cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A scanning electron microscope study of healthy pecan tissues showing the presence or absence of internal fungal contamination

Healthy pecan, Caryaillinoensis (Wang) Koch, tissue was obtained from an 8-year-old grafted Cherokee tree. Dormant buds were gathered and stored until spring growth. After rigorous surface sterilization, halves of both stored and freshly harvested dormant buds and of actively growing shoots were plated onto sterile PDA. Corresponding halves wre fixed in FAA and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM). All plated dormant buds (both stored and freshly harvested) showed presence internally of a fungus, and SEM studies revealed hyphalike strands similar to those of the isolated fungi within cells of those buds. The spring flush was sterile in culture, and strands were absent in SEM studies.
Distribution of singularities in the cosmic microwave background polarization (

The polarization of the cosmic microwave background radiation will have a distribution of singularities and antisingularities, points where the polarization vanishes for topological reasons. The statistics of polarization singularities provides a nontrivial scheme to analyze the polarization maps that is distinct from the usual two-point correlation functions. Here we characterize the statistics of the singularity distribution in simulated polarization maps, and make predictions that can be compared with ongoing and upcoming observations. We use four different characterizations: the number density of singularities, the nearest-neighbor distance between singularities, the critical exponent {nu} that describes the scaling of total topological charge q within a closed curve of length L (q{proportional_to}L{sup {nu}}), and the angular two-point angular correlation functions for singularities of equal and opposite charge. In general, we find that the number density of singularities is sensitive to the underlying cosmology but the distribution is uniform random except on small scales where singularities of the same charge repel and those of opposite charge attract. These conclusions appear to be extremely robust with respect to variations in the underlying cosmological model and the presence of non-Gaussianity; the only exception we found are cases where statistical isotropy is grossly violated. This suggests that, withinmore » the assumption of statistical isotropy, the distribution is a robust feature of the last scattering surface and potentially may be used as a tool to discriminate effects that occur during photon propagation from the last scattering surface to the present epoch.« less
Zacha Technology Corporation: Internal Control Assurance Service Reporting Issues in an e‐Commerce Environment

This case focuses on reporting issues faced by you, a CPA, engaged to report on several components of an internal control (IC) system for a company involved in e‐commerce. In addition, the client may also decide to go public and wants you to provide nonaudit‐related assistance in this process. Specifically, this case highlights issues related to IC reporting requirements and what types of assurances, if any, the CPA may grant given the specific circumstances of e‐commerce. In addressing the issues of the case, you will be required to research applicable AICPA Professional Standards and Internet web sites. The case brings to light many of the reporting complexities present in today's ever‐changing e‐commerce environment.
California Vieja: Culture and Memory in a Modern American Place

California Vieja: Culture and Memory in a Modern American Place. By Phoebe S. Kropp, Berkeley: University of California Press, 2006, 364 pp. Illus., £23.95 (hbk), ISBN 0-520-24364-1 Dr Kropp's exce...
Dynamic procurement in a capacitated supply chain facing uncertain demand

In an environment where a buyer procures capacity from a capacitated supplier through a wholesale price contract, the impact of timing of the decisions and of additional demand information on the supplier's pricing and the buyer's procurement decisions are investigated. As the selling season approaches, the buyer and the supplier have better information about the demand process. It is questioned as to what degree waiting until the demand uncertainty is resolved—given that such an option is feasible—is the best alternative for the supply chain partners. The main model is a two-period dynamic pricing/procurement game where the supplier sets wholesale prices dynamically; he sets the second period price after seeing the demand state as well as the buyer's first period procurement quantity. Two single-period models based on the information available to the players prior to their decisions are also studied. For each model, the subgame perfect Nash equilibrium is found in a closed form and the players' behaviors...
A Numerical Algorithm for Identifying Spread Functions of Shift-Invariant Imaging Systems

Numerical optimization techniques are applied to the identification of linear, shift-invariant imaging systems in the presence of noise. The approach used is to model the available or measured image of a real known object as the planar convolution of object and system-spread function and additive noise. The spread function is derived by minimization of a spatial error criterion (least squares) and characterized using a matric formalism. The numerical realization of the algorithm is discussed in detail; the most substantial problem encountered being the calculation of a vector-generalized inverse. This problem is avoided in the special case where the object scene is taken to be decomposable.
Thermohaline Adjustment and Advection in an OGCM

The response of an ocean general circulation model to the onset of deep-water formation in the North Atlantic Ocean is explored. The processes of baroclinic adjustment to the new deep water mass and the advection of the new deep water mass are compared in both space and time. The baroclinic adjustment is gauged by following the anomalies in the 0‐2000 dbar layer thickness and the advection is measured with the aid of idealized passive tracers. Baroclinic adjustment follows the classical boundary layer path and all locations north of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current begin to feel the effects within 20 years. Heat transport in the North Atlantic responds on the adjustment timescale. Advection does not follow the boundary layer path and is much slower: the timescale for NADW to reach the North Pacific Ocean is on the order of 1000 years. While the baroclinic signal is much faster, the initial response is much smaller and probably could not be detected over the random noise in the pressure field outside of the Atlantic basin. Both processes weaken as they move farther from the forcing region.
Emergency Presentations Associated with Cardiovascular Disease in Exotic Herbivores

Exotic animals, including small herbivores, are increasing in popularity as companion animals. Commonly owned exotic herbivores include guinea pigs, chinchillas, and rabbits. These animals fall into the category of prey species with an inherent instinct to hide their illness until severely affected by the disease process. Therefore, any of these animals presented as an emergency case must be carefully evaluated for chronic underlying illness. Cardiovascular emergency and critical care principles are similar across all mammalian species. However, specialized techniques and adaptations are occasionally required because of the unique physiology and natural behaviors of these animals. It is essential to evaluate and stabilize these patients before attempting definitive diagnostic plans. Emergency cardiovascular presentations, as in other mammals, consist of congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, pericardial effusion, and toxicities that can result in cardiac and pulmonary arrest. Cardiac disease is a relatively common finding in small exotic mammals, but there are few peer-reviewed reports regarding diagnosis and treatment of heart disease in these species. Diagnostic testing and treatment options are generally based on knowledge of small animal medicine.
Novel mutations in ENG and ACVRL1 identified in a series of 200 individuals undergoing clinical genetic testing for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) : Correlation of genotype with phenotype

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT; Osler-Weber-Rendu disease) is an autosomal dominant disease characterized by arteriovenous malformations ranging from cutaneous and mucous membrane telangiectasias to more severe pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). Acute complications from bleeding or pulmonary shunting may be catastrophic. However, when diagnosed early, the complications can usually be prevented. Mutations in two genes, Endoglin (ENG) and activin receptor-like kinase 1 (ACVRL1 or ALK1) have been associated with HHT. We describe the results of mutation analysis on a consecutive series of 200 individuals undergoing clinical genetic testing for HHT. The observed sensitivity of mutation detection was similar to that in other series with strict ascertainment criteria. A total of 127 probands were found, with sequence changes consisting of 103 unique alterations, 68 of which were novel. In addition, eight intragenic rearrangements in the ENG gene and two in the ACVRL1 gene were identified in a subset of coding sequence mutation-negative individuals. Most individuals tested could be categorized by the number of HHT diagnostic criteria present. Surprisingly, almost 50% of the cases with a single symptom were found to have a significant sequence alteration; three of these reported only nosebleeds. Genetic testing can confirm the clinical diagnosis in individuals and identify presymptomatic mutation carriers. As many of the complications of HHT disease can be prevented, a confirmed molecular diagnosis provides an opportunity for early detection of AVMs and management of the disease.
Dynamic Mechanism Design: Incentive Compatibility, Pro…t Maximization and Information Disclosure

We examine the design of incentive-compatible screening mechanisms for dynamic environ- ments in which the agents'types follow a (possibly non-Markov) stochastic process, decisions may be made over time and may aect the type process, and payos need not be time-separable. We derive a formula for the derivative of an agent's equilibrium payowith respect to his cur- rent type in an incentive-compatible mechanism, which summarizes all …rst-order conditions for incentive compatibility and generalizes Mirrlees's envelope formula of static mechanism design. We provide conditions on the environment under which this formula must hold in any incentive- compatible mechanism. When specialized to quasi-linear environments, this formula yields a dynamic "revenue-equivalence"result and an expression for dynamic virtual surplus, which is instrumental for the design of optimal mechanisms. We also provide some su¢ cient conditions for incentive compatibility, and for its robustness to an agent's observation of the other agents' past and future types. We apply these results to a number of novel settings, including the de- sign of pro…t-maximizing auctions and durable-good selling mechanisms for buyers whose values
Hybrid Chronicles: Biracial and Biethnic Perspectives on the Pedagogy of Unlearning Racism.

This article details an autoethnography project of our odysseys into the pedagogy of unlearning racism. Our knowledge creation process forced us to re-envision both our locations in, and pedagogy of, anti-racism work, with particular attention to the challenges and dangers of teaching about, to, and from White privilege within social work. In the end, we are both troubled and invigorated by what we experienced, witnessed, and supported. By asking people of color to share their personal narratives of racism in the presence of Whites, teachers, facilitators, and diversity trainers stand to continue privileging Whiteness where Whites benefit and learn at the expense of people of color. Key Words: Autoethnography, Pedagogy, Anti-Racism, Privilege, and Biracial
Exploration with upgradeable models using statistical methods for physical model emulation

Physical models capture environmental phenomena such as biochemical reactions, a beating heart, or neuron synapses, using mathematical equations. Previous work has shown that physical models can execute orders of magnitude faster on FPGAs (Field-Programmable Gate Arrays) compared to desktop PCs. Different models of the same physical phenomenon may vary, with "upgraded" models being more accurate but using more FPGA area and having slower performance. We propose that design space exploration considering upgradable models can dramatically increase the useful design space. We present an analysis of the solution space for utilizing networks of processing-elements (PEs) on FPGAs to emulate physical models, implement a web-based frontend to a compiler and cycle-accurate simulator of PE networks to estimate solution metrics, and utilize design-of-experiments (DOE) statistical methods to identify Pareto points. By considering upgradeable models during the design space exploration of a human lung physical model, the solution space of possible speedup, area, and accuracy is increased by 6X, 7.3X, and 1.5X, respectively, compared to evaluating a single model.
Combining Classifiers Using Correspondence Analysis

Several effective methods for improving the performance of a single learning algorithm have been developed recently. The general approach is to create a set of learned models by repeatedly applying the algorithm to different versions of the training data, and then combine the learned models' predictions according to a prescribed voting scheme. Little work has been done in combining the predictions of a collection of models generated by many learning algorithms having different representation and/or search strategies. This paper describes a method which uses the strategies of stacking and correspondence analysis to model the relationship between the learning examples and the way in which they are classified by a collection of learned models. A nearest neighbor method is then applied within the resulting representation to classify previously unseen examples. The new algorithm consistently performs as well or better than other combining techniques on a suite of data sets.
Temperature and Competition between Bull Trout and Brook Trout: A Test of the Elevation Refuge Hypothesis

Abstract We tested the elevation refuge hypothesis that colder temperatures impart a competitive advantage to bull trout Salvelinus confluentus and thus account for increased biotic resistance to invasion and displacement by brook trout S. fontinalis in headwater streams. Growth, survival, and behavior were compared in allopatry and sympatry at temperatures of 8-20°C in the laboratory. In allopatry, age-0 bull trout and brook trout grew at similar rates at temperatures of 8.0-14.3°C, but brook trout grew significantly faster at higher temperatures. In sympatry, bull trout grew significantly less than brook trout at all test temperatures, with growth differences increasing linearly with increased temperature. Age-1 brook trout had significantly higher feeding and aggression rates than did similar-sized bull trout at 8°C and 16°C. The modeled growth of age-0 bull trout and brook trout based on tributary temperature data from a high-elevation site (mean summer temperature, 10°C) and a low-elevation site (14°...
CuO and ZnO nanoparticles differently affect the secretion of fluorescent siderophores in the beneficial root colonizer, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6.

To understand the impact of environmental deposition of CuO and ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) on the production of bacterial metabolites, we examined the effects of their sub-lethal levels on the production of a pyoverdine (PVD) siderophore in a plant-beneficial bacterium, Pseudomonas chlororaphis O6 (PcO6). The NPs were characterized for size, shape, surface charge and ion release. Production of PVD by the cells was evaluated by fluorimetry and the expression of genes for PVD biosynthesis and export. The level of PVD in the presence of ZnO NPs was similar to that with Zn ions at 24 h, but the NPs maintained higher level than control at 48 h. In contrast, the reduction in PVD by CuO NPs was not duplicated by Cu ions. Expression of a gene encoding an inner membrane PVD transporter was inhibited by CuO NPs, supporting the observed low amounts of external PVD detected in those cells. These findings revealed NP-specific effect for CuO NPs on PcO6 metabolism, while for ZnO NPs, the release of ions was important. Because siderophores are part of the chemical communication between soil microbes and plants, the outcomes of plant–microbe interactions could be affected by responses to NPs.
Modeling States' Enactment of High School Exit Examination Policies

We present five frameworks for explaining which U.S. states adopted high school exit examination policies at particular points in time. The frameworks correspond to issues of academic achievement, education spending, economic conditions, racial/ethnic heterogeneity and policy diffusion. Using event history techniques we find that states with higher unemployment rates and higher proportions of racial/ethnic minority youth are more likely to have adopted HSEE policies than otherwise similar states.
Personalizing web search results by reading level

Traditionally, search engines have ignored the reading difficulty of documents and the reading proficiency of users in computing a document ranking. This is one reason why Web search engines do a poor job of serving an important segment of the population: children. While there are many important problems in interface design, content filtering, and results presentation related to addressing children's search needs, perhaps the most fundamental challenge is simply that of providing relevant results at the right level of reading difficulty. At the opposite end of the proficiency spectrum, it may also be valuable for technical users to find more advanced material or to filter out material at lower levels of difficulty, such as tutorials and introductory texts. We show how reading level can provide a valuable new relevance signal for both general and personalized Web search. We describe models and algorithms to address the three key problems in improving relevance for search using reading difficulty: estimating user proficiency, estimating result difficulty, and re-ranking based on the difference between user and result reading level profiles. We evaluate our methods on a large volume of Web query traffic and provide a large-scale log analysis that highlights the importance of finding results at an appropriate reading level for the user.
High-voltage stress test paradigms of analog CMOS ICs for gate-oxide reliability enhancement

This paper presents the first-ever research on high-voltage stress of analog circuits to enhance their oxide reliability and to reduce the manufacturing cost. The emphasis of this paper is placed on how to properly stress analog circuits and the development of efficient algorithms for generating stress vectors that meet the stress coverage requirement within a feasible stress time.
Molecular dynamics simulation of the limiting conductance of NaCl in supercritical water

Abstract We report molecular dynamics calculations of the ionic mobility and limiting conductance of NaCl in supercritical water as a function of density along an isotherm 5% above the critical temperature. The number of hydration water molecules around ions is found to dominate the behavior of the limiting conductance in the higher-density region while the interaction between the ions and hydration water molecules is found to dominate in the lower-density region. The different effects in the lower- and higher-density regimes lead to different slopes for the limiting conductance as a function of density in the two regimes.
Approximation of FDDI minimum reconfiguration time

FDDI, with its inherent reconfiguration capabilities, is being selected as the key technology for data transfer within mission critical systems including those used aboard military platforms. Much has been written about FDDI mechanisms and interconnection topologies which can increase the number of failures needed to segment an FDDI network. While this is one attribute key to mission critical systems, another important attribute is the time needed to complete reconfiguration. The paper is intended to provide a theoretical and analytical description of FDDI reconfiguration and provide a means for experimentally determining FDDI reconfiguration timing. The theoretical minimum reconfiguration time provides a basis for considering the results of FDDI product testing.
Neighborhood incivilities, perceived neighborhood safety, and walking to school among urban-dwelling children

BACKGROUND: Walking to school is an important source of physical activity among children. There is a paucity of research exploring environmental determinants of walking to school among children in urban areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional secondary analysis of baseline data (2007) from 365 children in the "Multiple Opportunities to Reach Excellence" (MORE) Study (8 to 13 years; Mean 9.60 years, SD 1.04). Children and caregivers were asked about walking to school and perceived safety. OBJECTIVE measures of the environment were obtained using a validated environmental neighborhood assessment. RESULTS: Over half (55.83%) of children reported walking to school most of the time. High levels of neighborhood incivilities were associated with lower levels of perceived safety (OR: 0.39, 95% CI: 0.21 to 0.72). Living on a block above the median in incivilities was associated with a 353% increase in odds of walking to school (OR: 3.53; 95% CI: 1.68 to 7.39). CONCLUSIONS: Children residing in neighborhoods high in incivilities are more likely to walk to school, in spite of lower levels of perceived safety. As a high proportion of children residing in disadvantaged neighborhoods walk to school, efforts should be directed at minimizing exposure to neighborhood hazards by ensuring safe routes to and from school. KW: SW2S Language: en
Classification of archaeological ceramic fragments using texture and color descriptors

The application of digital technologies to culture history preservation and interpretation is a rapidly growing field that has captured the imagination of many. In this work, we explore the application of image classification systems for use in the reconstruction of archaeologically excavated 18th and 19th-century ceramic fragments. In specific, we investigate the classification of thin-shell ceramics based on color and texture descriptors in order to aid in vessel reconstructions. In addition to using well known SIFT features, we formulate a new feature descriptor based on total variation geometry. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed descriptor accurately represents texture and that, when categorizing fragments, it is best to utilize both the color and texture information available.
Fundamentals Of Wafer Fab Automation The Forth Generation CIM FA

The large scale wafer requires more precise process control, feedback/feed forward for the productivity than ever. CIM FA (Computer Integrated Manufacturing Factory Automation) will be a fundamental solution to future semiconductor manufacturing. In this paper, I would like to discuss about what CIM FA should be for semiconductor manufacturing, and would introduce CIM FA plant where we are now operating 200mm manufacturing.
Regulating amyloid precursor protein synthesis through an internal ribosomal entry site

Expression of amyloid precursor protein (APP) is critical to the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Consequently, regulating APP expression is one approach to block disease progression. To this end, APP can be targeted at the levels of transcription, translation, and protein stability. Little is currently known about the translation of APP mRNA. Here, we report that endogenous APP mRNA is translated in neural cell lines via an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) located in the 5′-untranslated leader. The functional unit of the APP IRES is located within the 5′ 50 nucleotides of the 5′-leader. In addition, we found that the APP IRES is positively regulated by two conditions correlated with AD, increased intracellular iron concentration and ischemia. Interestingly, the enhancement of APP IRES activity is dependent upon de novo transcription. Taken together, our data suggest that internal initiation of translation of the APP mRNA is an important mode for synthesis of APP, a mechanism which is regulated by conditions that also contribute to AD.
Effectiveness of fluconazole in murine Candida albicans and bacterial C. albicans peritonitis and abscess formation

The role of fluconazole in the treatment of many forms of focal mycoses remains unclear. We studied the effectiveness of three different oral doses of fluconazole in three murine models of Candida albicans peritonitis leading to intra-abdominal abscess formation. During monomicrobial Candida infection, fluconazole decreased mortality and the number of C. albicans cultured per abscess; prolonged treatment also eliminated Escherichia coli translocation. In mixed C. albicans/E. coli/Bacteroides fragilis infection, prolonged treatment with higher doses of fluconazole decreased mortality, the number of abscesses formed, and the number C. albicans per abscess. In animals with a similar polymicrobial infection but with concurrent cefoxitin treatment, fluconazole decreased mortality and the number of C. albicans per abscess; in addition, prolonged treatment reduced the number of abscesses. Amphotericin B gave similar results in all three models. These data indicate that the clinical use of fluconazole in peritonitis should be investigated.
The Impact Of Private Label Sales Penetration On Category Profitability

This study analyzes the impact that private label brands have on category profitability in supermarkets within the framework of category management. Category management seeks to enhance the overall performance of product categories as measured by profitability. Private label brands have dramatically increased in recent years in supermarkets with a key objective of improving category profitability. This longitudinal study uses Point-of-Sale (POS) data from a supermarket retailer over three years consisting of 39 periods. Data is collected from ten product categories from the center store comprised of dry grocery, frozen foods, and refrigerated dairy. The results of this study indicate that in only two categories, a significant positive relationship existed between category private label sales penetration and category profitability.
On existence and construction of finite uniform bisimulations for linear systems with finite input alphabets

In this paper, we consider a class of discrete-time systems with linear dynamics and a finite input alphabet. We begin by motivating and proposing two notions of finite bisimulation that we refer to as ‘finite uniform bisimulation’, and ‘regular finite uniform bisimulation’. We derive a sufficient condition for the existence of finite uniform bisimulations, and we investigate necessary conditions. We also present an algorithm to compute finite uniform bisimulations when the sufficient condition is satisfied. We conclude with an illustrative example showing how to construct deterministic finite state machine models of the underlying system when these finite uniform bisimulations exist.
Formation of PtSi Using Polycrystalline Si and Different Annealing Sequences

Formation of PtSi on As-doped polycrystalline Si is studied using different annealing sequences. An incomplete reaction between the Pt and Si is observed using a one-temperature anneal at 550 ° C, with unreacted Pt remaining in the film which is undesirable for the device processing. Using a three-temperature annealing sequence at 200–300–550 ° C in a N 2 -H 2 mixture, a complete reaction is observed between Pt and Si, with no unreacted Pt detected. The results are similar to that using single crystal Si, except for the less-oriented PtSi formed. The three-temperature annealing process described has thus been shown useful to the fabrication of PtSi contacts at device areas containing either single crystalline or polycrystalline Si.
An Incoherence in the Tractatus

After he had rejected much of the Tractatus, Wittgenstein, upon at least one occasion, still “thought that in the Tractatus he had provided a perfected account of a view that is the only alternative to the viewpoint of his later work”—a perfected account: that is to say (at least) a well-knit, coherent one. It seems to me that this merit must be denied the whole account presented in the Tractatus and I would like to explain why. The Tractatus holds that every true or false proposition is analyzable as a truth-functional compound of elementary propositions. It further holds that elementary propositions are completely independent of one another. “The simplest kind of proposition, an elementary proposition, asserts the existence of a state of affairs” (4.21).
An Intralaboratory Evaluation of the Coulter S+II® Lymphocyte Percent (CLy%) as Indicative of Actual Lymphocyte Numbers in Blood

A field trial of the medical significance and possible error rate associated with the Coulter S+II lymphocyte percent was performed by comparing 1,500 sequential differentials performed on Geometric Data Hematrak instruments to the results of Coulter volume displacement enumeration of lymphocytes on three S+II instruments. The results of this study indicate that a statistically significant but medically insignificant bias is present between lymphocyte counting technics, that the statistical imprecision of the determination of lymphocytes by the Coulter lymph percent (CLy%) falls within the expected range for statistical inaccuracy of determination of lymphocytes by manual differential technics and that in virtually all cases no medically significant errors would result from accepting the CLy% as indicating the actual numbers of lymphocytes present, as all blood specimens with medically significant abnormalities would have had manual differential and slide review triggered by other abnormalities in the blood count results. The Coulter lymph percent is a useful addition to the other complete blood count parameters.
Immersive Visualization to Support Scientific Insight

The Virtual Reality Design for Science course explores the visual and human-computer interaction design process for scientific applications in immersive virtual reality. The fall 2015 version of the class, which has run on occasion for 14 years, was cross-listed at Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. The course feeds upon both artistic and scientific perspectives in considering the design of science-support tool prototypes.
Healthcare Coverage for HIV Provider Visits Before and After Implementation of the Affordable Care Act

BACKGROUND Before implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) in 2014, 100 000 persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH) lacked healthcare coverage and relied on a safety net of Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program support, local charities, or uncompensated care (RWHAP/Uncomp) to cover visits to HIV providers. We compared HIV provider coverage before (2011-2013) versus after (first half of 2014) ACA implementation among a total of 28 374 PLWH followed up in 4 sites in Medicaid expansion states (California, Oregon, and Maryland), 4 in a state (New York) that expanded Medicaid in 2001, and 2 in nonexpansion states (Texas and Florida). METHODS Multivariate multinomial logistic models were used to assess changes in RWHAP/Uncomp, Medicaid, and private insurance coverage, using Medicare as a referent. RESULTS In expansion state sites, RWHAP/Uncomp coverage decreased (unadjusted, 28% before and 13% after ACA; adjusted relative risk ratio [ARRR], 0.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], .40-.48). Medicaid coverage increased (23% and 38%; ARRR, 1.82; 95% CI, 1.70-1.94), and private coverage was unchanged (21% and 19%; 0.96; .89-1.03). In New York sites, both RWHAP/Uncomp (20% and 19%) and Medicaid (50% and 50%) coverage were unchanged, while private coverage decreased (13% and 12%; ARRR, 0.86; 95% CI, .80-.92). In nonexpansion state sites, RWHAP/Uncomp (57% and 52%) and Medicaid (18% and 18%) coverage were unchanged, while private coverage increased (4% and 7%; ARRR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.62-1.99). CONCLUSIONS In expansion state sites, half of PLWH relying on RWHAP/Uncomp coverage shifted to Medicaid, while in New York and nonexpansion state sites, reliance on RWHAP/Uncomp remained constant. In the first half of 2014, the ACA did not eliminate the need for RWHAP safety net provider visit coverage.
Research on Incentive Mechanisms in P2P Media Streaming

Incentive mechanism is more necessary in peer-to-peer media streaming systems than those of traditional P2P file-sharing systems.This paper presents a survey on existing incentive mechanisms in P2P media streaming system, based on reputation,market,punishment,taxation,and a kind of natural Bazaar model.Detailed analysis of typical in- stances of all above mechanisms and comparison among the existing techniques are also presented.Based on the survey, this paper also outlines future research directions.
Development of Atrium Axial Flow Pump

Atrium axial flow pump,having the shape of a column,is 15 mm in diameter and 45 mm in length.A wider thin suture ring encircles the pump column in the middle,dividing it into anterior and posterior part.The anterior part is to be inserted into the atrium compartment via a incision on the atrium wall at implantation,and the suture ring sutured onto the atrium wall to fix the pump as well as to prevent the wall collapse due to the pump suction.The prototype in this study was tested in a liquid circuit and the reasults showed that the pump,at the rotary speed of 14800rpm,could produce a 5L/min output against a 100mmHg afterload,sufficient for right and left ventricular assistance,or even biventricular assistance with two pumps.
Nutritional management of horses competing in 160 km races.

A survey was taken of dietary management and training schedules of 54 horses competing in two 160 km endurance races. A total of 52 owners, representing 54 horses, responded to a questionnaire distributed prior to the races. Diet and training schedules were compared between horses that successfully completed the races and those that were eliminated for metabolic reasons. Horses that completed the races were 11.5 +/- 4 years old, weighed 429 +/- 4.5 kg and were ridden 61 +/- 32 km a week when training. Feed intake was reported as "free choice hay or pasture" by 34 of the respondents. Dry matter (DM) hay intake in these horses was estimated to be 3% body weight (kg) minus the kg DM of grain fed, assuming a maximum intake. They were fed 12.3 +/- 2.3 kg feed per day consisting of 10 +/- 2.3 kg hay and 2.3 +/- 1.4 kg of grain. Most had free access to salt and were fed 1 +/- 1 vitamin/mineral supplement per day. Based on Nutritional Research Council (NRC) values for nutrient content of the reported feeds, diets contained 60 +/- 5% total digestible nutrients (TDN), 12 +/- 2% crude protein, 27 +/- 4% crude fiber, 0.72 +/- 0.4% calcium and 0.29 +/- 0.06% phosphorus. Maximum caloric intake was estimated to be 31.9 Mcal per day. Ratios of nutrients fed per kilometer trained were: kg TDN/km = .14 +/- .08, kg crude protein/km trained = .03 +/- .02, and kg crude fiber/km trained = .06 +/- .04.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Introduction of pharmacy technicians onto a busy oncology ward as part of the nursing team.

A project was planned to explore the practicality of using pharmacy technicians to support the workload of nursing teams on a busy haematology oncology ward of 28 beds in a university acute care children's hospital of 300 beds. The question asked was, could pharmacy technicians be part of the nursing team to undertake what has traditionally been considered a nursing role? Three pharmacy technicians were trained and participated in the study. Assisting in the preparation and administration of 509 intravenous injections out of a possible 1123 (45%) of all intravenous injections prepared on the ward during the study period. The results indicated a reduction in adverse events of 1–2 a day during the study period, a reduction in work-related stress by nursing staff associated with preparing complex medication and releasing a nurse, 4 hours a day to enable them additional time to care for patients.
Learning minimal latent directed information polytrees

We propose an approach for learning latent directed polytrees as long as there exists an appropriately defined discrepancy measure between the observed nodes. Specifically, we use our approach for learning directed information polytrees where samples are available from only a subset of processes. Directed information trees are a new type of probabilistic graphical models that represent the causal dynamics among a set of random processes in a stochastic system. We prove that the approach is consistent for learning minimal latent directed trees. We analyze the sample complexity of the learning task when the empirical estimator of mutual information is used as the discrepancy measure.
Three Types of Monastic Temple in Hindu India

Much of what is vital in contemporary urban Hinduism is centered in maths , temples maintained by religious orders. The activities of both monks and laymen in these centers reflect the unique solution of their community to the perennial Hindu problem of balancing Wisdom, Ecstasy, and Works. Maths of the ancient Shankara Order clearly reflect the dichotomy between the monks' quest for wisdom and the laymen's practice of devotion, as noted by Max Weber; maths of the medieval Chaitanya Order show, in their layout, the centrality of kirtan (ecstatic communal worship); maths of the modern order of Sri Ramakrishna reflect the modern emphasis on practical service to the community through education and medicine. In each case, the configuration of the monastic-temple enclosure reflects the spirit of the community and the order.
Fluctuations in Global Brain Activity Are Associated With Changes in Whole-Brain Connectivity of Functional Networks

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between global brain activity, changes in whole-brain connectivity, and changes in brain states across subjects using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: We extended current methods that use a sparse set of coactivation patterns to extract critical time points in global brain activity. Critical activity time points were defined as points where the global signal is greater than one standard deviation above or below the average global signal. Four categories of critical points were defined along dimensions of global signal intensity and trajectory. Voxel-based methods were used to interrogate differences in connectivity between these critical points. Results: Several differences in connectivity were found in functional resting-state networks (RSNs) as a function of global activity. RSNs associated with cognitive functions in frontal, parietal, and subcortical regions exhibited greater whole-brain connectivity during lower global activity states. Meanwhile, RSNs associated with sensory functions exhibited greater whole-brain connectivity during the higher global activity states. Moreover, we present evidence that these results depend in part upon the standard deviation threshold used to define the critical points, suggesting critical points at different thresholds represent unique brain states. Conclusion: Overall, the findings support the hypothesis that the brain oscillates through different states over the course of a resting-state study reflecting differences in RSN connectivity associated with global brain activity. Significance: Increased understanding of brain dynamics may help to elucidate individual differences in behavior and dysfunction.
A comparative study on the performance of binary SnO2/NiO/C and Sn/C composite nanofibers as alternative anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract The development of alternative anode materials out of flexible composite nanofibers has seen a growing interest. In this paper, binary carbon nanofiber electrodes of SnO 2 /NiO and Sn nanoparticles are produced using a scalable technique, Forcespinning (FS), and subsequent thermal treatment (carbonization). The Sn/C composite nanofibers were porous and flexible, while the SnO 2 /NiO composite nanofibers had “hairy-like” particles and pores on the fiber strands. The nanofiber preparation process involved the FS of Sn/PAN and SnO 2 /NiO/PAN solution precursors into nanofibers and subsequent stabilization in air at 280 ° C and calcination at 800 °C under an inert atmosphere. The flexible composite nanofibers were directly used as working electrodes in lithium-ion batteries without a current collector, conducting additives, or binder. The electrochemical performance of the SnO 2 /NiO/C and Sn/C composite fiber anodes showed a comparable cycle performance of about 675 mAhg −1 after 100 cycles. However, the SnO 2 /NiO/C electrode exhibited a better rate performance than the Sn/C composite anode and was able to recover its capacity after charging with a higher current density. A postmortem analysis of the composite nanofiber electrode after the aging process revealed a heavily passivated electrode from the electrolyte decomposition by-products. The synthesis and processing methods used to produce these composite nanofibers clearly were a factor for the high rate capability and excellent cycle performance of these binary composite electrodes, largely on the account of the unique structure and properties of the composite nanofibers.
Oxidation of organosulfur compounds by the microsomal fraction of germinating pea seeds (Pisumsativum)

Abstract The oxidation of organosulfur functional groups by the microsomal fraction of germinating pea seeds has been investigated. Arylsulfides, but not thioamides, were converted to sulfoxides by this hemoprotein in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.
Seismic displacement of gently-sloping coastal and marine sediment under multidirectional earthquake loading

Abstract Gentle sediment-laden slopes are typical of the onshore coastal zone and offshore continental shelf and slope. Coastal sediment are commonly young weakly consolidated materials that are well stratified, have low strength, and can mobilize shear displacements at low levels of stress. Seismically-driven plastic displacements of these sediment pose a hazard to coastal cities, buried onshore utilities, and offshore infrastructure like harbor protection and outfalls. One-dimensional rigid downslope-directed Newmark sliding block analyses have been used to predict earthquake deformations generally on steeper slopes that are modeled as frictional materials. This study probes the effect of multidirectional earthquake motions on inertial displacements of gently sloping ground of the coastal and offshore condition where soft-compliant soil is expected. Toward that objective, this investigation seeks to understand the effect on Newmark-type displacements of [1] multidirectional earthquake shaking and [2] soil compliance. In order to model multidirectional effects, the earthquake motions are rotated into the local slope strike- and dip-components. On gently sloping ground, including the strike component of motion always results in a larger and more accurate shear stress vector. Strike motions are found to contribute to downslope deformations on any declivity. Compliant response of the soil mass also influences the plastic displacements. The magnitude of seismic displacements can be estimated with a simplified model using only the estimated soil yield-acceleration (ky) and the peak ground velocity (Vmax) of the earthquake motions. Compliance effects can be effectively mapped using the concept of Plastic Displacement Response Spectra (PDRS).
Activating PIK3CA and AKT mutations in triple-receptor-negative breast cancer

C42 Background: The PI3K pathway mediates key cellular functions including metabolism, angiogenesis, survival, growth and proliferation. Multiple PI3K pathway members are mutated in human cancers creating an expectation that targeting this pathway will have broad antitumour activity. Functional mutations in the three AKT isoforms have been reported (E17K-AKT1) in 8% of breast cancers. The purpose of this study was to detect PIK3CA and AKT mutations in triple receptor-negative (TN) breast cancers and to correlate the presence of these mutations with distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and extension primers for AKT and PIK3CA were designed using Sequenom (San Diego, CA) Assay Design. PCR-amplified DNA was cleaned using EXO-SAP (Sequenom), primer extended by IPLEX chemistry, desalted using Clean Resin (Sequenom) and spotted onto Spectrochip matrix chips using a nanodispenser (Samsung). Chips were run in duplicate on a Sequenom MassArray MALDI-TOF MassArray system. Sequenom Typer Software and visual inspection was used to interpret mass spectra. Reactions where more than 15% of the resultant mass ran in the mutant site in both reactions were scored as positive. Results: Tissue from 91 patients was available. 90% of the patients received anthracyclin and/or taxane based chemotherapy regimen. The E17K-AKT1 mutation was not detected in any of the 91 TN breast cancers. PIK3CA mutations were detected in 8/91 (9%) TN breast cancers. Median age was 51 years (27-83). At a median follow up of 19.9 months (range 5.9 - 233.3), 25 (27%) patients developed distant metastasis. All the systemic recurrences occurred in patients with tumors with wtPIK3CA. DMFS at 3 years was 100% for the patients who had tumors with PIK3CA mutations and 61.9% (95% CI = 49.5, 77.4) for the patients who had wtPIK3CA tumors, p = 0.11. Conclusion: No E17K-AKT1 mutations were seen in this group of TN breast cancers. PIK3CA mutations occurred in 9% of the tumors. Patients with TN breast cancers with PIK3CA mutations seem to have a better prognosis. We are currently studying PTEN levels in these set of tumors.
The Evolution of Education in Nigeria: How has it Impacted Ordinary Nigerians from Pre-Independence till Present?

This article looked at the maturity of the Nigerian educational system from independence until now. As a comprehensive and historical review of the educational system/standard in Nigeria, this article examine some of the educational issues/shortcomings confronting the Nigerian people, and their inability to anticipate and strategically plan a course of action to handle the stressors. Additionally, this article also discussed the effects of globalization and how it has transformed/reshaped the fundamentalism of educational practices in Africa. As such, the problem with the Nigerian educational system is that it is lacking in many educational areas. It is recommended that the Nigerian government facilitate the development/construction of new infrastructures. For any society to grow/function properly, economically, developmentally, and/or fundamentally it needs certain infrastructures in place, i.e., standardized and structurally sound school buildings.
The challenges of using the WebCAPE placement exam in an advanced Spanish grammar class

ABSTRACTThis study attempts to ascertain if the WebCAPE placement exam can be used to measure improvement in an upper division grammar course. The WebCAPE online placement exam is a widely used instrument designed to help university language programs place students into the basic language course best corresponding to their proficiency level. This is done through computerized adaptive language testing optimized for students in the first four semesters of basic language instruction. In this study the researcher employed this placement exam in the context of an advanced Spanish grammar class. The study revealed that the WebCAPE produces statistically significant results when correlated to final grade, test average, and the second administration of the placement exam at the end of the semester. However, the effect sizes for the predictive elements were small. It was further observed that for participants who initially placed above the recommended cut-off for higher than third semester Spanish, there was a mod...