cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Capturing and analyzing the execution control flow of OpenMP applications

An important aspect of understanding the behavior of applications with respect to their performance, overhead, and scalability characteristics is knowledge of their execution control flow. High level knowledge of which functions or constructs were executed after which other constructs allows reasoning about temporal application characteristics such as cache reuse. This paper describes an approach to capture and visualize the execution control flow of OpenMP applications in a compact way. Our approach does not require a full trace of program execution events but is instead based on a straightforward extension to the summary data already collected by an existing profiling tool. In multithreaded applications each thread may define its own independent flow of control, complicating both the recording as well as the visualization of the execution dynamics. Our approach allows for the full flexibility with respect to independent threads. However, the most common usage models of OpenMP have threads operate in a largely uniform way, synchronizing frequently at sequence points and diverging only to operate on different data items in worksharing constructs. Our approach accounts for this by offering a simplified representation of the execution control flow for threads with similar behavior.
Experiential avoidance as a moderator of the relationship between behavioral inhibition system sensitivity and posttraumatic stress symptoms

Preliminary evidence suggests that high emotional reactivity, in conjunction with maladaptive self-regulatory processes, increases one's vulnerability to develop psychopathology. In the present study, associations between behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral activation system (BAS) sensitivity, experiential avoidance (EA) and trauma-related outcomes (i.e., posttraumatic stress symptoms [PTSS]) were examined in a sample (N=851) of female college students who had experienced at least one traumatic event. Positive associations were observed between BIS sensitivity, EA, and PTSS. In addition, EA moderated the relationship between BIS sensitivity and PTSS, with participants high in BIS sensitivity and high in EA reporting significantly more PTSS than participants high in BIS sensitivity and low in EA. No association was observed between BIS sensitivity and PTSS for participants low in EA. These findings suggest that an unwillingness to experience unwanted private events, in conjunction with increased BIS sensitivity, contributes to PTSS severity. Further, there was a positive association and a negative association found between PTSS and BAS-Drive and BAS-Reward Responsiveness, respectively. A marginally significant EA×BAS-Fun Seeking interaction was also observed. Present findings suggests the importance of pursuing an etiological model of posttraumatic stress disorder in which neurobiological factors (i.e., BIS/BAS sensitivity) and self-regulatory processes (i.e., EA) interact to produce psychopathology.
Creating psychological and legal contracts through human resource practices: A signaling theory perspective

Abstract Despite the surge in research on the psychological contract over the past two decades, there has been little integrative research that has examined psychological contracts in conjunction with legal contracts. We address this shortcoming by presenting a framework for understanding the differences between psychological contracts and legal contracts in the United States. This is done by presenting definitions and examples of psychological contracts (i.e., relational and transactional) and the two forms of legal contracts: (a) express (written and oral), and (b) implied (quasi-contract and promissory estoppel). In addition, by utilizing signaling theory [Rynes, S.L. (1991). Recruitment, job choice, and post-hire consequences: A call for new research directions. In M. D. Dunnette & L. M. Hough (Eds.), Handbook of industrial and organizational psychology, (pp. 399–444). Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.], we describe the means by which human resource practices such as recruitment, training, performance appraisal, compensation, and employee handbooks can create psychological and legal contracts. We conclude by proposing directions for future research and implications for practicing managers.
Interpretation of reflection and transmission spectra for thin films: transmission

The optical behavior of a thin film, that is, peak positions and intensities, is discussed for transmission under a thin-film approximation. The infrared transmission spectra of thin films, both standing films and those on dielectric substrates, are simulated for s and p polarization at various angles of incidence. For spectral simulation, the matrix method is used in conjunction with noise-free complex refractive indices based on the dispersion theory. The peak positions in the simulated spectra are compared with transverse optic and longitudinal optic frequencies based on the macroscopic theory. The simulated peak intensities for the standing films are compared with the prediction based on the thin-film approximation. Furthermore, it is found from the spectral simulation for thin films on dielectric substrates that the peak intensity for a thin film may depend on the thickness and refractive index of the substrate.
Reliability Analysis of Logic Circuits

Reliability of logic circuits is emerging as an important concern in scaled electronic technologies. Reliability analysis of logic circuits is computationally complex because of the exponential number of inputs, combinations, and correlations in gate failures. This paper presents three accurate and scalable algorithms for reliability analysis of logic circuits. The first algorithm, called observability-based reliability analysis, provides a closed-form expression for reliability and is accurate when single gate failures are dominant in a logic circuit. The second algorithm, called single-pass reliability analysis, computes reliability in a single topological walk through the logic circuit. It computes the exact reliability for circuits without reconvergent fan-out, even in the presence of multiple gate failures. The algorithm can also handle circuits with reconvergent fan-out with high accuracy using correlation coefficients as described in this paper. The third algorithm, called maximum- k gate failure reliability analysis, allows a constraint on the maximum number (k) of gates that can fail simultaneously in a logic circuit. Simulation results for several benchmark circuits demonstrate the accuracy, performance, and potential applications of the proposed algorithms.
Exact and approximate analysis of ATM cell loss correlation

Cell loss behavior is analyzed for an ATM switch with homogeneous Markov sources. While prior work in this regard has focused mainly on measures such as the steady-state loss probability and conditional loss probability, we consider a more refined measure, namely the probability distribution of a cell loss period. Evaluation is based on a discrete-time, finite-state Markov process where cell arrivals at each input port are represented by an (M+1)-state source model (M ON states and one OFF state). Although we are able to formulate the loss period distribution exactly, for switches with realistic dimensions, the associated computational cost is high. As an alternative, we find that the loss period distribution is essentially insensitive to the buffer capacity K and, more importantly, its companion tail distribution can be accurately approximated by a relatively simple expression. As evidenced by numerical results, the errors of approximation are small and indeed, in many instances, the results obtained are effectively the same as those of an exact analysis.
Top-down influences on visual attention during listening are modulated by observer sex.

In conversation, women have a small advantage in decoding non-verbal communication compared to men. In light of these findings, we sought to determine whether sex differences also existed in visual attention during a related listening task, and if so, if the differences existed among attention to high-level aspects of the scene or to conspicuous visual features. Using eye-tracking and computational techniques, we present direct evidence that men and women orient attention differently during conversational listening. We tracked the eyes of 15 men and 19 women who watched and listened to 84 clips featuring 12 different speakers in various outdoor settings. At the fixation following each saccadic eye movement, we analyzed the type of object that was fixated. Men gazed more often at the mouth and women at the eyes of the speaker. Women more often exhibited "distracted" saccades directed away from the speaker and towards a background scene element. Examining the multi-scale center-surround variation in low-level visual features (static: color, intensity, orientation, and dynamic: motion energy), we found that men consistently selected regions which expressed more variation in dynamic features, which can be attributed to a male preference for motion and a female preference for areas that may contain nonverbal information about the speaker. In sum, significant differences were observed, which we speculate arise from different integration strategies of visual cues in selecting the final target of attention. Our findings have implications for studies of sex in nonverbal communication, as well as for more predictive models of visual attention. Language: en
Fragile Frontiers: The Diminishing Domains of Qajar Iran

Long before the French Revolution, an anonymous geographer of the 10th century had already imagined the “boundaries of the world”—(ḥudūd al-ʿālam)—as comprising distinct regions. According to this unknown figure, each territory varied from another “First, by the difference of water, air, soil, and temperature (garma-va-sarma). Secondly, by the difference of religion, law (sharīʿat) and beliefs (kīsh). Thirdly, by the difference of words (lughāt) and languages. Fourthly, by the difference of kingdoms (padshāʾī-hā).” These criteria, as well as natural barriers—mountains, rivers, deserts—allowed the author of this work to divide the world into tracts much like nation-states today.
Sentence comprehension in autism: thinking in pictures with decreased functional connectivity

Comprehending high-imagery sentences like The number eight when rotated 90 degrees looks like a pair of eyeglasses involves the participation and integration of several cortical regions. The linguistic content must be processed to determine what is to be mentally imaged, and then the mental image must be evaluated and related to the sentence. A theory of cortical underconnectivity in autism predicts that the interregional collaboration required between linguistic and imaginal processing in this task would be underserved in autism. This functional MRI study examined brain activation in 12 participants with autism and 13 age- and IQ-matched control participants while they processed sentences with either high- or low-imagery content. The analysis of functional connectivity among cortical regions showed that the language and spatial centres in the participants with autism were not as well synchronized as in controls. In addition to the functional connectivity differences, there was also a group difference in activation. In the processing of low-imagery sentences (e.g. Addition, subtraction and multiplication are all math skills), the use of imagery is not essential to comprehension. Nevertheless, the autism group activated parietal and occipital brain regions associated with imagery for comprehending both the low and high-imagery sentences, suggesting that they were using mental imagery in both conditions. In contrast, the control group showed imagery-related activation primarily in the high-imagery condition. The findings provide further evidence of underintegration of language and imagery in autism (and hence expand the understanding of underconnectivity) but also show that people with autism are more reliant on visualization to support language comprehension.
Finite element analysis of drawing of multifilamentary wires

Co-deformation and possible fracture during the drawing of internal tin multifilamentary superconductor wires was investigated by FEM simulation. A thermomechanical, elasto-plastic finite-element method was applied to simulate the drawing process. The experimental conditions and materials of interest to composite superconductor manufacture were assumed. In this 3D FEM model, the billet configuration was 6 around 1, with the subelement simulated as an assembly of Cu-clad Nb filaments array enclosing a pure Sn core. The outer sleeve was Cu. The initial state of the billet was assumed to be one without subelement-to-subelement bonding. A simple ductile fracture criterion was employed in this investigation to estimate the possible occurrence of fracture with different area reductions.
Interorganizational Ties and Business Group Boundaries: Evidence from an Emerging Economy

We identify which types of ties best distinguish pairs of Chilean firms in the same business group from pairs of Chilean firms that are not group brethren. Overlap in owners, indirect equity holdings, and director interlocks are especially strong delineators of group boundaries. Family connections and direct equity holdings do not do as good a job of distinguishing group boundaries. These findings challenge the longstanding conventional wisdom among field-based scholars that family bonds are the defining feature of business groups in emerging markets. We speculate that family bonds are so durable that, over time, they come to pervade the entirety of an economy and lose their ability to distinguish business groups from the overall network of social and economic ties. Our techniques to identify business groups may apply to research on other types of groupsinterpersonal and interorganizationalin which ties among actors are multiplex, ties are only partly observed, and group definitions are socially constructed.
Estimating tropical cyclone precipitation risk in Texas

[1] This paper uses a new rainfall algorithm to simulate the long-term tropical cyclone precipitation (TCP) climatology in Texas based on synthetic tropical cyclones generated from National Center for Atmospheric Research/National Centers for Environmental Prediction reanalysis data from 1980 to 2010. The synthetic TCP climatology shows good agreement with the available observations with respect to TCP return periods, especially for daily and event TCP. Areas within 200 km of the coast have higher TCP risk with two hot spots located near Houston and Corpus Christi. Based on this technique, there are locations in Texas where a TCP event > 1000 mm has a return period of 500 years and a TCP event > 1400 mm has a return period of 1000 years. There is a high degree of spatial heterogeneity in TCP risk in central Texas due to the topography.
Multivariate Tensor-based Morphometry on Surfaces: Application to Mapping Ventricular Abnormalities in HIV/AIDS

Here we developed a new method, called multivariate tensor-based surface morphometry (TBM), and applied it to study lateral ventricular surface differences associated with HIV/AIDS. Using concepts from differential geometry and the theory of differential forms, we created mathematical structures known as holomorphic one-forms, to obtain an efficient and accurate conformal parameterization of the lateral ventricular surfaces in the brain. The new meshing approach also provides a natural way to register anatomical surfaces across subjects, and improves on prior methods as it handles surfaces that branch and join at complex 3D junctions. To analyze anatomical differences, we computed new statistics from the Riemannian surface metrics-these retain multivariate information on local surface geometry. We applied this framework to analyze lateral ventricular surface morphometry in 3D MRI data from 11 subjects with HIV/AIDS and 8 healthy controls. Our method detected a 3D profile of surface abnormalities even in this small sample. Multivariate statistics on the local tensors gave better effect sizes for detecting group differences, relative to other TBM-based methods including analysis of the Jacobian determinant, the largest and smallest eigenvalues of the surface metric, and the pair of eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix. The resulting analysis pipeline may improve the power of surface-based morphometry studies of the brain.
Cutaneous necrosis resulting from protein S deficiency and increased antiphospholipid antibody in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

A 23-year-old woman with widespread cutaneous necrosis resulting from protein S deficiency and increased antiphospholipid antibody in the setting of systemic lupus erythematosus is described. Our report illustrates the complex nature of evaluation of skin lesions in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus.
Enhanced Archaerhodopsin Fluorescent Protein Voltage Indicators

A longstanding goal in neuroscience has been to develop techniques for imaging the voltage dynamics of genetically defined subsets of neurons. Optical sensors of transmembrane voltage would enhance studies of neural activity in contexts ranging from individual neurons cultured in vitro to neuronal populations in awake-behaving animals. Recent progress has identified Archaerhodopsin (Arch) based sensors as a promising, genetically encoded class of fluorescent voltage indicators that can report single action potentials. Wild-type Arch exhibits sub-millisecond fluorescence responses to trans-membrane voltage, but its light-activated proton pump also responds to the imaging illumination. An Arch mutant (Arch-D95N) exhibits no photocurrent, but has a slower, ~40 ms response to voltage transients. Here we present Arch-derived voltage sensors with trafficking signals that enhance their localization to the neural membrane. We also describe Arch mutant sensors (Arch-EEN and -EEQ) that exhibit faster kinetics and greater fluorescence dynamic range than Arch-D95N, and no photocurrent at the illumination intensities normally used for imaging. We benchmarked these voltage sensors regarding their spike detection fidelity by using a signal detection theoretic framework that takes into account the experimentally measured photon shot noise and optical waveforms for single action potentials. This analysis revealed that by combining the sequence mutations and enhanced trafficking sequences, the new sensors improved the fidelity of spike detection by nearly three-fold in comparison to Arch-D95N.
Increased fibronectin expression in lung in the setting of chronic alcohol abuse.

Rationale: The incidence and severity of the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is increased in individuals who abuse alcohol. One possible mechanism by which alcohol increases susceptibility to acute lung injury is through alterations in alveolar macrophage function and induction of tissue remodeling activity. Our objective was to determine whether alcohol abuse, independent of other comorbidities, alters fibronectin and metalloproteinase gene expression in alveolar macrophages and in epithelial lining fluid (ELF) of the lung. Methods: Otherwise healthy subjects with alcohol abuse (n=21) and smoking-matched controls (n=17) underwent bronchoalveolar lavage. Alveolar macrophage fibronectin and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) mRNA expression were measured via reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The supernatant from cultured alveolar macrophages and lung ELF were tested for their ability to induce fibronectin and MMP-9 gene transcription in cell-based assays. Results: Alveolar macrophages from subjects with alcohol abuse demonstrated increased fibronectin mRNA expression (p<0.001), and their ELF also elicited more fibronectin gene transcription in lung fibroblasts compared with controls (p<0.001). In contrast, alveolar macrophages from subjects with alcohol abuse had decreased MMP-9 and MMP-2 mRNA expression (p<0.03 and p<0.005, respectively). Similarly, the supernatant (p<0.001) and ELF (p<0.01) from these subjects induced less MMP-9 gene transcription in THP-1 cells. Discussion: Alcohol abuse is associated with increased fibronectin mRNA expression in alveolar macrophages and increased fibronectin-inducing activity in the ELF. This appears to be a specific effect as other tissue remodeling genes, such as MMPs, were not equally affected. These findings suggest activation of tissue remodeling that may contribute to the increased susceptibility for the ARDS observed in alcoholism.
Transepithelial movement of calcium in crustaceans

The regulation of calcium in most crustaceans is especially challenging owing to the highly mineralized cuticle that must be recalcified after each moult, a process that often occurs in environments with low concentrations of calcium. The gill and carapace epithelia separate the major calcium-containing compartments of the body and therefore see large changes in the rate of calcium flux through the moult cycle. Large changes in the ultrastructure of these cells do not, however, correlate well with the periods of calcium movement and probably reflect other physiological events. Despite the challenges to regulating calcium levels at various acclimation salinities and moult stages, the calcium concentration in the blood is maintained relatively constant. There is a rapid increase to a high rate of calcium flux across both the gill and carapace epithelium shortly after the moult; on an area-specific basis these fluxes are among the highest reported for calcium-transporting epithelia. When in water with a very low concentration of calcium, the electrochemical gradient for calcium is directed outwards and net influx must occur by active transport. Evidence suggests that changes in the electrochemical gradient, permeability and active transport are all important in the ability of crustaceans to take up calcium from water with a low concentration of this ion. Although an enzyme transporter is presumably involved in the active transport of calcium across epithelia, very little is known about the cellular mechanism of the transepithelial movement of calcium in crustaceans.
Screening for Binge Eating Disorders Using the Patient Health Questionnaire in a Community Sample

Objective—To examine the operating characteristics of the Patient Health Questionnaire eating disorder module (PHQ-ED) for identifying bulimia nervosa/binge eating disorder (BN/BED) or recurrent binge eating (RBE) in a community sample, and to compare true positive (TP) versus false positive (FP) cases on clinical validators. Method—259 screen positive individuals and a random sample of 89 screen negative cases completed a diagnostic interview. Sensitivity, specificity, and Positive Predictive Value (PPV) were calculated. TP and FP cases were compared using t-tests and Chi-Square tests. Results—The PHQ-ED had high sensitivity (100%) and specificity (92%) for detecting BN/BED or RBE, but PPV was low (15% or 19%). TP and FP cases did not differ significantly on frequency of subjective bulimic episodes, objective overeating, restraint, on BMI, and on selfrated health. Conclusions—The PHQ-ED is recommended for use in large populations only in conjunction with follow-up questions to rule out cases without objective bulimic episodes.
Analysis of wave propagation effects on microwave field-effect transistors

The effects of electromagnetic wave propagation on FET electrodes are investigated by analyzing two devices: the conventional MESFET and the INGFET (inverted-gate FET) which is designed to exploit the wave propagation effects. The wave effects are analyzed using a CAD (computer-aided design) model which accounts for the semiconductor characteristics and the nonstationary electron dynamics, the electromagnetic characteristics, and the parasitic elements of the device. The importance of including the wave propagation effects in the device analysis is clearly shown in the results. It is shown that the amplification factor of the gainful mode of the INGFET is larger than that of the MESFET for higher frequencies and wider devices. Also, the INGFET exhibits higher gain when operated in the TWT mode and when terminated with 50- Omega loads. >
Bounds for the Spectral Mean Value of Central Values of L-functions

We give a new proof of the known subconvexity bound of spectral mean values of some GL(2) L-functions at s=12 coming from the Rankin–Selberg L-functions of a GL(3) Eisenstein series and a GL(2) or Γ0(q) Maass form, as well as a new result in the twisted case. This is inspired by X. Liʼs result on the bounds for GL(3)×GL(2) L-functions of Hecke–Maass forms.
Impacts of agricultural land use on biological integrity: A causal analysis

Agricultural land use has often been linked to nutrient enrichment, habitat degradation, hydrologic alteration, and loss of biotic integrity in streams. The U.S. Geological Survey's National Water Quality Assessment Program sampled 226 stream sites located in eight agriculture-dominated study units across the United States to investigate the geographic variability and causes of agricultural impacts on stream biotic integrity. In this analysis we used structural equation modeling (SEM) to develop a national and set of regional causal models linking agricultural land use to measured instream conditions. We then examined the direct, indirect, and total effects of agriculture on biotic integrity as it acted through multiple water quality and habitat pathways. In our nation-wide model, cropland affected benthic communities by both altering structural habitats and by imposing water quality-related stresses. Region-specific modeling demonstrated that geographic context altered the relative importance of causal p...
AAV Vectors Containing rDNA Homology Display Increased Chromosomal Integration and Transgene Persistence

Although recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors are promising tools for gene therapy of genetic disorders, they remain mostly episomal and hence are lost during cell replication. For this reason, rAAV vectors capable of chromosomal integration would be desirable. Ribosomal DNA (rDNA) repeat sequences are overrepresented during random integration of rAAV. We therefore sought to enhance AAV integration frequency by including 28S rDNA homology arms into our vector design. A vector containing ~1 kb of homology on each side of a cDNA expression cassette for human fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) was constructed. rAAV of serotypes 2 and 8 were injected into Fah-deficient mice, a model for human tyrosinemia type 1. Integrated FAH transgenes are positively selected in this model and rDNA-containing AAV vectors had a ~30× higher integration frequency than controls. Integration by homologous recombination (HR) into the 28S rDNA locus was seen in multiple tissues. Furthermore, rDNA-containing AAV vectors for human factor IX (hFIX) demonstrated increased transgene persistence after liver regeneration. We conclude that rDNA containing AAV vectors may be superior to conventional vector design for the treatment of genetic diseases, especially those associated with increased hepatocyte replication.
Control of Systems with Hysteresis

It is a challenge to extend the results and methods of smooth and memoryless control systems to systems with discontinuities and memory. Among such systems, hysteresis plays a prominent role, because of its ubiquitous appearance in many applications, including modern actuator and sensor technology, hysteretic modeling of certain mechanical systems like systems with friction or systems with rheological properties that exhibit hysteresis, in environmental problems like groundwater motion and contaminant transport with hysteresis in the relationships among quantities of hydraulic significance during wetting and de-wetting of a porous medium, hysteresis in biological systems, in economic systems, etc. Hysteresis exhibits certain characteristics in the context of optimal control theory, which are as follows: it involves discontinuities and non-smooth nonlinearities; it has memory effects; and it involves set-valued controlled systems, since the evolution of a hysteretic nonlinearity depends on the evolution of the active set on the Preisach plane, and consequently the study of optimal control problems for such systems involves set-valued analysis. The type of optimal control problems that arise in systems with hysteresis nonlinearities belong to the category of systems with both continuous state and discrete changes in system behavior, i.e. to the general category of hybrid and discontinuous systems. However, the specific properties of hysteresis nonlinearities are such that previously existing methods are not applicable, and a direct study of such systems is necessary.
Abstract 32: Loss of Ideal Cardiovascular Health Factors from Early Young Adulthood to Middle Age

Introduction: Adults who reach middle age with ideal blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose levels have lower rates of CVD mortality compared to those with one or more adverse levels. AHA identified four healthy lifestyle factors (HLFs) - BMI, smoking, diet, and physical activity - important for preventing loss of this low CVD risk state. The purpose of this study was to quantify associations between combinations of HLFs measured in young adulthood and loss of ideal CVH factors into middle age. Methods: Analyses included 2,421 young adults (age 18-30 years at baseline in 1985-6) in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults study who met criteria for ideal CVH factors at baseline: untreated blood pressure 300 exercise units, never smoking/quitting ≥ 12 months prior, and scoring in the top tertile of the AHEI diet score. Models were adjusted for age, sex, race, education, and study center. Results: Most (86%, 69 of 80) young adults with 0 HLFs lost the all ideal CVH factor status by middle age. Relative to young adults with no ideal HLFs, those with all 4 ideal HLFs were least likely to lose the low risk CVD state (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.40-0.70). In the absence of ideal BMI, no combination of other HLFs was significantly protective (Figure 1). When analysis was restricted to the 1,708 young adults with ideal BMI, participants with ideal smoking, diet, and physical activity had a lower likelihood of losing the ideal CVH factor state compared to those with ideal BMI only (HR 0.79, 95% CI: 0.63-0.99). Conclusions: Ideal BMI in early young adulthood was protective against loss of ideal CVH factors over time. Among those with ideal BMI, ideal smoking status, diet, and physical activity conferred additional benefit.
Essentials of Hand Surgery

John Gray Seiler III, editor. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins; 2001. 304 pages. $49.95. This book, a collaborative effort of eleven experienced hand surgeons, is a compact and portable overview of hand surgery that seeks to provide easy access to basic information concerning the diagnosis and treatment of hand problems. The text is neatly laid …
Ultra-thin elastomer membrane array wrinkling for bladder cancer diagnosis

We report an ultra-thin silicone membrane array to simultaneously discern the presence of cancerous cells in as many as 16 samples from multiple individuals. This high throughput parallel array relies on the intrinsic and specific biophysical properties of cancerous cells to induce deformation, or ‘wrinkling’ on the arrayed membrane. In contrast, non-cancerous cells fail to generate these membrane wrinkles. We evaluated an initial pilot study to test clinical urine samples from patients at a high risk for bladder cancer. We also expanded the functionality of the ultra-thin membrane array beyond bladder cancer toward the screening of cervical cancer. This screening array has the potential to be deployed at the point-of-care to improve throughput compared to sequential analysis by individual membranes and may be able to enhance reliability and accuracy by coordinating controls for false results concurrently.
Plenary Abstracts

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMNs) have revolutionized the provisioning of broadband wireless Internet service to a community of users. A group of static mesh router automatically interconnect themselves to form a Web of connection and employ multi-hop forwarding to connect to the Internet Gateway (IGW). Thus, we see that is critical to establish and ensure a collaborative framework at the MRs. All existing mesh routing protocols assume that each MR honestly participates in packet forwarding. But, this is valid only in a network managed by a single trusted authority such as University or Enterprise. Typically, mesh routers can be operated by different operators. Thus, a malicious user can erect a selfish MR that prioritizes treatment for the traffic originating from its mesh clients and drop's others traffic. This results in degradation of network performance. We discuss various existing schemes with respect to detect selfishness in WMNs, and highlight their relative advantages and deficiencies.
Elastic properties of amorphous solids below 100 K

We have performed a survey of the available literature on the speed of sound at temperatures above 5 K in amorphous solids. We have compared the slope, β, of the linear variation in the speed of sound at these temperatures with the temperature independent internal friction below 10 K, Q o − 1 , and find that, empirically, β = 0.5 Q o −1 /K. This suggests that the low temperature properties of amorphous solids are connected with their universal behavior at higher temperatures. Additionally, we have extended our survey to crystals with glass-like properties as well as to quasicrystals. We find that the same relationship that exists in amorphous solids between Q o −1 and β exists in these solids as well. A model to explain this very general empirical relation does not seem to exist.
Transoral resection of stylopharyngeus calcification: a unique manifestation of a stylohyoid complex syndrome.

Background:Eagle syndrome is often considered in the work-up of odynophagia and neck pain. Classically, this is manifested by ossification or calcification of the stylohyoid ligament or styloid pro...
Design and Implementation of Information Retrieval for Reservoir Dispatching Automation System

The design methods of information retrieval are illustrated in detail from several aspects such as: software design,information retrieval design,and graphical user interface.Also,applications of information retrieval in RDAS are analyzed.Information retrieval is a critical application in reservoir dispatching automation system(RDAS).The interaction design between software development and graphical user interface is coordinated for professional applications,and implementation modes of application function in RDAS are proposed.
Silk Fibroin–Substrate Interactions at Heterogeneous Nanocomposite Interfaces

Silk fibroin adsorption at the heterogeneous hydrophobic–hydrophilic surface of graphene oxide (GO) with different degrees of oxidation is addressed experimentally and theoretically. Samples are prepared using various spin-assisted deposition conditions relevant to assembly of laminated nanocomposites from graphene-based components, and compared with silicon dioxide (SiO2) as a benchmark substrate. Secondary structure of silk backbones changes as a function of silk fibroin concentration, substrate chemical composition, and deposition dynamics are assessed and compared with molecular dynamic simulations. It is observed that protofibrils form at low concentrations while variance in the deposition speed has little effect on silk secondary structure and morphology. However, balance of nonbonded interactions between electrostatic and van der Waals contributions can lead to silk secondary structure retention on the GO surface. Molecular dynamics simulations of silk fibroin at different surfaces show that strong van der Waals interactions play a pivotal role in losing and disrupting secondary structure on graphene and SiO2 surfaces. Fine tuning silk fibroin structure on heterogeneous graphene-based surfaces paves the way toward development of biomolecular reinforcement for biopolymer–graphene laminated nanocomposites.
Computed Transverse Imaging

The first computed ultrasonographic tomograms (CT) were produced in 1973 [1]. Since then, considerable ingenuity has been demonstrated by many researchers in implementing a wide variety of CT imaging techniques. These techniques can be divided into two broad categories. One category of methods is based on the straight-ray approximation for either transmission or reflection measurements. Because the straight-ray approximation is used, the measurements are regarded as projections or shadows. The second category of methods results from attempts to take diffraction into account by mathematically inverting an approximate wave equation. It is known as diffraction tomography and is discussed later.
Ultra-Dense Networks: Survey of State of the Art and Future Directions

Within the foreseeable future, the growing number of mobile devices, and their diversity, will challenge the current network architecture. Furthermore, users will expect greater data rates, lower latency, lower packet drop rates, etc. in future wireless networks. Ultra Dense Networks (UDN), considered to be one of the best ways to meet user expectations and support future wireless network deployment, will face multiple significant hurdles, including interference, mobility, and cost. In this paper, we review existing research efforts toward addressing those challenges and present future avenues for research. We first develop a taxonomy to review and describe existing research efforts. Next, we focus on inter-cell interference, handover performance, and energy efficiency as the key techniques to addressing the most pressing challenges. Finally, we present several future research directions, including emergent Internet-of-Things (IoT) applications, security and privacy, modeling and realistic simulations, and relevant techniques.
RESULTS OF THE APPLICATION OF THE HITTMAN METHODOLOGY TO THE CITY OF BOULDER

ABSTRACT The Hittman Methodology was used to conduct an energy audit of the City of Boulder, Colorado. The results of this audit indicate that the Hittman Methodology, once properly calibrated, can provide community energy consumption estimates with sufficient accuracy for energy conservation planning purposes. The use of utility bill analysis or similar techniques to calibrate energy-use indices is highly recommended.
Staged Symbolic Execution for Parallel Property Checking

While annotating functional correctness properties of code, e.g., using assertions, enables automated conformance checking of program behaviors to expected properties and has found its use in many bug finding techniques, efficiently checking properties in practice remains challenging. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to distributing checking properties using staged symbolic execution, which consists of two stages: (1) the first stage searches for all feasible paths to the checked properties as targets for the second stage, and (2) the second stage distributes property checking along these target paths among multiple workers, each focusing on one or more paths depending on the available computing resources. We implement our approach on top of Symbolic PathFinder, and our experience with our approach in checking assertions annotated in two Java programs shows its effectiveness
In vitro susceptibility of newborn murine retinal cells to herpes simplex virus type 1 infection.

We have investigated the in vitro susceptibility of murine neural retinal cells to infection by herpes simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1). Retinal cells obtained from newborn C57B1/6 mice were cultured for 6 days and infected with varying doses of HSV-1. Infection was determined by ABC immunoperoxidase staining of fixed cultures for HSV-1 antigens. Retinal neurons, including amacrine cells, were highly susceptible to infection, with 100% of the multipolar neurons expressing viral antigens after 12 hr of infection. Glial cells and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells also were 100% infected within 12-16 hr. Photoreceptor infection was not as fast, but all surviving photoreceptor cells and their precursors became infected by 24-48 hr postinoculation. Since embryonic chick photoreceptors are highly resistant to HSV-1, these results demonstrate that mammalian (murine) photoreceptor cells differ from avian photoreceptor cells in their susceptibility to in vitro HSV-1 infection. In addition, our current results suggest that the in vivo resistance of adult C57B1/6 mice to herpetic retinitis may not reside at the level of the individual retinal cell populations, although apparent differences in susceptibility exist among the various retinal cell subpopulations. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:1224-1230,1990 Susceptibility of the eye to infection by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) has been demonstrated both in humans and in experimental models. While the majority of ocular herpes infections occur in the cornea, 1 ' 2 an association of HSV-1 with retinitis and retinal necrosis has also been observed, particularly in immunosuppressed patients. 3 " 7 Other herpesviruses, including cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus, have been demonstrated in the retinas of some acquired autoimmune deficiency (AIDS) patients, 5 - 6 and may be the causative agent in some cases of acute retinal necrosis. 7 ' 8 In order to better understand the pathogenesis of herpetic retinitis and to prevent this potentially blinding course of infection, it is necessary to determine which cells of the neural retina are actually susceptible to HSV-1 infection. We previously demonstrated in the avian system the differential susceptibility of neural retinal cells to in vitro infection by HSV-1. 9 Embryonic chick photoreceptor cells (PhR) were completely resistant to HSV-1 infection, whereas neurons, glial cells, and retinal pigment epi
Conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease: scientific evidence and policy implications

Habitat destruction and infectious disease are dual threats to nature and people. The potential to simultaneously advance conservation and human health has attracted considerable scientific and popular interest; in particular, many authors have justified conservation action by pointing out potential public health benefits [1–5]. One major focus of this debate—that biodiversity conservation often decreases infectious disease transmission via the dilution effect—remains contentious [6–8]. Studies that test for a dilution effect often find a negative association between a diversity metric and a disease risk metric [8], but how such associations should inform conservation policy remains unclear for several reasons. For one, diversity and infection risk have many definitions, making it possible to identify measures that conform to expectations [9]. Furthermore, the premise that habitat destruction consistently reduces biodiversity is in question [10,11], and disturbance or conservation can affect disease in many ways other than through biodiversity change [12,13]. To date, few studies have examined the broader set of mechanisms by which anthropogenic disturbance or conservation might increase or decrease infectious disease risk to human populations (e.g. [14–17]). Due to interconnections between biodiversity change, economics and human behaviour (e.g. [18]), moving from ecological theory to policy action requires understanding how social and economic factors affect conservation. This Theme Issue arose from a meeting aimed at synthesizing current theory and data on ‘biodiversity, conservation and infectious disease’ (4–6 May 2015). Ecologists, evolutionary biologists, economists, epidemiologists, veterinary scientists, public health professionals, and conservation biologists from around the world discussed the latest research on the ecological and socio-economic links between conservation, biodiversity and infectious disease, and the open questions and controversies in these areas. By combining ecological understanding with …
Bio-inspired Synchronization of Non-Identical Pulse-Coupled Oscillators Subject to a Global Cue and Local Interactions

Abstract Pulse-coupled oscillators (PCOs) comprise a class of limit cycle oscillators coupled in an impulsive rather than smooth manner. Their importance in biology and engineering motivated the analysis of the basic properties and design principles of PCO networks. In this work, we address synchronization of non-identical PCO networks with a global cue by using a hybrid systems approach. Using phase response curves as a design element, we characterize solutions and give conditions under which frequency synchronization is achieved. Numerical experiments are provided, which confirm the theoretical findings.
Strep-tag II fusion technology for the modification and immobilization of lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB)

Fusion tags – amino acid sequences that are genetically coded to be expressed as attached moieties to a protein – have the potential to enhance the activity of native enzyme, enable specific purification of the enzyme, and promote simple and efficient immobilization of enzymes onto material supports. In this work, we demonstrate the effect of a Strep-tag II fusion tag on the properties of free and immobilized lipase B from Candida antarctica (CALB). The gene encoding the mature portion of CALB was codon-optimized and cloned in pASG-IBA2 plasmid for expression in E. coli. Purified recombinant Strep-tag II CALB was immobilized to Strep-Tactin based support through affinity binding, and the immobilized and free Strep-tag II CALB were compared to a commercial CALB. Following modification, the enzyme could be selectively purified from culture media with no observable non-specific binding. The catalytic efficiency of the purified fusion-tagged enzyme was significantly greater than that of the commercial CALB in its free form. Immobilization of the fusion-tagged enzyme to Strep-Tactin modified crosslinked agarose support yielded a catalytically active enzyme; however, the kcat of the immobilized enzyme was significantly reduced compared to the free tagged enzyme. This work indicates that a C-terminus Strep-tag II fusion tag may be employed to improve the catalytic efficiency of free CALB, but may not be suitable for immobilized applications that employ binding of the enzyme to a Strep-Tactin-modified support.
Open-label trial of ranolazine for the treatment of myotonia congenita

Objective: To determine open-label, pilot study whether ranolazine could improve signs and symptoms of myotonia and muscle stiffness in patients with myotonia congenita (MC). Methods: Thirteen participants were assessed at baseline and 2, 4, and 5 weeks. Ranolazine was started after baseline assessment (500 mg twice daily), increased as tolerated after week 2 (1,000 mg twice daily), and maintained until week 4. Outcomes included change from baseline to week 4 in self-reported severity of symptoms (stiffness, weakness, and pain), Timed Up and Go (TUG), hand grip and eyelid myotonia, and myotonia on EMG. Results: Self-reported severity of stiffness ( p p p = 0.03, p = 0.01). EMG of the abductor digiti minimi and tibialis anterior showed significantly reduced myotonia duration ( p p Conclusions: Ranolazine appeared to be well tolerated over a period of 4 weeks in individuals with MC, and ranolazine resulted in improvement of signs and symptoms of muscle stiffness. The findings of this study suggest that ranolazine should be investigated in a larger controlled study. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class IV evidence that ranolazine improves myotonia in myotonia congenita.
DISTRIBUTED FICTIVE TEMPERATURES AND THE KINETICS OF STRUCTURAL RELAXATION

Several unresolved issues regarding the structural relaxation phenomena of metallic glasses are reviewed. The phenomena can be described, at a phenomenological level, by distributed fictive temperatures, while it is likely that more than one microscopic mechanisms contribute to the relaxation phenomena.