally and/or downstream, depending on the added mixture. Levee setbacks to recreate the river corridor reduced flow stages for most flows and hence lowered sediment flux. Flow alteration to mimic natural flow regimes systematically decreased total annual average flux, suggesting that high-magnitude low-frequency transport events do not affect long-term trends in bed material flux. The results indicate that each rehabilitation strategy reduces sediment transport in its target reaches and modulates imbalances in total annual bed material sediment budgets at the reach scale. Additional risk analysis is necessary to identify extreme conditions associated with variable hydrology that could affect rehabilitation over decades. Sensitivity analysis suggests that sorting of bed material sediment is the most important determinant of modeled transport and storage patterns.
New directions for diffusion-based network prediction of protein function: incorporating pathways with confidence.

Motivation: It has long been hypothesized that incorporating models of network noise as well as edge directions and known pathway information into the representation of protein–protein interaction (PPI) networks might improve their utility for functional inference. However, a simple way to do this has not been obvious. We find that diffusion state distance (DSD), our recent diffusion-based metric for measuring dissimilarity in PPI networks, has natural extensions that incorporate confidence, directions and can even express coherent pathways by calculating DSD on an augmented graph. Results: We define three incremental versions of DSD which we term cDSD, caDSD and capDSD, where the capDSD matrix incorporates confidence, known directed edges, and pathways into the measure of how similar each pair of nodes is according to the structure of the PPI network. We test four popular function prediction methods (majority vote, weighted majority vote, multi-way cut and functional flow) using these different matrices on the Baker’s yeast PPI network in cross-validation. The best performing method is weighted majority vote using capDSD. We then test the performance of our augmented DSD methods on an integrated heterogeneous set of protein association edges from the STRING database. The superior performance of capDSD in this context confirms that treating the pathways as probabilistic units is more powerful than simply incorporating pathway edges independently into the network. Availability: All source code for calculating the confidences, for extracting pathway information from KEGG XML files, and for calculating the cDSD, caDSD and capDSD matrices are available from http://dsd.cs.tufts.edu/capdsd Contact: ude.stfut@newoc.eronel or ude.stfut@ttocseh.nimajneb Supplementary information: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Perturbation-based Fault Screening

Fault screeners are a new breed of fault identification technique that can probabilistically detect if a transient fault has affected the state of a processor. We demonstrate that fault screeners function because of two key characteristics. First, we show that much of the intermediate data generated by a program inherently falls within certain consistent bounds. Second, we observe that these bounds are often violated by the introduction of a fault. Thus, fault screeners can identify faults by directly watching for any data inconsistencies arising in an application's behavior. We present an idealized algorithm capable of identifying over 85% of injected faults on the SpecInt suite and over 75% overall. Further, in a realistic implementation on a simulated Pentium-III-like processor, about half of the errors due to injected faults are identified while still in speculative state. Errors detected this early can be eliminated by a pipeline flush. In this paper, we present several hardware-based versions of this screening algorithm and show that flushing the pipeline every time the hardware screener triggers reduces overall performance by less than 1%
Airway basal stem cells: a perspective on their roles in epithelial homeostasis and remodeling

The small airways of the human lung undergo pathological changes in pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, bronchiolitis obliterans and cystic fibrosis. These clinical problems impose huge personal and societal healthcare burdens. The changes, termed ‘pathological airway remodeling’, affect the epithelium, the underlying mesenchyme and the reciprocal trophic interactions that occur between these tissues. Most of the normal human airway is lined by a pseudostratified epithelium of ciliated cells, secretory cells and 6–30% basal cells, the proportion of which varies along the proximal-distal axis. Epithelial abnormalities range from hypoplasia (failure to differentiate) to basal- and goblet-cell hyperplasia, squamous- and goblet-cell metaplasia, dysplasia and malignant transformation. Mesenchymal alterations include thickening of the basal lamina, smooth muscle hyperplasia, fibrosis and inflammatory cell accumulation. Paradoxically, given the prevalence and importance of airway remodeling in lung disease, its etiology is poorly understood. This is due, in part, to a lack of basic knowledge of the mechanisms that regulate the differentiation, maintenance and repair of the airway epithelium. Specifically, little is known about the proliferation and differentiation of basal cells, a multipotent stem cell population of the pseudostratified airway epithelium. This Perspective summarizes what we know, and what we need to know, about airway basal cells to evaluate their contributions to normal and abnormal airway remodeling. We contend that exploiting well-described model systems using both human airway epithelial cells and the pseudostratified epithelium of the genetically tractable mouse trachea will enable crucial discoveries regarding the pathogenesis of airway disease.
Diseases resulting from suboptimal immune function in offspring: is cesarean delivery itself really to blame?

First, with regard to the review itself, it concerns us that the literature search did not appear to be conducted in a systematic fashion. That is, the authors did not identify the number of potential articles that were identified in their search nor did they provide the criteria that were used for inclusion in the review. Indeed, when we sought to replicate their search, we found hundreds of articles that potentially were related to the topic at hand. The authors reviewed only a small fraction. Second, the authors suggest that the validity of the fetal or early origins of adult disease hypothesis is well-established, when in fact that is not the case. Epidemiologists and others have been critical of the hypothesis, arguing that one must ensure that all potential confounders that might influence the eventual health outcomes are measured and appropriately controlled for in the analysis. 3-6 For example, to establish a clear and valid association between gestational diabetes mellitusandsubsequentobesityintheoffspring,onewouldneedto measure all of the factors that might be related to both gestationaldiabetesmellitus(eg,familydietaryhabits,exercisehabits, and income) and childhood obesity. Further, others have argued that many of the fetal origins‐type associations in fact could be statistical artifacts. 7 Consider the causal diagram in the Figure. Cho and Normanarguethattherelationbetweencesareanbirthandchild and adult disease could be a direct effect; we suggest that thereisanotherimportantpathwaytoconsider.Specifically, that is that cesarean delivery is a contributor to preterm delivery, which can result in altered immune function and eventual disease. The literature supports this alternative pathway.InvestigatorsfromtheCentersforDiseaseControl and March of Dimes conducted an analysis that suggested that the increased rate of preterm births that has been recently noted occurred among those women who delivered by cesarean section, particularly in the late preterm period. 8 Moreover, there is an abundance of literature that suggests an association between preterm birth and altered immune
Three-Dimensional Finite Element Formulations for Laminated Plates

Aiming at satisfying the need for modeling the effects of transverse shear and transverse normal stress in thin and thick laminated plates, a family of three quadrilat eral displacement finite elements are formulated. The family includes: a 16 node, 40 de gree-of-freedom; a 16 node, 48 degree-of-freedom, and a 24 node, 64 degree-of-freedom quadrilateral element for modeling each layer of the laminate. To evaluate the formulation and applicability the present elements are used to model a range of example problems of thin and thick laminated plates in bending and stretching, and the results are compared with alternative solutions. Examples show that these three types of finite elements are capable of modeling, to various degrees, the effects of, such as, transverse shear and trans verse normal stresses. The elements are also capable of predicting interlaminar stresses which could cause delamination.
Changing the rules: transformations for rule-based optimizers

Rule-based optimizers are extensible because they consist of modifiable sets of rules. For modification to be straightforward, rules must be easily reasoned about (i.e., understood and verified). At the same time, rules must be expressive and efficient (to fire) for rule-based optimizers to be practical. Production-style rules (as in [15]) are expressed with code and are hard to reason about. Pure rewrite rules (as in [1]) lack code, but cannot atomically express complex transformations (e.g., normalizations). Some systems allow rules to be grouped, but sacrifice efficiency by providing limited control over their firing. Therefore, none of these approaches succeeds in making rules expressive, efficient and understandable.We propose a language (COKO) for expressing an alternative form of input to a rule-based optimizer. A COKO transformation consists of a set of declarative (KOLA) rewrite rules and a (firing) algorithm that specifies their firing. It is straightforward to reason about COKO transformations because all query modification is expressed with declarative rewrite rules. Firing is specified algorithmically with an expressive language that provides direct control over how query representations are traversed, and under what conditions rules are fired. Therefore, COKO achieves a delicate balance of understandability, efficiency and expressivity.
Analysis of loss of heterozygosity in atypical and negative bile duct brushing cytology specimens with malignant outcome: are "false-negative" cytologic findings a representation of morphologically subtle molecular alterations?

Abstract Context.—Conventional cytologic evaluation of bile duct brushings for neoplasia has high specificity but relatively low sensitivity. Objective.—The aim of this pilot study was to examine whether K-ras mutations and loss of heterozygosity for multiple microsatellite markers in bile duct brushings would contribute to the detection of malignancy in cases initially reported as “negative” or “atypical.” Design.—Bile duct brushing specimens with a negative or an atypical cytologic result (9 cases) had a benign result on the surgical pathology specimen, and 9 additional negative or atypical cases demonstrated adenocarcinoma on the resected surgical specimen. Cells from representative cytopathology and histology slides were microdissected and analyzed for K-ras mutations and for loss of heterozygosity with a panel of 15 polymorphic markers on chromosomes 1p, 3p, 5q, 9p, 9q, 10q, 17p, and 22q. Results.—Among cytology cases with malignant outcome, loss of heterozygosity or K-ras mutation was detected in 8 ...
The Hemolytic Anemia of the Graft-Versus-Host Reaction in the Chick, Before and After Hatching

Abstract THE hemolytic anemia associated with the Graft-versus-Host reaction (GVHR) in the chick is well-known. It was extensively studied by Simonsen (1957) who showed that in nearly all cases the chick red cells gave a strongly positive direct Coombs test when the anemia was rapidly progressive. He felt that this anemia was what killed the chick, usually in the first or second week after hatching. He assumed that the immunologically competent graft cells were reacting against the antigens of the host erythrocytes causing the anemia and direct Coombs test. During studies of the GVHR in the chick embryo, it became apparent that this sequence of events does not occur in the embryo dying of GVHR before hatching. A comparison of findings, before and after hatching, is the subject of this report. MATERIALS AND METHODS The GVHR was produced in a total of 230 random, non-inbred White Leghorn embryos by injection of…
In vitro measurement of speed of sound during coagulate tissue heating

In a tissue being coagulated, speed of sound, temperature and tissue thermal damage are related. Such a relationship, however, has not been reported in the literature. The authors used a revised time of flight method to measure in vitro speed of sound in tissues being coagulated. The authors discuss their experimental results in light of other existing time of flight methods. The authors conclude that it is technically difficult to measure precisely and repeatedly speed of sound in a tissue being coagulated.
Theories of Neural Networks Leading to Unsupervised Learning

In this paper, we derive an exact single-pixel BSS solution for two components. Furthermore, we prove the solution for n components to be unique and stable by means of the augmented Lagrange or Karush, Kuhn and Tucker methodology [S 07]. Our constant-temperature free energy can estimate the neuronal population of brain's grey matter which is responsible for the consciousness activities identified by Crick & Koch as the Claustrum accomplishing binding among firing rates (similar to C-node tuning in the beginning of an orchestra performance). Furthermore, the retinal neuronal response Mexican hat functions could be explained by finite resource sharing for replenishment.
The Effects of Check, Connect, and Expect on Behavioral and Academic Growth

Check, Connect, and Expect (CCE) is a secondary tier behavioral intervention that provides students with levels of support including a dedicated “coach” for check-in and check-out procedures, and s...
204 Years of near Infrared Technology: 1800–2003:

Near infrared spectroscopy has come of age. Today, it takes its place along side other major analytical technologies. Though it has inherent problems, its advantages make it an appealing tool for s...
Scalable social sensing of interdependent phenomena

The proliferation of mobile sensing and communication devices in the possession of the average individual generated much recent interest in social sensing applications. Significant advances were made on the problem of uncovering ground truth from observations made by participants of unknown reliability. The problem, also called fact-finding commonly arises in applications where unvetted individuals may opt in to report phenomena of interest. For example, reliability of individuals might be unknown when they can join a participatory sensing campaign simply by downloading a smartphone app. This paper extends past social sensing literature by offering a scalable approach for exploiting dependencies between observed variables to increase fact-finding accuracy. Prior work assumed that reported facts are independent, or incurred exponential complexity when dependencies were present. In contrast, this paper presents the first scalable approach for accommodating dependency graphs between observed states. The approach is tested using real-life data collected in the aftermath of hurricane Sandy on availability of gas, food, and medical supplies, as well as extensive simulations. Evaluation shows that combining expected correlation graphs (of outages) with reported observations of unknown reliability, results in a much more reliable reconstruction of ground truth from the noisy social sensing data. We also show that correlation graphs can help test hypotheses regarding underlying causes, when different hypotheses are associated with different correlation patterns. For example, an observed outage profile can be attributed to a supplier outage or to excessive local demand. The two differ in expected correlations in observed outages, enabling joint identification of both the actual outages and their underlying causes.