cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Equivalence checking for function pipelining in behavioral synthesis

Function pipelining is a key transformation in behavioral synthesis. However, synthesizing the complex pipeline logic is an error-prone process. Sequential equivalence checking (SEC) support is highly desired to provide confidence in the correctness of synthesized pipelines. However, SEC for function pipelining is challenging due to the significant difference between the behavioral specification and synthesized RTL. Furthermore, function pipelines include hardware logic for dynamically inserting "bubbles" (pipeline stalls), which bring additional difficulties in equivalence checking. We develop an SEC framework for behaviorally synthesized function pipelines by (1) building a reference pipeline model with a certified function pipelining transformation, which faithfully captures bubble insertion; and (2) checking the equivalence between the reference model and synthesized RTL. We demonstrate the scalability of our approach on industry-strength designs synthesized by a commercial tool.
Assessment of Compressive Strength of Flexible Composite Materials for Spinal Implantation

This research investigates the ultimate compressive strength of various flexible composite materials. The materials were investigated for replacement of the intervertebral disc, the cartilage in the spine between the vertebrate. Four prototype designs were considered. The laminated and the unidirectional composites were strength sensitive to the wet, simulated physiological environment. These two prototypes failed in shear by debonding between the fiber and matrix. Two braided designs maintained most of their compressive strength in the simulated physiological environment, and their strength was shown to be independent of the presence of an interfacial bond between the braided fibers and the elastomeric matrix.
Changing vasomotor responses of coronary arteries to nifedipine

Abstract Coronary vasomotion is influenced by a variety of factors, including atherosclerosis and diurnal variations in α-adrenergic tone. The effect of such factors on the coronary response to vasodilator drugs is unknown. To determine whether there is a diurnal variation to the response of coronary arteries to nifedipine, and whether this response is altered by atherosclerosis, we studied 11 patients with smooth coronary arteries, six in the morning and five in the afternoon, and 12 patients with irregular coronary arteries,, six in the morning and six in the afternoon. Changes in coronary blood flow and the vasomotor response of an epicardial coronary artery were measured before and after a 2 mg intracoronary infusion of nifedipine. There were no appreciable differences in epicardial vessel dilator response or coronary blood flow in the morning and afternoon among patients with smooth coronary arteries. By contrast, patients with irregular coronary arteries, had a significantly diminished dilator response in the afternoon, without an appreciable change in coronary blood flow. We postulate that normal coronary arteries maintain basal tone throughout the day. By contrast, atherosclerotic coronary arteries cannot do the same, increasing tone in the morning in response to catecholamines. When catecholamine levels drop in the afternoon, basal tone decreases in atherosclerotic vessels, and the dilator response to nifedipine is blunted. This observation may have an important impact on the expected benefits and timing of vasodilator therapy in patients with coronary artery disease.
Modeling climate change impacts of pavement production and construction

Abstract The 21st century is the century of urbanization. Along with rapid urbanization, the century is observing the biggest increase in the world's population in human history. As of 2006, the world human population reached 6.5 billion. Rapid global urbanization and explosive overall population increases generate high demand for new road networks. Paved surfaces can comprise up to 45% of land cover in urban regions of the United States and are designed with energy intensive products comprised of either Portland cement or petroleum-based asphalt (bitumen). Both of these products contribute to green house gas emissions and climate change at both the urban and global scales. This paper presents a process for road designers and transportation officials to model the impact of road material production and road construction of different pavement types on climate change (global warming) potentials. The process presented employs variables that can be modified by the designer to customize for their specific road configuration and materials type. Overall, the methodology allows engineers and planners to examine the direct CO 2 emissions related to pavement production and construction. By adjusting the model parameters, users can optimize a pavement design based on local resources, climatic conditions, traffic volumes, and energy needs.
The transience of interneuron circuit diversity just "sped" up.

Understanding the diversity of inhibitory neurotransmission is a central issue in neuroscience. GABA-mediated neurotransmission takes place across a broad time scale (Fig. 1). Fast GABAA receptor-mediated phasic inhibition decays within milliseconds, whereas tonic GABAA receptor-mediated inhibition persists for seconds and longer. Between these ends of the spectrum, there are the more enigmatic slow GABAA-mediated phasic inhibition [GABAA,slow (1)] and inhibition mediated by the GABAB receptor. GABAA,slow is poorly understood. The time course of decay is on a time scale of tens of milliseconds, intermediate to fast phasic inhibition and GABAB-mediated inhibition. The work of Szabadics et al. (2) in a recent issue of PNAS sheds light on the mechanism of GABAA,slow in cortical pyramidal cells (PCs) and also provides evidence for additional diversity of interneuron circuits in the cortex.
Neutron scattering study of the excitation spectrum of solid helium at ultra-low temperatures

There has been a resurgence of interest in the properties of solid helium due to the recent discovery of non-classical rotational inertia (NCRI) in solid 4He by Chan and coworkers below 200 mK which they have interpreted as a transition to a ‘supersolid’ phase. We have carried out a series of elastic and inelastic neutron scattering measurements on single crystals of hcp 4He at temperatures down to 60 mK. While we have found no direct evidence of any change in the excitation spectrum at low temperatures, we have found that the excitation spectrum of solid 4He shows several interesting features, including extra branches in addition to the phonon branches. We interpret these extra branches as single particle excitations due to propagating vacancy waves, which map on to the famous ‘roton minimum’ long known in the excitation spectrum of superfluid liquid 4He. The results show that in fact solid 4He shares several features in common with the superfluid.
Interplanetary gas X. Coronal temperatures, energy deposition, and the solar wind

Abstract The hydrodynamic equations are used to derive the temperature of an expanding, spherically symmetric corona from the observed coronal electron densities and the measured electron flux at the orbit of Earth. Possible complications such as the solar rotation, viscosity, and diffusive separation have been considered and their effect on the calculated temperatures is small within 3 solar radii. The energy deposition in the corona is derived from the observed densities, the calculated temperatures, an assumed expression for the radiative losses, and the first law of thermodynamics. A significant deposition of energy extends to about 2 solar radii, and for the homogeneous case, some 10 5 ergs/cm 2 sec is required to maintain the corona. We find that conduction, both outward and inward, is the major energy loss from the corona; radiative losses appear to be unimportant in the energy balance of the corona. The effects of fine structure in the corona are estimated by considering the corona as a collection of “model-rays” which contain the coronal material. This model gives coronal temperatures of about 2 × 10 6 °K, in essential agreement with the values from ionization data and the observed Doppler widths of coronal lines. The energy deposition required on the inhomogeneous model is two to three times larger than the values required for the homogeneous case, but the extent of significant deposition is approximately the same. For both cases, less energy deposition is required if the thermal conductivity is reduced in the radial direction. The energy equations can be used to predict the electron density at the Earth under the assumption that the conductive and thermal energy supplied by the corona to the interplanetary gas produces sufficient expansion to overcome gravity and yield bulk motion at the orbit of Earth. If for the expansion velocity, w , we take 500 km/sec at the Earth (on the basis of data from comet observations and space probes), we find the electron densities to be in the range 2–6/cm 3 .
Applications of lattice theory to graph decomposition

It is shown that the set of multitree classes equipped with a partial order is a lattice called a multitree lattice. This multitree lattice in fact is a geometric lattice. Since there is a one-to-one correspondence between a multitree class and an element of the multitree lattice, the trees of a composite of subgraphs can be generated without duplications by the set union of the Cartesian products of the multitree classes of the subgraphs, which form a maximal independent set.
Early development of the neutral theory.

The neutral theory of molecular evolution has become well known and widely discussed. As defined by Jukes and Kimura [1], it postulates that nucleotide substitutions inherently take place in DNA as a result of point mutations followed by random genetic drift. In the absence of selective constraints, the substitution rate reaches the maximum value set by the mutation rate, for example, about 5 x 10 ~9 substitutions per site per year. Rates slower than this occur when constraints are imposed by natural selection. This brief communication will review the history of the neutral theory during the 1960s, when it was proposed. Before this, genetic drift was often discussed; but not until sequences of amino acids in proteins became known was it possible to perceive neutral changes in molecular evolution. In 1961, differences in amino acid content of total protein in bacteria were found to be related to base composition of DNA. This will be discussed below. Later, sequences of nucleic acids became available and provided further evidence for neutral changes. Two proposals were made independently, one through biochemistry and one through population genetics.
Functional impairment severity is associated with health status among older persons with intellectual disability and cerebral palsy.

Background Studies have noted high rates of specific health disorders in adults with cerebral palsy (CP). However, it remains unclear how growing older with a lifelong neuromotor physical disability confers risk for health outcomes in adults who have both intellectual disability (ID) and CP. Aim To assess the relationship between health status in older adults with ID either with or without coincident diagnoses of CP. Method Health status data were drawn from 1373 adults aged 33 to 79 years with ID living in small group homes in New York State. Their health status was defined by the presence of common health disorders. Of these, 177 subjects had coincident CP. Prevalence data for nine diseases representing different organ systems were obtained and compared in individuals with and without CP. A Severity of Functional Impairment Index (SFII) was developed based on subjects' capabilities in activities of daily living (ADLs) and mobility. Two logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine if CP diagnosis was an independent predictor of health disorder prevalence, or rather exerted effects similar to those without CP via severity of functional impairment as determined by SFII scores. In addition, older age, gender, and severity of intellectual disability were examined as predictors of health disorder prevalence in all study subjects. Results Individuals with CP had higher frequencies in four out of the nine health disorders (overweight/obesity, gastroesophageal reflux, urinary tract infections and dysphagia). Analysis revealed a statistically significant association between SFII score and CP diagnosis. CP diagnosis alone was a statistically significant predictor for all of the above four common disorders; however, after adjustment for SFII score was included in health disorder models, only dysphagia showed an independent correlation with a CP diagnosis. Conclusion With the exception of dysphagia, impairment in ADLs and walking capabilities, and not CP diagnosis alone, accounted for disparities in specific diseases. Although the diagnosis of CP may be correlated with functional impairment, it alone may play a minor role in determining health trajectories in older persons with conjoint ID and CP.
Characterization of minienvironments in a cleanroom: Assessing energy performance and its implications

Abstract Filtered fans in cleanrooms can demand up to 400 W or more electric power per square meter of floor area to rapidly supply, recirculate, and exhaust air. “Minienvironments” that control particle concentrations within enclosures may not only maintain a level of stringent cleanliness, but also offer opportunities in energy savings and reducing operation costs through integration with adjacent cleanrooms. In order to better understand the total performance of minienvironments in operation, this paper characterizes energy performance of five different minienvironments (designated as ISO-Cleanliness-Class-3) that were in operation and were housed in a traditional, larger ISO-Cleanliness-Class-4 cleanroom used in the microelectronic industry. The measured parameters in the field investigation included electric power demand, airflows, in addition to physical characteristics and cleanliness performance of the minienvironments. In this paper, measured energy performance and associated metrics are compared to those of cleanrooms of various cleanliness classes. This paper develops new understanding of energy performance of minienvironments and quantifies the magnitudes of potential energy savings that could result from integrating minienvironments in traditional cleanrooms while achieving effective contamination control. Based upon this study, achieving energy savings by a magnitude of up to 60–86% was possible in the cleanroom facility housing the minienvironments. The paper also suggests means of increasing energy savings in minienvironments applications, including optimal design and operation, and space management in clean spaces.
Rationality in Writing: Linear and Curvilinear

A long time ago I received a letter from Rex Stout inviting me to join the Authors' Guild, a letter no doubt sent to all who had books published. I didn't join because I didn't think of myself primarily as a writer, but as an aspiring scholar who merely set out the results of investigations that, so to speak, wrote themselves. Writing was incidental, not essential. Some years later a similar letter arrived. By then, having spent several hours a day writing most days, I joined. I had become a writer, if not by accomplishment, at least by occupation. Only recently, however, have I thought of myself as a writer by vocation, as a person who cares about the quality and craft of writing as inseparable from the content of whatever I am trying to communicate. Indeed, for me, writing has become an integral part of thinking. I don't know what I think until I've tried to write it out. Sometimes the purpose of writing is to discover if I can express what I think I know; if it won't write, it isn't right. Other times I write to find out what I know; writing becomes a form of self-discovery. Always I hope to learn more than was in me when I started; few feelings compare with the exhilaration of discovering a thought in the writing that wasn't in the thinking. Books should be crafted. They are, in their way, like sculptures, hewn, chipped away, shaped out of recalcitrant material, imparting a somewhat different cast than was originally intended. Getting more out of yourself than you know so that the final version reads in part as if it were written by a stranger reveals writing as a process of discovery. Writing should also resonate with its subject matter. Making the form fit the substance, so the style re-enforces the content, is what craftsmanship is about. But the style should also fit the author, for style is a personal signature. In fields where who is writing affects what is written, it should be possible to recognize the author from the style. The danger is that the work would appear idiosyncratic Smith (or Wildavsky) is at it again so the subject matter brings little to the finished work. Nothing would be learned except what was in the author; worst of all, the author wouldn't have learned anything, and neither would the reader. It is one thing to want to read a piece because of the author, and quite another to learn more about the author than about the subject.
Doubly resonant coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy of Ce3+ in LuPO4.

We have measured coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectra between crystal-field levels of the $^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{5/2}$ and $^{2}$${\mathit{F}}_{7/2}$ manifolds of the ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ ion diluted in ${\mathrm{LuPO}}_{4}$ at \ensuremath{\sim}10 K. The anti-Stokes signal is nearly resonant with the lowest crystal-field level of the 5${\mathit{d}}^{1}$ configuration of ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$ at 30 460 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$. For a ${\mathrm{LuPO}}_{4}$ crystal doped with 0.06 mol % ${\mathrm{Ce}}^{3+}$, we found enhancements of the third-order susceptibility \ensuremath{\Vert}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}^{(3)\mathrm{R}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}^{(3)\mathrm{NR}}$\ensuremath{\Vert} as high as 11.6. This enhancement is over 20 times larger than that seen previously in singly resonant experiments with pure rare-earth crystals.
Tissue microarray analysis reveals prognostic significance of COX-2 expression for local relapse in T1-2N0 larynx cancer treated with primary radiation therapy.

Objective: The purpose of this analysis is to determine whether a significant correlation exists between cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and local relapse in a large cohort of patients with T1 to 2N0 laryngeal cancer treated with primary radiation therapy. Methods and Materials: Clinical and molecular analyses were conducted on 123 patients with biopsy-proven T1 to 2N0 laryngeal cancer. Clinical prognostic factors included pretreatment hemoglobin, age, sex, race, T stage, tumor subsite, beam energy, biologically equivalent dose, therapy duration, and treatment date. Molecular prognostic factors included COX-2, p53, and Ki-67 expression. Expression levels were determined by immunohistochemistry on paraffin-embedded tissues arrayed on tissue microarrays. Multivariate analysis was done with the Cox proportional hazards model. Results: Thirty-two patients have locally relapsed, for an actuarial 5-year local relapse-free rate of 70.4%. On multivariate analysis, positive COX-2 expression predicted local relapse after radiation therapy. The relative risk (RR) for local relapse with COX-2 positivity was 2.57 (95% CI, 1.21–5.47; P = .01). Other prognostic factors for local relapse included negative Ki-67 expression (RR = 5.72; 95% CI, 2.04–16.1; P < .001), T2 stage (RR = 2.98; 95% CI, 1.39–6.38; P = .005), and therapy duration greater than 43 days (RR = 6.04; 95% CI, 1.37–26.7; P = .02). Conclusions: Positive COX-2 expression predicts for local relapse in T1 to 2N0 larynx cancer in a multivariate model. This relationship may have potential therapeutic implications regarding the use of COX-2 inhibitors during radiation therapy for optimal outcome.
Microstructured polymer for shoe power generation

We report on a shoe power generator based on a microstructured piezoelectric polymer transducer. The properties of the transducer match regular shoe filling and it is designed to harness energy from human walk without affecting the user's gait. The generated power is regulated with a self-powered dc/dc conversion circuit that achieves a high 65% efficiency for converting the high piezoelectrically generated voltage (130 V) to a low voltage (4 V) suitable for portable electronic devices. The entire power generation system is embedded into the shoe heel, has large power output (4 mW raw power, 2.6 mW regulated power per shoe) and is small, soft, lightweight, durable, and low cost.
Preliminary observations on dissolution and bioavailability of triamterene-hydrochlorothiazide combination products.

The dissolution profiles of two brands of triamterene–hydrocholorthiazide (TRM–HCT) combination tablets and two brands of TRM–HCT combination capsules were studied using the USP paddle method at 100 rev min−1 in acid medium (0·1 N). The tablets represent two products marketed in Germany, whereas the capsules represent the approved innovator's product and an unapproved generic product. The tablets dissolved almost 100 per cent in 15 min whereas the capsules dissolved less than 25 per cent in 60 min. A pilot bioavailability study was carried out in four normal healthy male volunteers. Urine samples were collected over a 48 h period and analysed for TRM, its major metabolite TRM-sulfate, and HCT using HPLC methods. The dissolution characteristics of TRM can be associated with the total drug excretion (absorption) of the product. On the other hand, the excretion (absorption) of HCT was independent of dissolution characteristics of the products. However, in TRM–HCT combination product, there appears to be a 50 per cent reduction in HCT excretion (absorption) when compared to the reported excretion (absorption) from a marketed single-entity product.
An Integrated Software Suite for Surface-based Analyses of Cerebral Cortex

The authors describe and illustrate an integrated trio of software programs for carrying out surface-based analyses of cerebral cortex. The first component of this trio, SureFit (Surface Reconstruction by Filtering and Intensity Transformations), is used primarily for cortical segmentation, volume visualization, surface generation, and the mapping of functional neuroimaging data onto surfaces. The second component, Caret (Computerized Anatomical Reconstruction and Editing Tool Kit), provides a wide range of surface visualization and analysis options as well as capabilities for surface flattening, surface-based deformation, and other surface manipulations. The third component, SuMS (Surface Management System), is a database and associated user interface for surface-related data. It provides for efficient insertion, searching, and extraction of surface and volume data from the database.
A Probabilistic Approach to Address TCP Incast in Data Center Networks

Data centers typically host tens of thousands of servers that communicate with each other using high speed network interconnects. While these servers help in servicing millions of clients, their overall performance largely depends on the efficiency of the center's communication fabric. Cost and compatibility reasons however, persuade many data centers to consider Ethernet for their baseline communication fabric. Until recently, Ethernet speeds inside data centers averaged around 100Mbps but the evolution of IEEE 802.3 standards has led to the development of 1 Gbps and 10 Gbps Ethernet. This sudden jump in Ethernet speeds requires proportional scaling of TCP/IP processing for network intensive applications to really benefit from the increased bandwidth. While IP is expected to scale well in this context, TCP is known to have problems supporting very high data rates at very low latencies. One such problem, termed the `Incast', results in gross under-utilization of link capacity in certain many-to-one TCP communication patterns. This paper presents a practical solution to TCP's incast problem. Our proposed technique relies on a probabilistic approach that augments TCP's standard congestion recovery mechanism. Simulation results demonstrate that this technique is effective in avoiding TCP throughput collapse in data center networks.
Story, Telling, Design and Business

Storytelling: a communication approach that translates the needs of the business audience into the needs of the design practitioner.
3 Ounces Is All You Need

Abstract Accurate screening of individuals who are at risk for oropharyngeal dysphagia is critically important because of the negative outcomes associated with the disorder. This article provides a...
An Information-Task Approach to Organizational Communication

Considering communication as an organizational task, this article suggests three variables (availability, uniformity, and independence) that characterize the information task at the work unit level and explicates their dependence on strategic choices by work units. Three sets of propositions are developed relating information task characteristics to: (a) organizational task variables; (b) the organization's communication structure; (c) power and influence in the organization. Implications of the framework are considered.
Quench Behavior, Quench Protection of a YBCO Test Coil Assembly

This work aimed to study the quench behavior of a test coil assembly consisting of pancake coils. Parameters such as the quench energy and the normal zone propagation velocity, which are useful in designing detection and protection systems for real-life HTS devices, have been measured. The goal is to define the limit of the applicability of commercial YBCO wire technologies, usually referred to as second generation (2G), used to wind superconducting devices. To go beyond the stability characterization, an active protection scheme has been designed, integrated to the test coil assembly and tested as well.
Exact evolution of time-reversible symplectic integrators and their phase errors for the harmonic oscillator

The evolution of any factorized time-reversible symplectic integrators, when applied to the harmonic oscillator, can be exactly solved in a closed form. The resulting modified Hamiltonians demonstrate the convergence of the Lie series expansions. They are also less distorted than modified Hamiltonian of non-reversible algorithms. The analytical form for the modified angular frequency can be used to assess the phase error of any time-reversible algorithm.
Fractal n-hedral tilings of ℝd

An n-hedral tiling of ℝd is a tiling with each tile congruent to one of the n distinct sets. In this paper, we use the iterated function systems (IFS) to generate n-hedral tilings of ℝd. Each tile in the tiling is similar to the attractor of the IFS. These tiles are fractals and their boundaries have the Hausdorff dimension less than d. Our results generalize a result of Bandt.
The role of damping in seismic isolation

In the current code requirements for the design of base isolation systems for buildings located at near-fault sites, the design engineer is faced with very large design displacements for the isolators. To reduce these displacements, supplementary dampers are often prescribed. These dampers reduce displacements, but at the expense of significant increases in interstorey drifts and floor accelerations in the superstructure. An elementary analysis based on a simple model of an isolated structure is used to demonstrate this dilemma. The model is linear and is based on modal analysis, but includes the modal coupling terms caused by high levels of damping in the isolation system. The equations are solved by a method that avoids complex modal analysis. Estimates of the important response quantities are obtained by the response spectrum method. It is shown that as the damping in the isolation system increases, the contribution of the modal coupling terms due to isolator damping in response to the superstructure becomes the dominant term. The isolator displacement and structural base shear may be reduced, but the floor accelerations and interstorey drift are increased. The results show that the use of supplemental dampers in seismic isolation is a misplaced effort and alternative strategies to solve the problem are suggested. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Introduction to the Baltimore Ecosystem Study, Long-Term Ecological Research Project, Phase III

The Baltimore Ecosystem Study (BES) is one of two urban Long-Term Ecological Research (LTER) projects in the United States. It began its third funding cycle in 2011. Although the project continues key measurements that were started in 1997 at the inception of the research, the third phase is characterized by a new conceptual framework. Phase III of BES focuses on metropolitan Baltimore, Maryland, as a system poised for transition from a "sanitary city" -- characterized by engineered environmental solutions, management via discrete disciplines, and government control to a "sustainable city" -- which would be characterized by additional biological solutions, collaborative management, and polycentric and multi-level governance. In such a situation, the guiding research question becomes, "What are the effects of adaptive processes aimed at sustainability in the Baltimore socio-ecological system?" Adaptive processes are those social and biophysical features and actions which allow a complex system to adjust to changing internal and external drivers. The full proposal and other details of BES can be discovered on the project website: www.beslter.org
Nestin depletion induces melanoma matrix metalloproteinases and invasion

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are key biological mediators of processes as diverse as wound healing, embryogenesis, and cancer progression. Although MMPs may be induced through multiple signaling pathways, the precise mechanisms for their regulation in cancer are incompletely understood. Because cytoskeletal changes are known to accompany MMP expression, we sought to examine the potential role of the poorly understood cytoskeletal protein, nestin, in modulating melanoma MMPs. Nestin knockdown (KD) upregulated the expression of specific MMPs and MMP-dependent invasion both through extracellular matrix barriers in vitro and in peritumoral connective tissue of xenografts in vivo. The development of three-dimensional melanospheres that in vitro partially recapitulate noninvasive tumorigenic melanoma growth was inhibited by nestin KD, although ECM invasion by aberrant melanospheres that did form was enhanced. Mechanistically, nestin KD-dependent melanoma invasion was associated with intracellular redistribution of phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase and increased melanoma cell responsiveness to transforming growth factor-beta, both implicated in pathways of melanoma invasion. The results suggest that the heretofore poorly understood intermediate filament, nestin, may serve as a novel mediator of MMPs critical to melanoma virulence.
Sensorless planning for medical needle insertion procedures

Medical procedures such as seed implantation, biopsies, and treatment injections require inserting a needle tip to a specific target location inside the human body. This is difficult because (1) needle insertion causes soft tissues to displace and deform, and (2) it is often difficult or impossible to obtain precise imaging data during insertion. We are developing a sensorless planning system for needle insertion that incorporates numerical optimization with a soft tissue simulation based on a dynamic FEM formulation that models the effects of needle tip and frictional forces using a 2D mesh. In this paper we describe a sensorless planning algorithm for radioactive seed implantation that computes needle insertion offsets that compensate for tissue deformations. We apply the method to seed implantation during permanent seed prostate brachytherapy to minimize seed placement error in simulation without relying on real-time imaging.
Exploiting OS-level mechanisms to implement mobile code security

Mobile code systems provide an infrastructure that supports autonomous mobile components, called mobile agents. The infrastructure implements services for the transfer, execution, and protection of mobile agents. Security services are usually provided by implementing new security mechanisms that are explicitly tailored to mobile components. Unfortunately, developing sound, reliable security mechanisms is a non-trivial task, and a history of vulnerable and/or incomplete implementations of these mechanisms led to the idea that mobile code systems are inherently insecure, too complex, and very difficult to deploy. To overcome these problems, we developed a mobile code system that relies as much as possible on the security mechanisms already provided by the underlying operating system. By doing this, it is possible to develop, with reduced effort, security services that rely on well-known, well-understood, and well-tested security mechanisms. Also, by describing the security of the mobile code system in terms of the OS security mechanisms, system administrators can better evaluate the security implications of deploying the system. This paper describes the design and implementation of our system and compares its performance to several existing mobile code systems.
Post-traumatic stress disorder in victims of rape

Rape is a stressor that legitimately can be included in experiences that cause post-traumatic stress. A review of the professional literature on rape shows evidence for each of the criteria for PTSD. A sample of convenience of 29 rape victims showed a range of PTSD patterns, but 25 (86%) were either moderately or severely stressed. Victims consistently scored higher on standard stress measures than normal or out-patient samples. Implications of the study are discussed in terms of reframing the rape victim's experience as a response to traumatic stress.
Neural-network-based inverse control method for active power filter system

A new type of active power filter (APF) is described. A multi-layered neural network based inverse control method for this APF system is proposed. The functioning of the APF system is based on a switching network whose characteristics are nonlinear. The characteristic of the switching on-off time of the switching network and the output current of the APF was demonstrated. The switching on-off time can be instantaneously calculated by using the Neural-Network-Based Inverse Control algorithm proposed. The neural network was designed. An all digital control way may be realized by using the algorithm. The validation of the results of Inverse Control for APF is proposed as well.
Comparison of noise figure calibration and measurement techniques using noise figure verification techniques

We perform noise figure calibrations on a noise measurement receiver using the following techniques: A “Y-factor” technique that uses two source impedance states (a characterized “excess” noise source and a low reflection room temperature termination) in both the calibration and the measurement, a “Vector Cold Noise (VCN)” technique that uses multiple room temperature source impedance states in both the calibration and the measurement along with a characterized “excess” noise source in the calibration and a “Scalar Cold Noise” technique that uses the same calibration as the VCN technique, but uses only a low reflection room temperature source impedance state in the measurement. Following each calibration, we verify the calibrations after the method of Randa et al. and present the results along with uncertainties derived from a Monet Carlo simulation
Experiments with multicomputer LU-decomposition

We present a new concurrent LU‐decomposition algorithm based on implicit pivoting of both rows and columns. This algorithm is, to a large extent, independent of the distribution of the matrix over the concurrent processes. As a result, it can be used in programs with dynamically varying data distributions. Another advantage is that most pivoting strategies are easily incorporated. We also introduce two new, intrinsically concurrent, pivoting strategies: multirow and multicolumn pivoting. With this program, we study the performance of concurrent LU‐decomposition as a function of data distribution and pivoting strategy. We show that LU‐decomposition with some pivoting strategies is both faster and numerically more stable than LU‐decomposition without pivoting. Experimental evidence on the Symult 2010 and the iPSC/2 shows that, for performance considerations, pivoting is equivalent to randomizing the data distribution.
Gender and Age Stereotypes of Emotionality

This study examined the content of adults' stereotypes about sex differences in both the experience and the expression of emotions and investigated how these beliefs vary with the age of the target person. Four hundred college students (200 men and 200 women) judged the frequency with which they believed males or females in one of five age groups (infants, preschoolers, elementary schoolers, adolescents, and adults) typically feel and express 25 different emotions. It was found that adults' gender-emotion stereotypes held for both basic and nonbasic emotions and appear to be based on a deficit model of male emotional expressiveness (i.e., a belief that males do not express the emotions they feel). Moreover, these beliefs about sex differences in emotionality refer primarily to adolescents and adults. It was concluded that gender-emotion stereotypes are complex and that there may be an age-of-target bias in the evaluation of others' emotions.
Comparison of day 0 and day 14 dosimetry for permanent prostate implants using stranded seeds.

Purpose: To determine, using MRI-based dosimetry (Day 0 and Day 14), whether clinically significant changes in the dose to the prostate and critical adjacent structures occur between Day 0 and 14, and to determine to what degree any changes in dosimetry are due to swelling or its resolution. Methods and Materials: A total of 28 patients with a permanent prostate implant using 125 I rapid strands were evaluated at Days 0 and 14 by CT/MRI fusion. The minimal dose received by 90% of the target volume (prostate D 90 ), percentage of volume receiving 100% of prescribed minimal peripheral dose (prostate V 100 ), external sphincter D 90 , and 4-cm 3 rectal volume dose were calculated. An acceptable prostate D 90 was defined as D 90 >90% of prescription dose. Prostate volume changes were calculated and correlated with any dosimetry change. A paradoxic dosimetric result was defined as an improvement in D 90 , despite increased swelling; a decrease in D 90 , despite decreased swelling; or a large change in D 90 (>30 Gy) in the absence of swelling. Results: The D 90 changed in 27 of 28 patients between Days 0 and 14. No relationship was found between a change in prostate volume and the change in D 90 (R 2 = 0.01). A paradoxic dosimetric result was noted in 11 of 28 patients. The rectal dose increased in 23 of 28 patients, with a >30-Gy change in 6. The external sphincter D 90 increased in 19 of 28, with a >50-Gy increase in 6. Conclusion: The dose to the prostate changed between Days 0 and 14 in most patients, resulting in a change in clinical status (acceptable or unacceptable) in 12 of 28 patients. Profound increases in normal tissue doses may make dose and toxicity correlations using Day 0 dosimetry difficult. No relationship was found between the prostate volume change and D 90 change, and, in 11 patients, a paradoxic dosimetric result was noted. A differential z -axis shift of stranded seeds vs. prostate had a greater impact on final dosimetry and dose to critical adjacent tissues than did prostate swelling. These findings challenge the model that swelling is the principal cause of dosimetric changes after implantation. Stranded seeds may have contributed to this outcome. On the basis of these findings, a change in technique to avoid placement of stranded seeds inferior to the prostate apex has been adopted. These results may not apply to implants using single seeds within the prostate.
Transition from Child-Oriented to Adult-Oriented Health Care

The growing number of young adults with neurodevelopmental disabilities and chronic diseases necessitates a careful consideration of the issues involved in transition of these youth from a child-focused to an adult-oriented health-care system. Most adolescents accomplish the transition successfully as a natural process of growth and maturation in all spheres of life. Presence of chronic disease or disability, however, adds a significant dimension to the transition process and affects all areas of the adolescent’s life – medical care, educational, vocational, daily living and activity, financial, and employment. The psychological and psychosocial impact of chronic illness or disability on the youth and family has been well documented. A brief overview of issues as they relate to transition of medical care of adolescents and young adults with chronic disease or disability from child-oriented to adult-oriented system of health care is presented here.
Recurrence intervals of spatially simulated hydrologic metrics for restoration of Cape Sable seaside sparrow (Ammodramus maritimus mirabilis) habitat

Abstract Marl prairie, a diverse graminoid-dominated freshwater vegetation community in the Florida Everglades, provides a specialized niche for the federally endangered Cape Sable seaside sparrow (CSSS). This paper describes a regional habitat suitability modeling approach to evaluating how changes in management from Everglades restoration may affect the CSSS. The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow Marl Prairie Indicator (CSSSMarlPrairie) is a spatially explicit model that integrates frequency (return periods) of target hydrologic conditions to simulate the anticipated response of marl prairie CSSS habitats to fluxing hydropatterns resulting from restoration projects, water management operations, and climatic change. The model integrates CSSS field survey data with the hydrologic targets at the resolution of the hydrologic simulation model (in this case, the Regional Simulation Model). The application of return periods for hydrologic events provides a novel approach for simulation of anticipated marl prairie responses in the southern Everglades and is readily applicable to evaluating targets of modeled wetland restoration scenarios elsewhere. CSSSMarlPrairie is intended to be used for decision support, in association with a suite of ecological models for additional species of management concern, to facilitate planning of ecosystem restoration projects such as those in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and recovery of the marl prairie habitats of the CSSS. A tentatively selected restoration plan for the central Everglades is projected to have mostly minor overall impacts to marl prairie CSSS habitats. Local substantial habitat shifts in and adjacent to designated habitat boundaries have been identified, however, that warrant management consideration.
Biodistribution and fate of core-labeled 125I polymeric nanocarriers prepared by Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP)

Non-invasive medical imaging techniques based on radionuclide imaging are powerful platforms to track the fate of radiolabeled materials for diagnostic or drug delivery applications. Polymer-based nanocarriers tagged with non-standard radionuclides with relatively long half-lives (e.g.64Cu: t1/2 = 12.7 h, 76Br: t1/2 = 16.2 h, 89Zr: t1/2 = 3.3 d, 124I: t1/2 = 4.2 d) may greatly expand applications of nanomedicines in molecular imaging and therapy. However, radiolabeling strategies that ensure stable in vivo association of the radiolabel with the nanocarrier remain a significant challenge. In this study, we covalently attach radioiodine to the core of pre-fabricated nanocarriers. First, we encapsulated polyvinyl phenol within a poly(ethylene glycol) coating using Flash NanoPrecipitation (FNP) to produce stable 75 nm and 120 nm nanocarriers. Following FNP, we radiolabeled the encapsulated polyvinyl phenol with 125I via electrophilic aromatic substitution in high radiochemical yields (>90%). Biodistribution studies reveal low radioactivity in the thyroid, indicating minimal leaching of the radiolabel in vivo. Further, PEGylated [125I]PVPh nanocarriers exhibited relatively long circulation half-lives (t1/2α = 2.9 h, t1/2β = 34.9 h) and gradual reticuloendothelial clearance, with 31% of injected dose in blood retained at 24 h post-injection.
Complement fixation with fecal antigens in viral hepatitis.

sponse to an antigenic substance resulting from injury to tissue and unrelated to any antigenic component of the causative virus. It is not known whether a similar mechanism is operative in viral hepatitis, although preliminary observations by Eaton et al1 suggested that the serum antigen-antibody system is distinct from another reaction in which a heterogenetic antibody is concerned. These workers1 determined the presence of a heterogenetic antibody in the serum of certain patients with viral hepatitis which agglutinates sheep erythrocytes and fixes complement with antigen made from saline extracts of normal hu-
Exploiting molecular biology for diagnosis and targeted management of pediatric low-grade gliomas

The majority of brain tumors arising in children are low-grade gliomas. Although historically categorized together as pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs), there is significant histologic and genetic diversity within this group. In general, prognosis for PLGGs is excellent, and limitation of sequelae from tumor and treatment is paramount. Advances in high-throughput genetic sequencing and gene expression profiling are fundamentally changing the way PLGGs are classified and managed. Here, we review the histologic subtypes and highlight how recent advances in elucidating the molecular pathogenesis of these tumors have refined diagnosis and prognostication. Additionally, we discuss how characterizing specific genetic alterations has paved the way for the rational use of targeted therapies that are currently in various phase clinical trials.
Two-Dimensional and Three-Dimensional Volume Contrast Imagingin C-Plane for the Visualization of Fetal Corpus Callosum

Purpose To compare the application of sonographic visualization of fetal corpus callosum obtained by two-dimensional(2D) and three-dimensional(3D) volume contrast imaging in thec-plane(VCI-C).Materials and Methods Sagittal planes of the fetal head in 65 normal fetuses between 19 and 40 weeks of gestation were obtained by 2D and 3D VCI-C sonographyrespectively.Planes obtained using these two methods were compared qualitatively and quantitatively by visualizing and measuring the length of fetal corpus callosum.The correlation was also analyzed.Results The average gestational age of 65 fetuses was 28.26 ±5.17 weeks.In sagittal plane obtained using 2D and 3D VCI-C,fetal corpus callosum could be visualized and measured in 53 cases(81.53) and 65 cases(100) respectively(χ2 = 10.892,P = 0.001).The number of fetuses whose length of the corpus callosum could be measured by both methods was 53 with average lengths of 35.14±5.66 mm and 35.15±5.92 mm respectively(P 0.05),and correlation coefficient was 0.986(P 0.001).Conclusion Image quality of the corpus callosum in 2D ultrasound is higher than 3D VCI-C.3D sagittal planes of the fetal head are easier to obtain.There is no statistical difference between measurements of the length of fetal corpus callosum using both methods.But 3D VCI-C is an effective and simple supplementary means when sagittal planes can't be obtained by 2D.