cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
SolidSketch: Toward Enactive Interactions for Semantic Model Creation

SolidSketch is a solid and parametric modeling program that enables users to rapidly construct 3D parametric and semantic models through sketch and multi-touch input. The interaction design principles of SolidSketch are based on the cognitive science theory of enaction. We argue enactive interactions would support design creativity by enabling rapid iteration and continuous feedback throughout a flexible design exploration. SolidSketch infers the intention of the user by continuously analyzing the surrounding context and user's behavior. This paper briefly introduces the enaction theory, the interaction designs as well as the implementations of SolidSketch.
Why Does Retirement Readiness Vary: Results from EBRI’s 2014 Retirement Security Projection Model®

In this article, the author describes and applies a model that finds that retirement income adequacy improved slightly in 2013. Because of increases in financial market and housing values, the probability that Baby Boomers and Generation Xers would not run short of money in retirement as measured by the EBRI Retirement Readiness Ratings (RRR), rose between 0.5 and 1.6 percentage points. Model simulations find that eligibility for participation in an employer-sponsored defined-contribution (DC) plan remains one of the most important factors for retirement income adequacy. Future Social Security benefits make a very large difference for the retirement income adequacy of some households, especially Gen Xers in the lowest-income quartile. In addition, longevity risk and stochastic health-care risk are associated with huge variations in retirement income adequacy. A great deal of the variability in retirement income adequacy could be mitigated by appropriate risk-management techniques. For example, the annuitization of part of DC plan and IRA balances may substantially increase the probability of not running short of money in retirement. Moreover, a well-functioning market in long-term care insurance could help control the volatility of long-term health care expenditures, especially for middle-income households.
6-GHz AlInAs/GaInAs/InP DHBT's grown by MOVPE+MBE

Summary form only given. N-p-n AlInAs/GaInAs/InP double-heterojunction bipolar transistors (DHBTs) have been fabricated. They operated with common emitter current gains to over 125 and cutoff frequencies (both f/sub T/ and f/sub max/) of approximately 60 GHz. The epitaxial structures for these devices were grown in a two-step sequence utilizing MOVPE for the InP collector structure followed by solid source MBE for the growth of the GaInAs base and AlInAs emitter structures. The DHBTs were fabricated as emitter-up, mesa transistors with self-aligned base contacts. The MOVPE-grown portion consisted of a 690-nm GaInAs (n/sup +/=1*10/sup 19/ cm/sup -3/) subcollector with a 390-nm-thick InP collector doped at n=1.4*10/sup 16/ cm/sup -3/. The remaining epitaxy was grown by solid source MBE. >
Compiler support for dynamic speculative pre-execution

Speculative pre-execution is a promising prefetching technique which uses an auxiliary assisting thread in addition to the main program flow. A prefetching thread (p-thread), which contains the future probable cache miss instructions and backward slice, can run on the spare hardware context for data prefetching. Recently, various forms of speculative pre-execution have been developed, including hardware-based and software-based approaches. The hardware-based approach has the advantage of using runtime information dynamically. However, it requires a complex implementation and also lacks global information such as data and control flow. On the other hand, the software-oriented approach cannot cope with dynamic events and imposes additional software overhead As a compromise, this paper introduces a hybrid model enhanced with novel compiler support for the dynamic pre-execution of a p-thread.
Factor Loading Estimation Error and Stability Using Exploratory Factor Analysis.

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is commonly employed to evaluate the factor structure of measures with dichotomously scored items. Generally, only the estimated factor loadings are provided with no reference to significance tests, confidence intervals, and/or estimated factor loading standard errors. This simulation study assessed factor loading estimation error under several experimental conditions and whether hypothesis testing and/or confidence intervals should be employed. Results revealed that the promax rotation performed well with small interfactor correlations and simple structure data, whereas varimax only performed well with orthogonal factors. Neither rotation method performed well with larger interfactor correlations or approximate simple structure data. An explanation of these results is provided.
Tonsillectomy in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease in children.

Objectives/Hypothesis: To review the role of tonsillectomy in diagnosis and management of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). Study Design: Case series using a retrospective chart review. Methods: A retrospective review of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease at a tertiary academic medical center from January 2004 to April 2008. Data extracted includes patients' gender, age at transplantation, year of transplantation and tonsillectomy, type of transplant, presenting symptoms, type of immunosuppression, and outcome. Results: Six out of 25 (24%) patients who underwent tonsillectomy were found to have PTLD. The patient's characteristics, gender, age at transplantation, year of transplantation and tonsillectomy, type of transplant, presenting symptoms, type of immunosuppression, and outcomes are discussed. Conclusions: In our series, tonsillar hypertrophy, male gender, young age at transplantation, and liver transplantation were associated with higher rates of PTLD. Given the devastating nature of PTLD, early detection with tonsillectomy and institution of treatment is critical. Laryngoscope, 2010
On the uniqueness of the extremal controls for a class of minimum fuel problems

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the uniqueness of the extremal controls, i.e., the controls which satisfy the necessary conditions provided by the maximum principle, for a class of minimum fuel problems pertaining to the control of single input, linear, time-invariant systems. Sufficient conditions for a fuel-optimal problem to be normal are given; then it is shown that the normal extremal controls can be unique under suitable assumptions.
The Thalamic Reticular Nucleus and Schizophrenia

Background: The thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) is a shell-shaped gamma amino butyric acid (GABA)ergic nucleus, which is uniquely placed between the thalamus and the cortex, because it receives excitatory afferents from both cortical and thalamic neurons and sends inhibitory projections to all nuclei of the dorsal thalamus. Method: A review of the evidence suggesting that the TRN is implicated in the neurobiology of schizophrenia. Results: TRN-thalamus circuits are implicated in bottom-up as well as top-down processing. TRN projections to nonspecific nuclei of the dorsal thalamus mediate top-down processes, including attentional modulation, which are initiated by cortical afferents to the TRN. TRN-thalamus circuits are also involved in bottom-up activities, including sensory gating and the transfer to the cortex of sleep spindles. Intriguingly, deficits in attention and sensory gating have been consistently found in schizophrenics, including first-break and chronic patients. Furthermore, high-density electroencephalographic studies have revealed a marked reduction in sleep spindles in schizophrenics. Conclusion: On the basis of our current knowledge on the molecular and anatomo-functional properties of the TRN, we suggest that this thalamic GABAergic nucleus may be involved in the neurobiology of schizophrenia.
Geochemical comparison of mafic, felsic, and ultramafic rocks in the Hurricane Mountain mélange to the Boil Mountain ophiolite complex, west-central Maine

The Hurricane Mountain melange, Maine, marks the suture zone between the suspected Boundary Mountain and Gander terranes. To the west the Hurricane Mountain melange is bounded by the Boil Mountain ophiolite complex, and on the southeast it is overlain by the Dead River flysch. This ophiolite- melange -flysch sequence may mark a terrane suture that trends northeast from the northern New Hampshire border across west-central Maine and into New Brunswick. The matrix of the Hurricane Mountain melange includes mafic volcanic, felsic volcanic, metasedimentary and serpentinitc blocks Major and trace element analysis of the igneous blocks in melange shows strong geochemical similarities to mafic volcanic, felsic volcanic and ultramafic units of the Boil Mountain ophiolite complex. Analysis of relict clinopyroxene grains further supports a correlation between the mafic melange blocks and the upper mafic unit of the Boil Mountain ophiolite complex. Overall, the field, petrographic, and geochemical data suggest that the Boil Mountain ophiolite complex is the probable source for the exotic blocks in the Hurricane Mountain melange. RESUME Le melange du mont Hurricane, au Maine, marque la zone de suture entre les terranes presumes du mont Boundary et de Gander. A l'ouest. Ic melange du mont Hurricane est limite par le cortege ophiolitique du mont Boil, et a partir du sud-ouest, il est rccouvert par le flysch de la riviere Dead Ce cortege ophiolite-melange-flysch pourrait marquer un terrane de suture oriente vers le nord-csi a partir de la frontiere septentrionale du New Hampshire et traversant le centre-ouest du Maine jusqu'a 1'interieurdu Nouveau-Brunswick Les blocs a l'interieur de la matricc du melange du mont Hurricane comprennent des roches volcanomafiques, des roches volcanofelsiques. des blocs metasedimentaires et des serpentinites. Les analyses des elements majeure et des elements traces des blocs du melange revelent des similarites geochimiques marquees avec les unites volcanomafiques, volcanofelsiques et ultramafiques du cortege ophiolithique du mont Boil. Une analyse de grains de clinopyroxene residuels appuie elle aussi une correlation entre les blocs du melange mafique et l'unite mafique superieure du cortege ophiolitique du mont Boil. En somme les donnees de terrain et les donnees petrographiques et geochimiques laissent supposer que le cortege ophiolitique du mont Boil constitue la source probable des blocs du melange exotique du mont Hurricane Traduit par la redaction
Affective reactions to briefly presented pictures

Affective reactions to briefly presented pictures were investigated to determine whether fleeting stimuli engage the motivational systems mediating emotional responses. Emotional and neutral pictures were presented for 500 ms; heart rate, skin conductance, corrugator EMG, and the evoked startle reflex were measured. The time course of reflex modulation was similar to that obtained with longer (6 s) presentations, suggesting that picture processing continues in the absence of a sensory stimulus. Affective reactions found with more sustained presentation were also obtained, with more corrugator EMG activity for unpleasant pictures, and greater skin conductance reactivity for emotional pictures. Heart rate modulation, however, appears to rely on the presence of a sensory stimulus. The data also suggest that brief presentations of unpleasant pictures may result in less defensive activation than sustained presentation.
The Mechanisms and Outcomes of Evaluation Influence

Past literature has identified several putative precursors of use, as well as alternative forms of use. However, important shortcomings still exist in previous work on use. In particular, inadequate attention has been given to the underlying processes that may mediate the effects of evaluation on attitude and action. In essence, a key part of the theory of change for evaluation itself is missing. To help fill this gap, we describe a framework designed to capture key mechanisms through which evaluation may have its effects. The framework includes change processes that have been validated in various social science literatures. It identifies three levels of analysis (individual, interpersonal and collective), each with four kinds of processes (general influence, attitudinal, motivational and behavioral). With a more comprehensive view of the mechanisms underlying evaluation’s influence, the field can move forward in relation to its understanding and facilitation of evaluation’s role in the service of social ...
Connectedness and Expectations: How minority teachers can improve educational outcomes for minority students

Abstract Research in the field of representative bureaucracy provides evidence that the presence of minority teachers can improve educational outcomes for minority students. We test two possible mechanisms by examining if the presence of minority teachers increases how ‘connected’ minority students feel to their school and the student's educational aspirations. Previous research has established a strong link between both of these factors and educational and non-educational outcomes. We find that increasing representation of African American and Latino/a teachers increases educational expectations for African American students, while increasing representation of Latino/a teachers increases school connectedness and educational expectations for Latino/a students.
Cytogeography and genome size variation in the Claytonia perfoliata (Portulacaceae) polyploid complex

†Background and Aims Genome duplication is a central process in plant evolution and contributes to patterns of variation in genome size within and among lineages. Studies that combine cytogeography with genome size measurements contribute to our basic knowledge of cytotype distributions and their associations with variation in genome size. †Methods Ploidy and genome size were assessed with direct chromosome counts and flow cytometry for 78 populations within the Claytonia perfoliata complex, comprised of three diploid taxa with numerous polyploids that range to the decaploid level. The relationship between genome size and temperature and precipitation was investigated within and across cytotypes to test for associations between environmental factors and nuclear DNA content. †Key Results A euploid series (n ¼ 6) of diploids to octoploids was documented through chromosome counts, and decaploids were suggested by flow cytometry. Increased variation in genome size among populations was found at higher ploidy levels, potentially associated with differential contributions of diploid parental genomes, variation in rates of genomic loss or gain, or undetected hybridization. Several accessions were detected with atypical genome sizes, including a diploid population of C. parviflora ssp. grandiflora with an 18 % smaller genome than typical, and hexaploids of C. perfoliata and C. parviflora with genomes 30 % larger than typical. There was a slight but significant association of larger genome sizes with colder winter temperature across the C. perfoliata complex as a whole, and a strong association between lower winter temperatures and large genome size for tetraploid C. parviflora. †Conclusions The C. perfoliata complex is characterized by polyploids ranging from tetraploid to decaploid, with large magnitude variation in genome size at higher ploidy levels, associated in part with environmental variation in temperature.
Collaborative TCP sequence number inference attack: how to crack sequence number under a second

In this study, we discover a new class of unknown side channels --- "sequence-number-dependent" host packet counters --- that exist in Linux/Android and BSD/Mac OS to enable TCP sequence number inference attacks. It allows a piece of unprivileged on-device malware to collaborate with an off-path attacker to infer the TCP sequence numbers used between a client and a server, leading to TCP injection and hijacking attacks. We show that the inference takes, in common cases, under a second to complete and is quick enough for attackers to inject malicious Javascripts into live Facebook sessions and to perform malicious actions on behalf of a victim user. Since supporting unprivileged access to global packet counters is an intentional design choice, we believe our findings provide important lessons and offer insights on future system and network design.
Importance of Natural and Anthropogenic Environmental Factors to Fish Communities of the Fox River in Illinois

The dominant environmental determinants of aquatic communities have been a persistent topic for many years. Interactions between natural and anthropogenic characteristics within the aquatic environment influence fish communities in complex ways that make the effect of a single characteristic difficult to ascertain. Researchers are faced with the question of how to deal with a large number of variables and complex interrelationships. This study utilized multiple approaches to identify key environmental variables to fish communities of the Fox River Basin in Illinois: Pearson and Spearman correlations, an algorithm based on information theory called mutual information, and a measure of variable importance built into the machine learning algorithm Random Forest. The results are based on a dataset developed for this study, which uses a fish index of biological integrity (IBI) and its ten component metrics as response variables and a range of environmental variables describing geomorphology, stream flow statistics, climate, and both reach-scale and watershed-scale land use as independent variables. Agricultural land use and the magnitude and duration of low flow events were ranked by the algorithms as key factors for the study area. Reach-scale characteristics were dominant for native sunfish, and stream flow metrics were rated highly for native suckers. Regression tree analyses of environmental variables on fish IBI identified breakpoints in percent agricultural land in the watershed (~64%), duration of low flow pulses (~12 days), and 90-day minimum flow (~0.13 cms). The findings should be useful for building predictive models and design of more effective monitoring systems and restoration plans.
The NMFECC cray time-sharing system

The National Magnetic Fusion Energy Computer Center (NMFECC) at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) has implemented a simple, yet powerful interactive operating system, the Cray Time-Sharing System (CTSS), on a Cray-1 supercomputer. CTSS augments the multi-programming batch facilities normally found in supercomputer systems with many of the interactive services typical of interactive minicomputer systems. This paper gives some of the historical background leading to CTSS and gives an overview of the system that emphasizes the strong points or unusual features such as multiple channels, decentralized control of resources, priorities and program scheduling, system recovery, and on-line documentation.
A 1.8 V fully integrated dual-band VCO for zero-IF WiMAX/WLAN receiver in 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS

A fully integrated dual-band voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that can cover 4.8-5.8 GHz and 6.8-7.2 GHz for a zero-IF WiMAX and WLAN receiver is proposed and implemented in 0.18 mum CMOS technology with 1.8 V supply voltage. The two major continuous frequency bands for these two standards are 2.4-2.9 GHz and 3.4-3.6 GHz, thus a differential cross-coupled inductance-capacitance (LC) tank VCO with up to 20% tuning range is proposed to cover twice the desired bands in order to avoid load pulling between VCO frequency and RF frequency. The desired frequency bands are obtained by using a divider after the VCO. The switching between two bands is implemented by using two capacitor arrays. A phase noise of -120.7dBc/Hz at 1 MHz offset frequency is demonstrated for an oscillation frequency of 4.84 GHz. The average power consumption of this VCO is 8.1 mW. This VCO is developed as an IP (intellectual property) to be used in a fully integrated CMOS multi-standard WiMAX/WLAN radio allowing seamless roaming of handheld mobile devices between hotspots in future wireless metropolitan area network (WMAN)
Impacts of Return Migration on Rural U.S. Communities

Rural population loss is caused as much by low in-migration as by high out-migration, and for geographically disadvantaged nonmetropolitan counties in the United States, return migration plays a crucial role. This research captures impacts of return migrants on population, economy, and society in declining rural U.S. communities using a qualitative, multisited approach. Interviews conducted at high school reunions with rural returnees in their late 20s to late 40s show that the vast majority of returnees brought spouses and children back with them, increasing the short-term and long- term population. They also brought back much needed human capital, including education, job skills, and life experiences, and filled professional positions that are often hard to fill in rural communities. Entrepreneurial activities and self-employment of many return migrants favorably affected rural economies by improving the employment base and expanding available services. Interviews show how decisions to move back were grounded in social relations that promoted civic engagement. While they mainly moved back for their children and their families, return migrants valued involvement in familiar social networks and the opportunities to make a difference in their rural hometowns.
Cloning and Identification of a MicroRNA Cluster within the Latency-Associated Region of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, noncoding regulatory RNA molecules that bind to 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs to either prevent their translation or induce their degradation. Previously identified in a variety of organisms ranging from plants to mammals, miRNAs are also now known to be produced by viruses. The human gammaherpesvirus Epstein-Barr virus has been shown to encode miRNAs, which potentially regulate both viral and cellular genes. To determine whether Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) encodes miRNAs, we cloned small RNAs from KSHV-positive primary effusion lymphoma-derived cells and endothelial cells. Sequence analysis revealed 11 isolated RNAs of 19 to 23 bases in length that perfectly align with KSHV. Surprisingly, all candidate miRNAs mapped to a single genomic locale within the latency-associated region of KSHV. These data suggest that viral and host cellular gene expression may be regulated by miRNAs during both latent and lytic KSHV replication.
Eddy Transport of Heat and Thermocline Waters in the North Pacific: A Key to Interannual/Decadal Climate Variability?

Abstract High-resolution XBT transects in the North Pacific Ocean, at an average latitude of 22°N, are analyzed together with TOPEX/Poseidon altimetric data to determine the structure and transport characteristics of the mesoscale eddy field. Based on anomalies in dynamic height, 410 eddies are identified in 30 transects from 1991 to 1999, including eddies seen in multiple transects over a year or longer. Their wavelength is typically 500 km, with peak-to-trough temperature difference of 2.2°C in the center of the thermocline. The features slant westward with decreasing depth, by 0.8° of longitude on average from 400 m up to the sea surface. This tilt produces a depth-varying velocity/temperature correlation and hence a vertical meridional overturning circulation. In the mean, 3.9 Sv (Sv ≡ 106 m3 s−1) of thermocline waters are carried southward by the eddy field over the width of the basin, balanced mainly by northward flow in the surface layer. Corresponding northward heat transport is 0.086 ± 0.012 pW. ...
Relevance feedback with too much data

Relevance Feedbacvk With Too Much Data A UMass Technical Report James Allan IR-57 (ref.TR95-6) Modern text collections often contain large documents which span several subject areas. Such documents are problematic for relevance feedback since inappropriate terms can easily be chosen. This study explores the highly effective approach of feeding back passages of large documents. A less- expensive method which discards long documents is also reviewed and found to be effective if there are enough relevant documents. A hybrid approach which feeds back short documents and passages of long documents may be the best compromise.
Factors Influencing Readmission After Pancreaticoduodenectomy: A Multi-Institutional Study of 1302 Patients.

OBJECTIVE AND BACKGROUND:: Morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) have significantly decreased over recent decades. Despite this progress, early readmission rates after PD have been reported as high as 50%. Few reports have delineated factors associated with readmission after PD. METHODS:: The medical records of 6 high-volume institutions were reviewed for patients who underwent PD between 2005 and 2010. Data collection included patient characteristics, medical comorbidities, and perioperative factors. Analysis included readmissions up to 90 days after PD. RESULTS:: A total of 1302 patients underwent PD across all institutions. The 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were 15% and 19%, respectively. The most common reasons for 30-day readmission included infectious complications (n = 65) and delayed gastric emptying (n = 29). The most common reasons for readmission after 90 days included wound infections and intra-abdominal abscess (n = 75) and failure to thrive (n = 38). On multivariate analysis, factors associated with higher readmission rates included a preoperative diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis, higher transfusion requirements, and postoperative complications including intra-abdominal abscess and pancreatic fistula (all P < 0.02). Factors not associated with higher readmission rates included advanced age, body mass index, cardiovascular/pulmonary comorbidities, diabetes, steroid use, Whipple type (standard vs pylorus preserving PD), preoperative endobiliary stenting, and vascular reconstruction. CONCLUSIONS:: These multi-institutional data represent a large experience of PD without the biases typically of single center studies. Factors related to infection, nutritional status, and delayed gastric emptying were the most common reasons for readmission after PD. Postoperative complications including pancreatic fistula predicted higher rates of readmission.
Conserving Energy by Inducing People to Drive Less

We attempted to reduce college students' use of their cars with an online intervention. Every other day for 2 weeks, students reported the number of miles they had avoided driving. In a 2 × 2 design, participants received feedback about pollution avoided (e.g., CO2 saved), financial feedback (e.g., gas money saved), or no feedback. A control group did not monitor their driving. Participants in all Web conditions reported driving less than the no-Web control group. In addition, Web participants who received both kinds of feedback reported driving less than did those who received one kind or none. We discuss implications for research on energy conservation and offer an online feedback form to help readers reduce their own driving.
Dominant Alleles of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC20 Reveal Its Role in Promoting Anaphase

We identified an allele of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CDC20 that exhibits a spindle-assembly checkpoint defect. Previous studies indicated that loss of CDC20 function caused cell cycle arrest prior to the onset of anaphase. In contrast, CDC20-50 caused inappropriate cell cycle progression through M phase in the absence of mitotic spindle function. This effect of CDC20-50 was dominant over wild type and was eliminated by a second mutation causing loss of function, suggesting that it encodes an overactive form of Cdc20p. Overexpression of CDC20 was found to cause a similar checkpoint defect, causing bypass of the preanaphase arrest produced by either microtubule-depolymerizing compounds or MPS1 overexpression. CDC20 overexpression was also able to overcome the anaphase delay caused by high levels of the anaphase inhibitor Pds1p, but not a mutant form immune to anaphase-promoting complex- (APC-)mediated proteolysis. CDC20 overexpression was unable to promote anaphase in cells deficient in APC function. These findings suggest that Cdc20p is a limiting factor that promotes anaphase entry by antagonizing Pds1p. Cdc20p may promote the APC-dependent proteolytic degradation of Pds1p and other factors that act to inhibit cell cycle progression through mitosis.
Target tracking with distributed sensors: the focus of attention problem

In this paper, we consider the problem of assigning sensors to track targets so as to minimize the expected error in the resulting estimation for target locations. Specifically, we are interested in how disjoint pairs of bearing or range sensors can be best assigned to targets to minimize the expected error in the estimates. We refer to this as the focus of attention (FOA) problem. In its general form, FOA is NP-hard and not well approximable. However, for specific geometries we obtain significant approximation results: a 2-approximation algorithm for stereo cameras on a line, a (1 + e)-approximation algorithm for any constant e when the cameras are equidistant, and a 1.42-approximation algorithm for equally spaced range sensors on a circle. In addition to constrained geometries, we further investigate the problem for general sensor placement. By reposing as a maximization problem--where the goal is to maximize the number of tracks with bounded error--we are able to leverage results from maximum set-packing to render the problem approximable. We demonstrate the utility of these algorithms in simulation for a target tracking task, and for localizing a team of mobile agents in a sensor network. These results provide insights into sensor/target assignment stragies, as well as sensor placement in a distributed network.
A Short-Cut Potential Reduction Algorithm for Linear Programming

As most interior point algorithms iterate, they repeatedly perform costly matrix operations, such as projections, on the entire constraint matrix. For large-scale linear programming problems, such operations consume the great majority of the computation time required. However, for problems where the number of variables far exceeds the number of constraints, operations over the entire constraint matrix are unnecessary. We will examine and extend decomposition techniques which greatly reduce the amount of work required by such interior point methods as the dual affine scaling and the dual potential reduction algorithms. In an effort to judge the practical viability of the decompositioning, we compare the performance of the dual potential reduction algorithm with and without decompositioning over a set of randomly generated transportation problems. Accompanying a theoretical justification of these techniques, we focus on the implementation details and computational results of one such technique.
Pulsed Ultraviolet Light Reduces Immunoglobulin E Binding to Atlantic White Shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) Extract

Pulsed ultraviolet light (PUV), a novel food processing and preservation technology, has been shown to reduce allergen levels in peanut and soybean samples. In this study, the efficacy of using PUV to reduce the reactivity of the major shrimp allergen, tropomyosin (36-kDa), and to attenuate immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding to shrimp extract was examined. Atlantic white shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus) extract was treated with PUV (3 pulses/s, 10 cm from light source) for 4 min. Tropomyosin was compared in the untreated, boiled, PUV-treated and [boiled+PUV]-treated samples, and changes in the tropomyosin levels were determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). IgE binding of the treated extract was analyzed via immunoblot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using pooled human plasma containing IgE antibodies against shrimp allergens. Results showed that levels of tropomyosin and IgE binding were reduced following PUV treatment. However, boiling increased IgE binding, while PUV treatment could offset the increased allergen reactivity caused by boiling. In conclusion, PUV treatment reduced the reactivity of the major shrimp allergen, tropomyosin, and decreased the IgE binding capacity of the shrimp extract.
Seasonal variations in onset and exacerbation of inflammatory bowel diseases in children

Studies have suggested that inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) follow a seasonal pattern with regard to their onset and exacerbations. The aim of this study is to determine if there is any seasonal pattern to the onset and exacerbation of IBD in the pediatric population and if the birth of children diagnosed with IBD follows a seasonal pattern. Patients between the ages of 1 and 21 years and with a diagnosis of IBD established between July 1992 and July 2012 were included. Their onset and exacerbations of IBD (year and season) were recorded. The birth dates of the patients were aggregated to determine whether a seasonal birth pattern existed amongst them. A total of 170 children were included in this study; 34 % of patients had their onset in the fall and 19 % of them had their onset in the summer. The total number of documented exacerbations was 358 and the median number of exacerbations was two, with a range of 1–11. IBD exacerbations were generally uniformly distributed throughout the year. We did not observe any specific season where children with IBD tended to be born. Our data suggests that the onset of symptoms of IBD tends to have a seasonal trend with the highest incidence in the fall. However, we did not observe any association between seasonality and exacerbations in the pediatric population. Moreover, there was no specific season in which children with IBD tended to be born in greater numbers.
Value or Growth? Pricing of Idiosyncratic Cash Flow Risk with Heterogeneous Beliefs

We study a continuous-time pure exchange economy where idiosyncratic cash flow risks are priced via investors’ heterogeneous beliefs. Investors perceive idiosyncratic cash flow risks differently through heterogeneous subjective mean growth rates on a firm’s cash flow. This impacts equilibrium quantities. Our model shows that idiosyncratic cash flow shocks priced through belief differences can explain cross-sectional variations in stock returns and cash flows. Quantitative results show that a value premium arises, as value stocks have higher idiosyncratic cash-flow volatilities, lower average cash flows, and higher belief differences, which is empirically supported. A growth premium prevails without belief differences.
CD4 tumor-reactive T cells enhance intratumoral proliferation and effector function of CD8 cells and synergistically mediate tumor regression.

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 5567 Tumor antigen-primed T cells are highly enriched in the CD62Llow subset derived from lymph nodes draining progressing tumors and in vitro activation with anti-CD3 mAb and cytokines promotes acquisition of potent tumoricidal function in vivo following adoptive transfer. At the effector phase CD8 T cells can directly kill MHC class I+/class II− tumors, however, CD4 T cells function through cross-presentation by intratumoral APCs. We have demonstrated that CD4 as well as CD8 T cells each have stand-alone curative potential against advanced MCA205 fibrosarcomas in lung, brain, and subcutaneous sites. Here, we tested whether CD4 effectors augment the function of CD8 T cells. MCA205 draining lymph nodes were depleted of CD62Lhigh cells then CD4 cells were purified by positive MACS selection and activated with anti-CD3/IL-7/IL-23, whereas the purified CD8 subset was activated with anti-CD3/IL-2/IL-7. Adoptive transfer of CD4 combined with CD8 effector T cells (2.5 × 106 each) completely eradicated 10-day pulmonary metastases whereas 5 × 106 of either CD4 or CD8 subset alone was sub-therapeutic (p<0.05). A similar synergistic effect was observed in 3-day subcutaneous tumors. In vitro, the percentage of CD8 cells that produced IFN-γ upon exposure to MCA205 tumor digest was augmented by the addition of CD4 cells (3.6±0.6% v.s 12.7±1.7%)). Intratumoral proliferation of transferred CFSE-labeled CD8 effector cells was minimal in the absence of CD4 cells but was markedly augmented by co-transfer of either viable or immediately post-irradiated CD4 effector cells. CD4 effector cells underwent vigorous intratumoral proliferation and released large amounts of IL-2 (6 hr, 442±107 pg/ml; 24 hr, 17.3±1.9 pg/ml; 48 hr, 3.4±1.0 pg/ml) and IFN-γ (6 hr, 595±177 pg/ml; 24 hr, 3108±478 pg/ml; 48 hr, 305±26 pg/ml). Interestingly, treatment of mice with 10-day pulmonary metastases using 107 highly activated CD4 cells that had undergone repetitive in vitro stimulation induced a delayed (5 days later) release of large amounts of TNF-α (day 1, 45.6±4.9 pg/ml; day 5, 38.5±6.4 pg/ml) simultaneous with tumor regression that was associated with lethal pulmonary congestion in the MCA205 tumor but not in the antigenically distinct MCA207 fibrosarcoma. These data demonstrate that T cell mediated tumor regression is more complex than simple CTL killing of targets and that tumor antigen-specific CD4 cells synergistically augment CD8 function and can initiate tumor-regression even in the absence of CD8 cells. This provides a strong rationale to define class II tumor antigens and indicates a need to optimize CD4 preservation in adoptive immunotherapy strategies.
Nuclear Mechanisms of Insulin Resistance

Insulin resistance is a sine qua non of type 2 diabetes and is associated with many other clinical conditions. Decades of research into mechanisms underlying insulin resistance have mostly focused on problems in insulin signal transduction and other mitochondrial and cytosolic pathways. By contrast, relatively little attention has been focused on transcriptional and epigenetic contributors to insulin resistance, despite strong evidence that such nuclear mechanisms play a major role in the etiopathogenesis of this condition. In this review, we summarize the evidence for nuclear mechanisms of insulin resistance, focusing on three transcription factors with a major impact on insulin action in liver, muscle, and fat.
Breakdown of thylakoid pigments by soluble proteins of developing chloroplasts.

In the presence of Triton X-100 (TX-100) or imazalil, plastidic pigments were degraded by a soluble enzyme extracted from developing chloroplasts. This bleaching was not photochemical and required oxygen; it was not inhibited by superoxide dismutase or catalase, but was strongly inhibited by benzoquinone, quinol, phenazine methosulphate and, more weakly, by other reagents. Synthetic intermediates of chlorophyll biosynthesis, e.g. Mg(II)-protoporphyrin IX monomethyl ester, was also degraded. This reaction was compared with the bleaching catalysed by soybean (Glycine max) lipoxygenase. The plastidic system required TX-100 and was inhibited by unsaturated fatty acids, whereas lipoxygenase required a polyunsaturated fatty acid and was inhibited by TX-100. The bleaching capability of the stromal extract decreased with age if the seedlings were placed in the greenhouse to allow further development of the chloroplasts. A direct relationship was observed between the promotion of pigment bleaching by TX-100 and the inhibition of the in vitro synthesis of divinylprotochlorophyllide. This bleaching reaction is discussed on the basis of interference by TX-100 with the normal O2-requiring anabolic processes of developing chloroplasts.
Design of a Controlling System for Solid State Transfer Switch Based on Dual-DSP

A high-performance controlling system for solid state transfer switching(SSTS) is developed based on dual-DSP plus field programmable gate array(FPGA).The controlling system for SSTS can be used to solve voltage-sag and short-term power outage.The make before break(MBB) switching strategy and voltage-sag detection algorithm are verified through simulations.After that the system function is comprehensively analyzed.Then a dual-DSP plus FPGA architecture controlling scheme is built to meet the reqirment of which presents the control system higher computing speed and better reliability.The experimental results of 380 V SSTS prototype machine based on this control system platform are given which prove the control system is feasible and successful.
A replica location prototype based on hiberarchy and full-index structure

After thorough exploration of the replica management component in globus toolkit4,a replica location prototype based on hiberarchy full-index is designed.A system framework,replica location principle,soft-state update and replica location algorithm are proposed,and the replica location prototype is implemented.By means of deployment and running the prototype system,the algorithm is verified.The result shows that this prototype system is able to achieve replica location and create replicas safely and efficiently.
98 ACUTE GROWTH HORMONE AND TESTOSTERONE CHANGES FOLLOWING TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY.

Introduction During traumatic brain injury (TBI) the proper functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis is an essential component of the neuroendocrine stress response. Growth hormone (GH) and testosterone (via the luteinizing hormone-testosterone axis) are two hormones under the influence of the HPA axis. Given the critical role that GH plays in body growth and metabolism and testosterone9s important anabolic properties, this study aims to describe serum GH and testosterone levels in the acute period following TBI and to examine if differences in serum GH and testosterone levels exist between TBI patients with varying Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores, Injury Severity Scores (ISS), and blood pressure (BP) values. Methods Serum GH and testosterone measurements were obtained from 97 patients during the first 11 days following TBI. Injury severity characteristics such as GCS, ISS and BP values were collected for each patient. Results During the acute period following TBI, GH levels initially decrease and then increase (p = .0004). Testosterone follows the same pattern (p Conclusions These preliminary data suggest that both GH and testosterone initially decrease and then increase in the acute period following TBI. Although there is an increase in GH and testosterone toward the end of the observation period, for at least the first week post-injury, somatotroph and gonadotroph suppression occurs in the majority of patients. The clinical importance of this suppressed hormonal function remains to be determined. Additionally, differences in injury severity measurements do not correlate with different patterns of GH and testosterone levels.
Placental-fetal glucose exchange and placental glucose consumption in pregnant sheep

To determine the separate effects of changes in fetal glucose and insulin concentrations on uteroplacental glucose transfer (UPGT) and consumption (UPGC) we studied 24 late-gestation pregnant sheep during fetal insulin infusions alone and with simultaneous glucose clamp. Insulin infusion alone increased fetal glucose utilization rate (GUR) by 45% (P less than 0.001), decreasing fetal glucose concentration by 40% (P less than 0.01) and thereby increasing fetal glucose clearance (Clglu) by 150% (P less than 0.001). Maternal-fetal glucose gradient also increased, resulting in a 40% increase (P less than 0.02) in UPGT [measured as umbilical glucose uptake (UGU)] and a 30% decrease (P less than 0.05) in UPGC. Addition of a fetal glucose clamp returned fetal glucose concentration to base line and restored UPGC and UGU to control values with a further 2.25-fold increase in fetal GUR. Clglu did not change, as the increase in GUR was proportional to the increase in fetal glucose concentration. Similarly, in animals receiving an insulin infusion plus glucose clamp throughout, maternal glucose concentration, fetal glucose concentration, UPGC, and UGU did not change, whereas GUR and Clglu increased approximately 1.9-fold. These changes were noted at constant maternal glucose concentration and uterine glucose uptake. Thus variation in fetal glucose concentration rather than fetal insulin concentration directly regulates uteroplacental glucose transfer and consumption, whereas both fetal insulin and glucose affect, in separate ways, fetal glucose utilization and clearance.
Endosonography today: An overview

Over the past two decades, the combination of gastrointestinal endoscopy and ultrasonography has shown remarkable progress. This progress has allowed endoscopists to diagnose and treat broad range of not only gastrointestinal disorders but also mediastinal, pancreatic, and perirectal diseases. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) offers a vital complementary role to traditional cross-sectional imaging. EUS helps to obtain tissue samples under real-time ultrasonographic guidance using fine-needle aspiration EUS. The ever expanding use of EUS makes it imperative for primary care providers to be familiar with this technology and its application. This progress has made EUS an integral and necessary part of any good endoscopy unit and is here to stay.
When Souls Had Wings: Pre-Mortal Existence in Western Thought . By Terryl Givens. New York: Oxford University Press, 2009. x + 388 pp. $24.95 paper.

(ProQuest: ... denotes non-US-ASCII text omitted.)Virtually all adherents of Western religions believe in post-mortal existence. Yet relatively few believe in pre-mortal existence despite the fact that this theological notion has surfaced repeatedly over the last three thousand years of Western philosophical and theological thought. Terryl Givens offers a brilliant intellectual history of this enduring notion that humanity's spiritual identity can be traced to a state or place that preexists mortal life. From Mesopotamian mythology and Plato to the Latter-day Saints and Carl Jung, belief in pre-mortal existence has fueled spiritualities that celebrate our inherent potential to envision and strive toward the sublime.The intellectual power of this volume derives in part from its vast historical expanse. Givens chronicles varying interpretations of preexistence across some thirty centuries and countless European and American social settings. He does so by offering concise, masterful summaries of the many intellectual figures who have championed the belief that humanity belongs to a higher spiritual order. Versions of this notion are scattered throughout ancient Near Eastern religious traditions as well as the philosophical systems traceable to Pythagoras and Orpheus. It is, however, in Plato that we find the most eloquent explanation of how humanity's preexistence in a transcendent order sheds light on otherwise perplexing philosophical problems. In Plato's works the preexistence of the soul explains our cognitive capacity to apprehend universals, our ability to make moral judgments, our capacity for language, our spiritual yearnings, and our participation in a world that is fundamentally just despite observed imbalances between merit and circumstance. The unequaled respect accorded to Plato by both the early church and subsequent philosophers ensured some measure of ongoing legitimacy to this philosophical doctrine even when it eventually fell outside Christian theological orthodoxy.Subsequent advocates of pre-mortal existence include Plotinus, Origen, Cambridge Platonists such as Henry More, Romantic poets ranging from Blake to Goethe, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Edward Beecher, Joseph Smith, sundry New Age advocates, and those contemporary theologians trying to recapture a Logos theology that has largely been dormant in Christian thought since Origen. A common theme in their advocacy of preexistence is faith in humanity's potential for creatively transcending all environmental conditions. The fact that we fundamentally belong to a higher order of things explains the better angels of our nature. Spiritual preexistence accounts for why we intuitively know things not gained through the senses: why we yearn for transcendence and the sublime, why we share a common moral sense, why we find an instant affinity with certain individuals, and why pain and misfortune are unevenly distributed in God's fundamentally just universe. …