cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cricothyroid Muscle and Thyroarytenoid Muscle Dominance in Vocal Register Control: Preliminary Results

Summary Hypothesis Headmix and head registers use cricothyroid (CT) muscle dominant voicing, whereas chest and chestmix registers use thyroarytenoid (TA) muscle dominant voicing. Study Design Cross-sectional study. Methods CT and TA electromyographic data obtained from five untrained singers and two trained singers were analyzed to determine CT and TA muscle dominance as a function of register. Simultaneous recordings of TA and CT muscle activity and audio were obtained during production of pitch glides and a variety of midrange and upper pitches in chest, chestmix, headmix, and head registers. Results TA dominant phonation was only observed for chest productions and headmix/head register productions below 300 Hz. All phonation above 300 Hz, regardless of register, showed CT:TA muscle activity ratios that were CT dominant or close to 1, indicating nearly equal CT and TA muscle activity. This was true for all subjects on all vocal tasks. For the subjects sampled in this study, pitch level appeared to have a greater effect on TA and CT muscle dominance than vocal register. Conclusion Preliminary findings regarding CT and TA dominance and register control do not support the assumption that all chest and chestmix production has greater TA muscle activity than CT muscle activity or that all headmix and head production require greater CT muscle activity than TA muscle activity. The data indicate that pitch level may play a greater role in determining TA and CT dominance than register.
An adaptive surface sink redeployment strategy for Underwater Sensor Networks

The performance of Underwater Sensor Networks (UWSNs) can be severely affected by the dynamics of underwater environment. A surface sink is usually deployed at a pre-specified location to maximize one or more performance metrics. However, when the network is dynamic, a redeployment of surface sink should be considered to reduce the effect of mobility on the network performance. Redeployment can be done periodically, at times based on a mobility prediction models, or adaptively based on performance degradation. Unnecessary redeployment can result from using the periodic or prediction based redeployment. In this paper we present an adaptive dynamic sink redeployment strategy that enforces redeployment only if a reduction in energy consumption is guaranteed. The redeployment decision is based on routing information collected at the surface sink throughout network operation. We use a location unaware routing protocol “adaptive power controlled routing protocol” as the underlying routing strategy. When the mobility of the network is not severe, nodes tend to use a fixed power level to communicate with neighboring nodes or surface sink. However, if more nodes are switching to use higher power levels for communication and the energy consumption is increased a sink redeployment procedure is started. Surface sink then triggers localization and finds the optimal new location of surface sink to minimize total energy consumption. Simulation results show that adaptive sink redeployment achieves a considerable reduction in energy consumption.
Impaired patterned responding in rats with electrolytic median raphe lesions.

Abstract Rats with electrolytic lesions of the median nucleus of the raphe were severely impaired in the acquisition of a straight alley, single alternation response compared to sham operated controls. This deficit was due to the failure of lesioned animals to reduce their running speeds on non-reinforced trials. As similar results have been obtained following damage to several limbic structures, this study provides behavioral evidence for the concept of a limbic midbrain circuit.
Risk Factors, Prevention and Early Detection of Prostate Cancer

Approximately one in six men in the United States will develop prostate cancer during their lifetime. Genetic and environmental variables play a role in determining prostate cancer risk. This article highlights the latest evidence regarding the risk factors for prostate cancer. The current screening strategies using prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal examination are also discussed, as well as the limitations of these protocols and potential methods for improving early detection.
Nanostructure development during devitrification and deformation

Abstract The devitrification of amorphous phases can be controlled to yield a nanoscale microstructure based upon either a high density of nanocrystals dispersed in an amorphous matrix or a completely nanocrystalline solid. For both rapidly solidified marginal glass forming alloys and slowly cooled bulk glass forming alloys, the high nanocrystal densities are related to nucleation reactions that are sensitive to the initial as-prepared state of the amorphous phase. For example, nucleation densities of 1021 m−3 can be enhanced to 1023 m−3 by selective doping of Al-based glasses and the glass forming ability of bulk amorphous alloys is known to be sensitive to minor impurities. The addition of only 1 at.% of Cu to amorphous Al–Sm–Ni or Al–Y–Fe alloys is an effective microstructure control by narrowing the size distribution of Al nanocrystals and reducing the average size of the nanocrystals from 10 nm to about 7.5 nm while increasing the particle number density. Calorimetry and microstructural analyses of the primary Al crystallization reaction suggest that the addition of Cu modifies the atomic arrangement and induces structural heterogeneities based upon medium range order (MRO) that can act as nucleation sites. The strong composition dependence of the crystallization reactions and resulting microstructures reflect not only underlying thermodynamic constraints, but also indicates a strong composition dependence of the amorphous phase atomic arrangement. These features point to a central role for heterogeneities in the evolution of nanoscale microstructures. During nanostructure synthesis by deformation of multilayers the thermodynamic constraints are also important, but the co-deformation of layers governs the generation of interfacial area that allows for the nanoscale alloying reaction. Moreover, kinetics studies have also revealed that the governing reactions often proceed under transient conditions and can lead to relatively stable and robust nanoscale microstructures.
Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes inhibit calcium-dependent [3H]acetylcholine release

We examined the effects of small unilamellar vesicles composed of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine on rat cerebral cortical [3H]acetylcholine release. Synaptosomes from this region were loaded with the labeled transmitter, and then incubated with the lipid (0–6 mg/ml) for specified intervals before adding various secretagogues. Liposomes (0.4 mg/ml–6 mg/ml) inhibited the calcium-dependent release of [3H]acetylcholine induced by 50 mM K+, A23187 (1–5 μg/ml) or 500 μM ouabain; the calcium-independent release induced by ouabain was not affected by the highest liposome concentration studied (6 mg/ml). [3H]Acetylcholine levels were also reduced by the liposomes, but higher concentrations were necessary to do so than to reduce K+-induced release. These reductions occurred in the S3 (cytosol) but not P3 (microsomal) subcellular fraction of the nerve terminals. The 50 mM K+-induced induced release of [3H]norepinephrine and [3H]dopamine from cerebral cortical and striatal synaptosomes, respectively, were not affected by 6 mg/ml lipid. Together, these results suggest that the dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine liposomes may modulate cholinergic transmission presynaptically at the level of the calcium-dependent transmitter-release process.
New physical criteria for using linear artificial viscosity

Artificial viscosity [Q] has been used for over 40 years [1] to simulate numerically the propagation of waves in a discretized continuum. It is composed typically of terms that are quadratic and linear in the gradient of the particle velocity, and switches (numerical representations of physical criteria) for turning the terms on and off. The quadratic term is active only in the region of a sharp discontinuity, e.g., a shock, where the velocity gradient is large, and spreads (smooths) the discontinuity over a few computational zones, or a fixed length. The linear Q was introduced to damp numerical noise, but it is active throughout the mesh. Consequently, it can be very dissipative. 6 refs., 5 figs., 1 tab.
Excess Electron Transfer in DNA: Effect of Base Sequence and Proton Transfer

The effect of base sequence on excess electron transfer (ET) along the DNA “π-way" is investigated in this work by use of various polynucleotide duplexes and salmon sperm DNA. Studies in frozen gla...
Adaptations to sulfide in the meiofauna of the sulfide system. I. 35S-sulfide accumulation and the presence of a sulfide detoxification system

Abstract Life in the sulfide system requires the ability to withstand the toxic effects of long-term sulfide stress. The adaptations of sulfide-system interstitial metazoans to sulfide stress have been investigated using 35 S-sulfide. One possible adaptation, the total exclusion of sulfide at the body wall, could not be demonstrated. Sulfide-system turbellarians and gastrotrichs, however, consistently incorporated less 35 S-sulfide during a 2-h incubation period than their surface-dwelling counterparts. Analysis of autoradiographs of the sulfide-system acoels Myopea crassula , Solenofilomorpha funilis , and Pseudohaplogonaria sp., and the surface-dwelling proseriate Archiloa wilsoni revealed major differences in the concentration of 35 S label in the body wall relative to the internal tissues. Timed uptake and loss experiments plus data from autoradiography showed that the label in the body wall was not permanently bound but, instead, was easily lost. The data indicate that a sulfide detoxification system exists in the body wall which uses an as yet unknown scavenging system to trap much of the sulfide that enters, detoxifies it, and releases the end-product to the medium.
To the Core: College Composition Classrooms in The Age of Accountability, Standardized Testing, and Common Core State Standards

An explanation of the history of standardized tests in the US reveals the ways they have shifted from tools of articulation to tools of accountability not only in K–12 classrooms but also in higher education. Understanding the competing interests at play and the potential effects of the Common Core State Standards at the college level is crucial to reasserting assessment as a teaching and learning practice instead of a system of accountability.
Signaling by hepatocyte growth factor in neurons is induced by pharmacological stimulation of synaptic activity.

Activity-dependent signaling by growth factors is hypothesized to link synaptic activity to structural and functional modifications of neurons. The receptor tyrosine kinase Met and its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), are clustered at excitatory synapses and may regulate aspects of excitatory synaptic function, as HGF increases expression of excitatory synaptic proteins, enhances their clustering at sites along dendrites, and increases current through the NMDA receptor. In this article, we test for secretion or activation of HGF and for activation of Met in response to pharmacological stimulation of synaptic activity. Stimulation of dissociated hippocampal neuron cultures with glutamate caused increased immunocytochemical staining against HGF on nonpermeabilized cells. Glutamate treatment also decreased the amount of pro HGF and increased the amount of the proteolytically-activated HGF in immunoblots of neuron culture lysates, and increased the levels of activated HGF in culture media. Stimulation of neuron cultures with glutamate or bicuculline induced autophosphorylation of Met on dendrites and the soma of neurons. Pretreatment of neurons with glutamate receptor inhibitors prior to glutamate treatment blocked autophosphorylation of Met. These results suggest that HGF can participate in activity-dependent signaling in neurons. Synapse 61:199–204, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Utility of Azapeptides as Major Histocompatibility Complex Class II Protein Ligands for T-Cell Activation

Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) protein binding and antigen specific activation of CD4+ ”helper” T cells are demonstrated with peptides composed of the antigenic hen egg ovalbumin 325−339 peptide (OVA) substituted with azaamino acids. AzaAla and azaGly substitutions were made at 10 sequential peptide positions (326Ala−335Asn) that lie in the binding groove. The peptide positions substituted with azaamino acids encompass almost the entire binding groove, including positions where the identity of the amino acid side chain is known to have the most significant effect on MHC binding and the least effect on T-cell recognition. In addition, the T-cell contact 333Glu was substituted with azaGlu to generate a partial agonist ligand for the 3DO-54.8 T-cell hybridoma. Binding to MHC II protein was assayed by measuring the kinetic stability of complexes formed between detergent-solubilized MHC II I-Ad protein and fluorescein-labeled OVA peptides using a fluorescence-HPLC assay. T-cell activation w...
The University of Michigan Library Espresso Book Machine experience

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to describe one university library's use of the Espresso Book Machine® (EBM), an innovative publishing technology that provides new options for matching content delivery to user needs. The paper aims to provide insight into the University of Michigan Library's experience with version 1.5 of this patented, integrated machine that automates the printing, binding, and trimming of softcover books from digital files.Design/methodology/approach – The paper describes the machine's technology, the Library's impetus for purchase, services currently offered and plans for future uses, as well as advantages and challenges of owning a machine.Findings – Although relatively new and still undergoing refinement, the Espresso Book Machine® technology can add value to library services by providing high quality, cost‐effective print options not otherwise available to the campus community and beyond. Specific advantages include speed, flexibility, access to networked content, and low‐co...
Universal portfolios with and without transaction costs

A constant rebalanced portfolio is an investment strategy which keeps the same distribution of wealth among a set of stocks from period to period. Recently there has been work on on-line investment strategies that are competitive with the best constant rebalanced portfolio determined in hindsight (Cover, 1991, 1996s Helmbold et al., 1996s Cover & Ordentlich, 1996a, 1996bs Ordentlich & Cover, 1996). For the universal algorithm of Cover (Cover, 1991),we provide a simple analysis which naturallyextends to the case of a fixed percentage transaction cost (commission ), answering a question raised in (Cover, 1991s Helmbold et al., 1996s Cover & Ordentlich, 1996a, 1996bs Ordentlich & Cover, 1996s Cover, 1996). In addition, we present a simple randomized implementation that is significantly faster in practice. We conclude by explaining how these algorithms can be applied to other problems, such as combining the predictions of statistical language models, where the resulting guarantees are more striking.
Consultation for Teachers and Children's Language and Literacy Development during Pre-Kindergarten.

MyTeachingPartner (MTP) is a teacher professional development program designed to improve the quality of teacher-child interactions in pre-kindergarten classrooms and children's language and literacy development. The program includes language/literacy activities and two Web-based resources—video exemplars of effective interactions and individualized consultation—designed to support teachers' high quality implementation of these activities. This study examined the impacts of the MTP Web-based resources on the language and literacy development of 1,165 children during pre-kindergarten. Children whose teachers were randomly assigned to receive access to both the video exemplars and participated in consultation (MTP Consultancy n = 65) made greater gains in receptive language skills during pre-kindergarten compared to children whose teachers were randomly assigned to receive access to the video exemplars only (MTP Video Library n = 69). Further, among MTP Consultancy teachers, more hours of participating in t...
Inhomogeneous Sintering: Stresses, Distortion and Damage

Heterogeneities in a sintering compact constitute a source of stress and distortion. Procedures for calculating the stresses and the distortion are described. Specific trends in the stress with initial differentials in density or particle size and with temperature are then discussed. Some effects of non-sinterable heterogeneites (hard agglomerates or whiskers) on sintering retardation are also analyzed. Finally, some remarks concerning sintering damage are presented.
Bacteriophage lambda cloning vehicles for studies of genetic recombination.

Abstract A pair of bacteriophage λ cloning vehicles has been constructed for use in studies of genetic recombination. These phages, λ rva and λ rvb , have the following properties: (1) Each vector has a single Hin dIII site in the immunity region, at which segments of DNA can be inserted. (2) These Hind III sites are flanked by selectable markers with the following phenotypes: Spi ± (Fec ± ) to the left, and imm λ or imm 434 to the right. (3) There is essentially no sequence homology between the two phages in this region, so recombination of the markers at reasonable frequency depends on the presence of homologous inserts at the Hind III sites. As a consequence, recovered recombinants must have resulted from a crossover event within the insert DNA. Restriction enzyme maps of the vectors have been determined. Variants of the original vectors have been isolated which permit separate examination of the viral (Red) and bacterial (Rec) generalized recombination mechanisms, and which provide a standard interval to which frequencies of recombination in cloned DNAs can be compared.
Enhancing defect detection with Zernike phase contrast in EUV multilayer blank inspection

In this paper, we present an experimental verification of Zernike phase contrast enhanced EUV multilayer (ML) blank defect detection using the SHARP EUV microscope. A programmed defect as small as 0.35 nm in height is detected at focus with signal to noise ratio (SNR) up to 8. Also, a direct comparison of the through-focus image behavior between bright field and Zernike phase contrast for ML defects ranging from 40 nm to 75 nm in width on the substrate is presented. Results show the advantages of using the Zernike phase contrast method even for defects with both phase and absorption components including a native defect. The impact of pupil apodization combined with Zernike phase contrast is also demonstrated, showing improved SNR is due to the stronger reduction of roughness dependent noise than defect signal, confirming our previous simulation results. Finally we directly compare Zernike phase contrast, dark field and bright field microscopes.
Sex differences in pain and pain-related disability among primary care patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain

Background. Although previous research suggests women report more severe pain than men, evidence for sex-related differences in pain-related disability is conflicting. Also, the impact of psychological factors on sex differences in disability is uncertain. Objective. The purpose of this study is to assess sex differences in pain-related disability and evaluate whether they are accounted for by psychological factors. Methods. Analysis of baseline data from the Stepped Care for Affective disorders and Musculoskeletal Pain study. Participants included 241 male and 249 female primary care patients with moderately severe persistent pain of the back, hip, or knee. Multivariable log-linear models were used to determine the association between sex and pain-related disability and whether sex differences persisted after adjustment for psychiatric comorbidity and potential psychological mediators. Results. Compared with men, women reported worse pain intensity, greater pain-related interference with function, and more disability days due to pain. They also had worse depression, anxiety, and self-efficacy. Sex differences in pain interference with function and pain disability days remained significant in multivariable models. Depression, poor self-efficacy, and fear of reinjury were independently associated with disability in both men and women. Conclusions. Women report greater pain-related disability than do men, even after controlling for depression, anxiety, and other psychological factors. Pain management strategies that target functional disability may be particularly important in the treatment of women with pain.
Resolution and reconstitution of succinate-cytochrome c reductase. Preparations and properties of high purity succinate dehydrogenase and ubiquinol—cytochrome c reductase

Abstract An improved method was developed to sequentially fractionate succinate-cytochrome c reductase into three reconstitutive active enzyme systems with good yield: pure succinate dehydrogenase, ubiquinone-binding protein fraction and a highly purified ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase (cytochrome b - c 1 III complex). An extensively dialyzed succinate-cytochrome c reductase was first separated into a succinate dehydrogenase fraction and the cytochrome b - c 1 complex by alkali treatment. The resulting succinate dehydrogenase fraction was further purified to homogeneity by the treatment of butanol, calcium phosphate gel adsorption and ammonium sulfate fractionation under anaerobic condition in the presence of succinate and dithiothreitol. The cytochrome b - c 1 complex was separated into cytochrome b - c 1 III complex and ubiquinone-binding protein fractions by careful ammonium acetate fractionation in the presence of deoxycholate. The purified succinate dehydrogenase contained only two polypeptides with molecular weights of 70 000 and 27 000 as revealed by the sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic pattern. The enzyme has the reconstitutive activity and a low K m ferricyanide reductase activity of 85 μmol succinate oxidized per min per mg protein at 38°C. Chemical composition analysis of cytochrome b - c 1 III complex showed that the preparation was completely free of contamination of succinate dehydrogenase and ubiquinone-binding protein and was 30% more pure than the available preparation. When these three components were mixed in a proper ratio, a thenoyl-trifluoroacetone- and antimycin A-sensitive succinate-cytochrome c reductase was reconstituted.
Further application of endochronic constitutive equation to loading with non-proportional axial-torsional strain-path

A combined theoretical-experimental investigation of the stress response to complex, non-proportional strain-paths in the axial-torsional strain space is reported in this paper. Type 304 stainless steel tubular specimens have been tested at a constant strain rate of 5 × 10−4 per second. Two strain-paths have been investigated. The first path involves a cyclic axial straining and unstraining following a shear prestraining, and the second strain-path is cyclic in shear after a prestraining in tension. The endochronic theory with a plastic strain defined intrinsic time has been shown to be capable of predicting the stress response to the two strain-paths considered.
Operative Complications of the Transconjunctival Inferior Fornix Approach

The transconjunctival inferior fornix incision provides access to the floor, rim, lateral, and inferior medial walls of the orbit. Complications of this surgical approach to the orbit are known to be rare but heretofore have not been clearly defined. Over an 8-year period, in an estimated 1200 cases, the authors have encountered cicatricial entropion, lower eyelid retraction, canthal dehiscence, lower eyelid avulsion, canalicular laceration, buttonhole laceration of the lower eyelid, conjunctival chemosis, and lacrimal sac laceration. Attention to anatomic landmarks and sound surgical execution will prevent these complications in most patients.
797 PROTECTION AGAINST HEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE (HITB) MENINGITIS RESULTING FROM FEEDING OF E. COLI 075: K100: H5 (E.C. 89)

Serum antibody to HITB capsular polysaccaride (ACAB) has been induced by gastrointestinal colonization with genetically unrelated bacteria possessing cross-reactive antigen (CRA). To investigate whether immunization with CRA results in altered susceptability to HITB meningitis, rats aged 5 days were fed either 107 E.C. 89 or saline (controls) on 3 successive days. All rats thrived normally. Stool cultures from 95% of 76 E.C. 89-fed rats yielded bacteria with CRA for ≥ 7 days, and 42% for 35 days; none of 68 controls were thus colonized. When aged 42 days, all rats were inoculated intransally with 107 HITB. After 5 days comparison of blood and CSF cultures showed a significantly (p<0.05) decreased incidence of bacteremia (41% vs. 62%) and meningitis (7% vs. 20%) in E.C. 89-fed rats. Pre-challenge serum levels of ACAB were undetectable (<20 ng/ml.) in both E.C. 89-fed and control rats. Five days after HITB challenge ≥200 ng/ml ACAB was detected in 32/46 E.C. 89-fed rats compared to 19/44 control rats (p<0.01). Levels of ACAB correlated with protection against bacteremia and meningitis; rats with meningitis had ACAB levels < 30 ng/ml. These data are consistent with priming of ACAB following colonization with E.C. 89 and extends previous observations to include protection against meningitis in a model in which the evolution of invasive HITB infection simulates that occurring in humans.
The reproductive behavior of Anthidium manicatum (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) and the significance of size for territorial males

Males of the wool-carder bee, Anthidium manicatum, patrol clumps of garden plants. Females of this species visit these plants for pollen, nectar, and pubescence; they also mate there. Females are polyandrous, with intervals between copulations as short as 35 s. Patrolling males defend their territories (0.1–1.3 m2) against other males and against other species of flower-visiting insects. Honey bees may be rendered unable to fly by the attacks of A. manicatum.
nNOS Expressing Neurons in the Entorhinal Cortex and Hippocampus Are Affected in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease

Nitric oxide is a multifunctional molecule that acts as messenger/modulator in synaptogenesis and potential neurotoxin and is synthesized by three isozymes of Nitric oxide synthase (NOS). The role of NOS in Alzheimer's disease (AD) is unclear. For example, neurons in the entorhinal cortex (EC) that are highly vulnerable to neurodegeneration in AD express low levels of NOS and while it has been suggested that the inducible form of NOS is upregulated in AD, it is still not clear if the constitutive expressed isozyme (nNOS) is involved in the process of neurodegeneration. In order to better understand the role of nNOS in the pathogenesis of AD, sections from the EC and hippocampus (HC) of AD and control cases were immunohistochemically analyzed by single- and double-immunolabeling using antibodies against nNOS and PHF-tau. Semiquantitative assessment of numbers of nNOS expressing neurons in different areas of the HC and EC showed a remarkable loss of nNOS expressing neurons in the entorhinal cortex layer II and--less severe--CA1 and CA3 of the hippocampus in patients with AD. In addition, double-immunolabeling studies revealed that nNOS is strongly associated with neurofibrillary tangles and plaques. These findings indicate that nNOS expressing neurons are highly susceptible to neurodegeneration and that nNOS might contribute to the pathogenesis of AD.
Atmospheric Radiation Measurements (ARM) program's north slope of Alaska climate research site: ARM's window on the Arctic

The North Slope of Alaska and the adjacent Arctic Ocean has been chosen as the primary high-latitude ARM site. This is a region of the globe where, on average, the planet loses more energy to space than it receives from the sun. Global climate models appear to be particularly sensitive to climate perturbations at high Northern latitudes. It is therefore important to pay careful attention to these heat sink regions and incorporate high-latitude climate processes correctly. Once we get high latitude processes `right,' we can use the polar regions as a diagnostic for global climate change. The Arctic is characterized by extreme seasonal variation in insolation, surface properties, and exchange of water vapor between the surface and the atmosphere. This extreme variation leads to important climate feedback mechanisms involving the interaction between surface temperature and water vapor, cloud cover, and surface albedo. The challenge for the North Slope of Alaska ARM site is to capture these high-latitude feedback processes for inclusion in global climate models.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Physics optimization of the Burning Plasma Experiment

Recent Improvements in the design of the BPX (Burning Plasma Experiment) aimed at optimizing its physics capability, are described. The divertor geometry, including X-point sweep specifications, has been modified to increase both nominal burn time and margin against uncertainties. Plasma control flexibility has been enhanced to ensure stable discharge ramp-down and single-null operation. The latter provides additional flexibility to optimize power handling and H-mode behavior. Design requirements and active coils are being incorporated to control field errors, with expected benefits for disruptivity, heat load uniformity, and transport. >
Atomic Capture of Negative Mesons in Hydrogen

I will begin by giving a brief description of the present state of theoretical understanding of atomic capture of negative mesons.1 In many ways, our ignorance here parallels that on the μ+ location in μ+SR studies that we will be hearing about. Then I will describe a very simple model calculation of μ− capture by the simplest of all atoms, atomic hydrogen.
Effects of Home-Based Walking on Quality of Life and Fatigue Outcomes in Early Stage Breast Cancer Survivors: A 12-Week Pilot Study.

Background: Adjuvant treatment for breast cancer may result in long-lasting, adverse emotional and physical side effects, and reduce quality of life (QOL). This pilot study examined the effects of a home-based walking program on QOL and fatigue in early stage breast cancer survivors and whether changes in walking behavior were associated with changes in outcomes. Methods: Participants (n = 32) were randomized to a 12-week home-based walking intervention plus brief telephone counseling (n = 20) or a wait-list control group (n = 12). Self-reported fatigue, QOL, and walking were assessed at baseline and 12-weeks. Results are presented as effect sizes. Results: Participants in the intervention had improvements in a majority of fatigue and QOL outcomes, whereas the control group had no change or worsened in many; effect sizes were generally in the small to medium range. Changes in fatigue/QOL outcomes were associated with changes in walking behavior, with effects generally in the small to medium range. Conclus...
Communicating the benefits and harms of treatments

Although various measures can be used to describe the benefits and harms of treatments, not all of these clearly show the benefits or otherwise of treatments in a clinically useful way. Relative risk and relative risk reduction are commonly used to describe the results of studies, but they are of limited clinical usefulness as they do not take baseline risks into account and tend to exaggerate the results of studies. Absolute risk measures such as the number needed to treat (NNT) and the number needed to harm (NNH) allow risk to be expressed in a much more clinically relevant way. The absolute risk measures reflect baseline risk and more accurately indicate the magnitude of the treatment effect. However, because they vary according to the baseline risk of the population, they are of limited generalisability, and the published NNT of a treatment in one population cannot be directly applied to another population with a different baseline risk. There are, however, a number of simple methods which can allow us to estimate NNTs or NNHs for our own patients based on published data. The benefits of a treatment (expressed as the NNT) and the harms of the treatment (expressed as the NNH) can be combined into a single ratio called the likelihood of being helped or harmed (LHH). LHH can be adjusted for individual patients by taking account of their own values and unique circumstances.
Poststroke Pharmacotherapy Another Ictus

The term ictus , used medically to denote a stroke or seizure, is a Latin word meaning “a blow.” Unfortunately, this definition is also an appropriate descriptor of the International Citicoline Trial on Acute Stroke (ICTUS)1—its results are another blow to the search for a safe and effective pharmacological approach for augmenting the clinical benefit of acute reperfusion therapy in patients with ischemic stroke or improving outcomes for those who cannot be recanalized. This carefully designed and conducted, multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial found that, “citicoline is not efficacious in the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute ischemic stroke,” (primary outcome for intention-to treat with citicoline based on a global outcome statistic including the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale, modified Rankin score, and Barthel index; odds ratio, OR=1.03, 95% CI, 0.86–1.25).1 Although referred to as a new drug in the ICTUS report, experimental and clinical data related to citicoline’s putative mechanisms of action and potential therapeutic effects have accrued over the last 4 decades.2,3 Exogenous citicoline (cytidine-5′-diphosphocholine) is hydrolyzed to cytidine and choline, rephosphorylated, and then resynthesized by cytidine triphosphate-phosphocholine cytidylyl transferase.4 Citicoline is the rate limiting intermediate for the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, an important membrane phospholipid.4 Although brain levels of citicoline after parenteral or oral administration are unknown, about 0.5% of total radioactivity of orally administered radiolabeled citicoline is incorporated into brain tissue compared with about 2% of an intravenous dose.5 In contrast to acute reperfusion interventions such as pharmacological thrombolysis or mechanical clot retrieval, treatment with citicoline had the potential to improve stroke outcomes through both neuroprotective (aimed at reducing the extent of ischemic injury) and neurorestorative (approaches affecting brain plasticity during the recovery process) effects. Neuroprotective actions of citicoline are hypothesized, at least in part, to be mediated through an …
TRAIT‐MEDIATED INDIRECT EFFECTS OF A THERIDIID SPIDER ON AN ANT‐PLANT MUTUALISM

Indirect effects associated with the spider Dipoena banksii, a predator of ants, are identified within the context of the ant-plant mutualism between Pheidole bicornis and Piper obliquum. Pheidole bicornis can detect D. banksii webs and avoid leaves occupied by the spider. In a field manipulation, plants with spiders suffered significantly more folivory than plants without spiders. Because the increase in folivory is associated with a modification of ant behavior, the effect of the spiders is proposed as an example of a trait-mediated indirect interaction.
Pulmonary embolism risk assessment screening tools: the interrater reliability of their criteria ☆

Background: Diagnostic evaluation for suspected pulmonary embolism (PE) is challenging. Dimerized plasmin fragment D (D-dimer) assays are increasingly used but have been validated only in blow-riskQ patients. The accurate interpretation and application of risk assessment criteria are critical to the appropriate use of D-dimer. We sought to determine the interrater agreement of attending and third-year resident emergency medicine physicians in the specific elements of the Canadian and the Charlotte risk stratification tools and their clinical application. Methods: We prospectively enrolled a convenience sample of patients presenting to an urban university emergency department with suspected PE. Standardized data collection sheets were used by an attending physician and a third-year resident physician to determine the presence or absence of risk factors included in published PE prediction instruments. Each physician was blinded to the other’s results and the patients’ D-dimer result. Interrater agreement was measured using j statistics (with 95% confidence intervals). Results: Two hundred seventy-one patients were screened. The j scores for each risk criterion were as follows: previous deep vein thrombosis, 0.90 (95% confidence interval, 0.83-0.97); malignancy, 0.87 (0.76-0.97); deep vein thrombosis symptoms, 0.54 (0.39-0.70); immobilization, 0.41 (0.26-0.57); unexplained hypoxia, 0.58 (0.42-0.74); tachycardia, 0.94 (0.89-0.98); hemoptysis, 0.76 (0.51-1.0); and PE more likely than another diagnosis, 0.50 (0.36-0.64).
Internally labeled Cy3/Cy5 DNA constructs show greatly enhanced photo-stability in single-molecule FRET experiments

DNA constructs labeled with cyanine fluorescent dyes are important substrates for single-molecule (sm) studies of the functional activity of protein–DNA complexes. We previously studied the local DNA backbone fluctuations of replication fork and primer–template DNA constructs labeled with Cy3/Cy5 donor–acceptor Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) chromophore pairs and showed that, contrary to dyes linked ‘externally’ to the bases with flexible tethers, direct ‘internal’ (and rigid) insertion of the chromophores into the sugar-phosphate backbones resulted in DNA constructs that could be used to study intrinsic and protein-induced DNA backbone fluctuations by both smFRET and sm Fluorescent Linear Dichroism (smFLD). Here we show that these rigidly inserted Cy3/Cy5 chromophores also exhibit two additional useful properties, showing both high photo-stability and minimal effects on the local thermodynamic stability of the DNA constructs. The increased photo-stability of the internal labels significantly reduces the proportion of false positive smFRET conversion ‘background’ signals, thereby simplifying interpretations of both smFRET and smFLD experiments, while the decreased effects of the internal probes on local thermodynamic stability also make fluctuations sensed by these probes more representative of the unperturbed DNA structure. We suggest that internal probe labeling may be useful in studies of many DNA–protein interaction systems.
Design of high-speed digital bandpass filters without multipliers

Using a special case of the frequency-sampling design approach with N=6, it is possible to design FIR (finite impulse response) bandpass filters without the need for multipliers. The technique is highly modular and thus lends itself to VLSI implementation and, since it only uses adders and registers (delays), it can be implemented with a very high sampling frequency (e.g. 100 MHz). The basic bandpass filters are limited to center frequencies at multiples of pi /3, and thus are somewhat restrictive. However, by applying a multirate technique and adding an additional low-sampling-rate filter, it is possible to place center frequencies at any multiple of pi /18. Further stages can refine the center frequency to any multiple of 2 pi /(6/sup n/), where n is the number of stages. The low-sampling-rate filters may be time-multiplexed but they do create undesirable image spectra unless they are centered at one of the original pi /3 multiples. Adjustment of the sampling frequency can place these bandpass filters at any desired center frequency. >
Hydrothermal Reaction and Dissolution Studies of CsAISi5Or12 in Water and Brines

The alteration of CsAlSi5O12, a possible host for 137Cs in tailored nuclear waste ceramics, was studied under simulated nuclear waste repository conditions of 100°, 200°, and 300°C with a confining pressure of 30 MPa. The cesium radiophase was found to be quite stable in water or 3N CaCl2, or 3N MgCl2 but not in 3N NaCl or 3N KCI or a bittern brine. The acid resistance of CsAlSi5O12 can be deduced from its stability in hydrothermal MgCl2 brine. Possible reaction mechanisms include the formations of pollucite and quartz in deionized water and the formation of Na or K feldspars and quartz in the presence of NaCl or KCl brines, respectively. A comparison of the various cesium aluminosilicates indicates that pollucite (CsAlSi2O6) is the best candidate for cesium-137 immobilization.
RF feedback simulation results for PEP-II

A model of the RF feedback system for PEP-II has been developed to provide time-domain simulation and frequency-domain analysis of the complete system. The model includes the longitudinal beam dynamics, cavity fundamental resonance, feedback loops, and the nonlinear klystron operating near saturation. Transients from an ion clearing gap and a reference phase modulation from the longitudinal feedback system are also studied. Growth rates are predicted and overall system stability examined.
Computed tomographic measurements predict component separation in ventral hernia repair.

Abstract Background Preoperative imaging with computed tomography (CT) scans can be useful in preoperative planning. We hypothesized that CT measurements of ventral hernia defect size and abdominal wall thickness (AWT) would correlate with postoperative complications and need for complex abdominal wall reconstruction (AWR). Materials and methods Patients who underwent open ventral hernia repair and had preoperative abdominal CT imagining were identified from an institutional hernia-specific surgery outcomes database at our tertiary referral hernia center. Grade III and IV hernias and biologic mesh cases were excluded. CT measures of defect size and AWT were analyzed and correlated to complications and the need for AWR techniques using univariate, multivariate, and principal component (PC) analyses. PC1 and PC2 used five AWT measures, hernia defect width, and body mass index to create a new component variable. Results There were 151 open ventral hernia repairs included in the study. Preoperative findings included 37.7% male; age 55.3 ± 12.5 years; body mass index (BMI) 33.3 ± 7.8 kg/m2; 60.3% were recurrent hernias with average defect width 8.5 ± 5.0 cm and area 178.3 ± 214 cm2; AWT at umbilicus 3.5 ± 1.8 cm; and AWT at pubis 7.0 ± 3.2. Component separation was performed in 24.0% of patients and panniculectomy in 34.4%. Wound complications occurred in 13.3% patients, and 2.7% had hernia recurrence. Increasing defect width, length, and area as well as select AWT measurements were associated with increased need for component separation, concomitant panniculectomy, and higher rates of wound and total complications (all P Conclusions Preoperative CT measurements of hernia defects and AWT predict wound complications and the need for complex AWR techniques. Obtaining preoperative CT imaging should be a consideration in preoperative planning and may help with patient counseling.
Laminar natural convection from a horizontal plate and the influence of plate-edge extensions

Laminar natural convection from a horizontal plate is studied by a finite-difference analysis and by experiments for Rayleigh numbers from 10 to 104. The plate with uniform surface temperature or concentration on one side and insulated on the other is situated in an ‘infinite’ fluid medium. The buoyancy near the surface is directed either outward or inward normal to the active surface – equivalent to a heated plate facing upward or downward. The effect of insulated vertical and horizontal extensions to the plate are also examined.Finite-difference solutions are obtained for a heated strip in a two-dimensional domain for a Prandtl number of 0·7. Mass-transfer experiments are performed with square naphthalene plates in air. Both numerical and experimental results justify a 1/5-power law in the present range of Rayleigh number – i.e. Nusselt number or Sherwood number proportional to the Rayleigh number raised to the 1/5 power. The horizontal extensions cause a limited reduction in the transfer rate for the plate generating ‘outward buoyancy’, and a larger reduction with ‘inward buoyancy’. The vertical walls block the fluid flow directly, and thus greatly lower the transfer rate with either outward or inward buoyancy.
Adaptation in a rotating artificial gravity environment

The centripetal force generated by a rotating space vehicle is a potential source of artificial gravity. Minimizing the cost of such a vehicle dictates using the smallest radius and highest rotation rate possible, but head movements made at high rotation rates generate disorienting, nauseogenic cross-coupled semicircular canal stimulation. Early studies suggested 3 or 4 rpm as the highest rate at which humans could adapt to this vestibular stimulus. These studies neglected the concomitant Coriolis force actions on the head/neck system. We assessed non-vestibular Coriolis effects by measuring arm and leg movements made in the center of a rotating room turning at 10 rpm and found that movement endpoints and trajectories are initially deviated; however, subjects readily adapt with 10-20 additional movements, even without seeing their errors. Equilibrium point theories of motor control errantly predict that Coriolis forces will not cause movement endpoint errors so that subjects will not have to adapt their reaching movements during rotation. Adaptation of movement trajectory acquired during Coriolis force perturbations of one arm transfers to the unexposed arm but there is no intermanual transfer of endpoint adaptation indicating that neuromotor representations of movement endpoint and trajectory are separable and can adapt independently, also contradictory to equilibrium point theories. Touching a surface at the end of reaching movements is required for complete endpoint adaptation in darkness but trajectory adapts completely with or without terminal contact. We have also made the first kinematic measurements of unconstrained head movements during rotation, these movements show rapid adaptation to Coriolis force perturbations. Our results point to methods for achieving full compensation for rotation up to 10 rpm. Copyright 1998 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.
Towards in-order and exactly-once delivery using hierarchical distributed message queues

In today's world, distributed message queues are used in many systems and play different roles (e.g. content delivery, notification system and message delivery tools). It is important for the queue services to be able to deliver messages at large scales with a variety of message sizes with high concurrency. An example of a commercial state of the art distributed message queue is Amazon Simple Queuing Service (SQS). SQS is a distributed message delivery fabric that is highly scalable. It can queue unlimited number of short messages (maximum size: 256 KB) and deliver them to multiple users in parallel. In order to be able to provide such high throughput at large scales, SQS omits some of features that are provided by traditional queues. SQS does not guarantee the order of the messages, nor does it guarantee the exactly once delivery. This paper addresses these limitations through the design and implementation of HDMQ, a hierarchical distributed message queue. HDMQ consist of collection of area message nodes that can be used to store messages up to 512 KB. It utilizes a round robin local load balancer to save the message and scale across the area region accordingly. HDMQ provides replication for high reliability of messages. It also provides SQS-like APIs in order to provide compatibility with current systems that currently use SQS. We performed a detailed performance evaluation and compared HDMQ to the commonly used commercial distributed queues measuring throughput, latency and price per request. We found HDMQ to outperform SQS, Windows Azure Service bus, and IronMQ by up to 2--15x times in throughput, 1.6--39x times in latency, and all this for 13%-80% less costs.