cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mode of occurrence of arsenic in feed coal and its derivative fly ash, Black Warrior Basin, Alabama

Abstract An arsenic-rich (As = 55 ppm) bituminous feed coal from the Black Warrior Basin, Alabama and its derivative fly ash (As = 230 ppm) were selected for detailed investigation of arsenic residence and chemical forms. Analytical techniques included microbeam analysis, selective extraction, and As K-edge X-ray absorption fine-structure (XAFS) spectroscopy. Most As in the coal is contained in a generation of As-bearing pyrite (FeS 2 ) that formed in response to epigenetic introduction of hydrothermal fluids. XAFS results indicate that approximately 50% of the As in the coal sample occurs as the oxidized As(V) species, possibly the result of incipient oxidation of coal and pyrite prior to our analysis. Combustion of pyrite and host coal produced fly ash in which 95% of As is present as As(V). Selective extraction of the fly ash with a carbonate buffer solution (pH = 10) removed 49% of the As. A different extraction with an HCl–NH 2 OH mixture, which targets amorphous and poorly crystalline iron oxides, dissolved 79% of the As. XAFS spectroscopy of this highly acidic (pH = 3.0) fly ash indicated that As is associated with some combination of iron oxide, oxyhydroxide, or sulfate. In contrast, a highly alkaline (pH = 12.7) fly ash from Turkey shows most As associated with a phase similar to calcium orthoarsenate (Ca 3 (AsO 4 ) 2 ). The combined XAFS results indicate that fly ash acidity, which is determined by coal composition and combustion conditions, may serve to predict arsenic speciation in fly ash.
Prediction of Spontaneous Plastic Deformation of Irradiated Metallic Glasses due to Thermal Spike-Induced Plasticity

Using large-scale molecular dynamics simulations, we predict that knock-on damage in irradiated metallic glasses yields spontaneous anisotropic deformation, i.e. shape change in the absence of externally applied loads. The root cause of this behavior is anisotropic plastic deformation around non-spherical thermal spikes. Such thermal spike-induced plasticity (TSIP) does not depend on electronic excitations and is distinct from the ‘ion hammer’ effect. Macroscale TSIP is predicted to occur under unidirectional heavy ion and neutron irradiation. The consequences of TSIP for potential applications of metallic glasses under irradiation are discussed.
A connection between medication adherence, patient sense of uniqueness, and the personalization of information

Adherence to treatment regimens is important to achieve optimal disease management. However, nonadherence is evident across numerous clinical contexts, which leads to a higher disease burden on society. Among the various factors associated with patient adherence behavior, patient beliefs are the most influential set of factors. Several cognitive-social models and constructs that incorporate patient belief have been developed to explain patient health behaviors, such as the Health Belief Model, Self-Efficacy Model, Theory of Planned Behavior and so on. However, these models do not explain the formulation of health beliefs. The underlying mechanism accounting for patient variation in information processing that generates beliefs needs to be investigated, which will inform the development of interventions. We propose that patient's sense of uniqueness moderates the self-attribution of statistically-based information. Self-attribution is defined as a person's perceived probability that a statement applies to herself, and is influenced by experience and sense of uniqueness. Sense of uniqueness is a person's general belief regarding how unique she is. Statistically-based information is defined as information derived from or regarding aggregated effects or influences. Basically, the proposed hypothesis is that patients who have a stronger belief that they are unique are less likely to attribute to themselves statistically-based propositions regarding the majority of their group and are more likely to attribute to themselves statistically-based propositions regarding the minority. We further model the relationship between sense of uniqueness and self-attribution of information in terms of an idealized inexperienced person, and then extend the model to include the effect of personal experience. The estimation of hypothesis-specific effect parameters can be achieved by maximum likelihood. In conclusion, the sense of uniqueness hypothesis is general to the formulation of personal beliefs and consequently has implications for deliberate health behavior and indeed personal behavior in general.
Area-matching strategies used by young children

Abstract Across three studies, conditions were varied under which children aged 4–5 years matched the area of a rectangle with a given width (or height) to that of a square. In the first study, subjects observed the rectangle being changed in height from trial to trial and had access to their immediately preceding response. Under these conditions, rectangle width (the dimension under subject control) was a linear decreasing function of rectangle height. This function was interpreted as evidence for a hypothetical addition/subtraction strategy for maintaining equality in area between the comparison rectangle and the standard square. As a test of this hypothesis, in a second experiment the subjects were denied access to their immediately previous response, and in a third study they were also unable to observe the rectangle as it was altered by the experimenter between trials. The purpose of these changes was to remove the information necessary for readily implementing an addition/subtraction strategy. In both studies, area matches seemed to be based on a side-matching strategy, such that subjects matched one dimension of the rectangle to one side of the standard square. It was suggested that young children use different cues or strategies with different variants of the matching task because they do not possess a fixed, specific concept of area.
Magnon Squeezing in an Antiferromagnet: Reducing the Spin Noise below the Standard Quantum Limit

We report the first experimental demonstration of quantum squeezing of a collective spin-wave excitation (magnon) using femtosecond optical pulses to generate correlations involving pairs of spins in an antiferromagnetic insulator MnF2. In the squeezed state, the fluctuations of the magnetization of a crystallographic unit cell vary periodically in time and are reduced below that of the ground-state quantum noise.
A Cooperative Molecular Modeling Exercise— The Hypersurface as Classroom

A molecular modeling exercise and an associated exam that have both competitive and cooperative learning aspects are described. Collaborative efforts are facilitated by Web-based information management. The exercise/exam is appropriate for use in undergraduate or graduate quantum chemistry or molecular modeling courses that have access to modest computational resources. Students develop a molecular potential energy surface, identify multiple minima and transition-state structures, repeat the process at two or more levels of theory, and then analyze the data looking for interesting chemical or computational phenomena.
Blocking and guiding adult sea lamprey with pulsed direct current from vertical electrodes

Abstract Controlling the invasion front of aquatic nuisance species is of high importance to resource managers. We tested the hypothesis that adult sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ), a destructive invasive species in the Laurentian Great Lakes, would exhibit behavioral avoidance to dual-frequency pulsed direct current generated by vertical electrodes and that the electric field would not injure or kill sea lamprey or non-target fish. Laboratory and in-stream experiments demonstrated that the electric field blocked sea lamprey migration and directed sea lamprey into traps. Rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) and white sucker ( Catostomus commersoni ), species that migrate sympatrically with sea lamprey, avoided the electric field and had minimal injuries when subjected to it. Vertical electrodes are advantageous for fish guidance because (1) the electric field produced varies minimally with depth, (2) the electric field is not grounded, reducing power consumption to where portable and remote deployments powered by solar, wind, hydro, or a small generator are feasible, and (3) vertical electrodes can be quickly deployed without significant stream modification allowing rapid responses to new invasions. Similar dual-frequency pulsed direct current fields produced from vertical electrodes may be advantageous for blocking or trapping other invasive fish or for guiding valued fish around dams.
Prospects and challenges for tourism to the millennium

Abstract The following is an edited version of the observations and recommendations on an international forum on tourism to the year 2000 prepared by Dr Donald Hawkins, Director of the International Institute of Tourism Studies at The George Washington University, for the World Tourism Organization. The WTO sponsored the forum, which was held 22–23 October 1992 in Acapulco, Mexico.
PEGDA hydrogels with patterned elasticity: Novel tools for the study of cell response to substrate rigidity

The ability of cells to migrate in response to mechanical gradients (durotaxis) and differential cell behavior in adhesion, spreading, and proliferation in response to substrate rigidity are key factors both in tissue engineering, in which materials must be selected to provide the appropriate mechanical signals, and in studies of mechanisms of diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis, in which changes in tissue stiffness may inform cell behavior. Using poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate hydrogels with varying polymer chain length and photolithographic patterning techniques, we are able to provide substrates with spatially patterned, tunable mechanical properties in both gradients and distinct patterns. The hydrogels can be patterned to produce anisotropic structures and exhibit patterned strain under mechanical loading. These hydrogels may be used to study cell response to substrate rigidity in both two and three dimensions and can also be used as a scaffold in tissue-engineering applications.
Intraperitoneal Injection into Adult Zebrafish

A convenient method for chemically treating zebrafish is to introduce the reagent into the tank water, where it will be taken up by the fish. However, this method makes it difficult to know how much reagent is absorbed or taken up per fish. Some experimental questions, particularly those related to metabolic studies, may be better addressed by delivering a defined quantity to each fish, based on weight. Here we present a method for intraperitoneal (IP) injection into adult zebrafish. Injection is into the abdominal cavity, posterior to the pelvic girdle. This procedure is adapted from veterinary methods used for larger fish. It is safe, as we have observed zero mortality. Additionally, we have seen bleeding at the injection site in only 5 out of 127 injections, and in each of those cases the bleeding was brief, lasting several seconds, and the quantity of blood lost was small. Success with this procedure requires gentle handling of the fish through several steps including fasting, weighing, anesthetizing, injection, and recovery. Precautions are required to minimize stress throughout the procedure. Our precautions include using a small injection volume and a 35G needle. We use Cortland salt solution as the vehicle, which is osmotically balanced for freshwater fish. Aeration of the gills is maintained during the injection procedure by first bringing the fish into a surgical plane of anesthesia, which allows slow operculum movements, and second, by holding the fish in a trough within a water-saturated sponge during the injection itself. We demonstrate the utility of IP injection by injecting glucose and monitoring the rise in blood glucose level and its subsequent return to normal. As stress is known to increase blood glucose in teleost fish, we compare blood glucose levels in vehicle-injected and non-injected adults and show that the procedure does not cause a significant rise in blood glucose.
Effects of Climate Change on Spring Arrival Times of Birds in Thoreau's Concord from 1851 to 2007

Abstract. The effects of climate change have been detected in numerous biological systems. Study of phenology, including the timing of bird migrations, has proven to be an effective tool for understanding the degree to which plants and animals are affected by climate change. In this study, we analyzed records of birds' arrival at Concord, Massachusetts, over 157 years, compiling the longest known record of bird-arrival dates in North America. Using records of bird arrivals by American philosopher and naturalist Henry David Thoreau for 1851–1854 and the well-known ornithologists William Brewster for 1886 and 1900–1919 and Ludlow Griscom for 1930–1931 and 1933–1954, we examined whether birds are shifting their arrival times in response to a warming climate. Concord resident Rosita Corey provided a set of recent observations for the years 1956–1973 and 1988–2007. When we considered all 22 species of migratory songbirds we analyzed together, we found no average change in arrival date over time, though when we...
Core avionics domain analysis

The authors outline the process, challenges, and preliminary results of performing a domain analysis for the avionics functions of navigation, guidance, and flight director-essential, real-time features of integrated avionics systems. They describe the relationships between the components of the architecture and the principles behind the architecture's organization. In particular, they present a first-level look at the preliminary design of the navigation component. The goal of the research discussed is to use domain analysis to engineer an architecture and associated components that allow the rapid development of requirements and software for avionics functions. Another aim is to overcome some of the shortcomings in software reuse and computer aided software engineering (CASE) for avionics software development. This research aims to free the software and system designers from the routine aspects of avionics development, thus giving them time to concentrate on engineering the best solution for their customers. >
The treatment of urinary tract infections and use of ciprofloxacin extended release

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common reasons people seek medical attention. There are > 50% of women who will have at least one UTI during their lifetime and most of these will require a physician visit and antibiotic treatment. The high prevalence continues to the in-patient setting where genitourinary infections are the most common nosocomial infection. The efficient diagnosis and effective treatment of UTIs is a major healthcare concern. Factors such as economic efficiency and emerging resistance are increasingly becoming more important considerations in providing patient care. In out-patient uncomplicated UTIs, Escherichia coli has been implicated in < or = 75-90% of cases. Although the prevalence in the in-patient setting decreases, E. coli is still the most common bacteria identified and present in 21-54% of urinary isolates. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole has been the preferred first-line agent for uncomplicated out-patient UTIs where local resistance is < 10 - 20%. In recent years, resistance has superseded this threshold in most regions of the US and Europe. In these areas with increased resistance, fluoroquinolones have become a common first-line agent. Ciprofloxacin has been one of the most widely used fluoroquinolones and has a well-known safety profile, as well as excellent activity against most of the common uropathogens. Ciprofloxacin extended release (ER) is a recently released once-daily formulation that has been increasingly used with good clinical success. The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters of ciprofloxacin ER are shown to be at least equal to twice-daily ciprofloxacin and may even confer superiority as ciprofloxacin ER achieves a higher maximum serum concentration. This is supported by clinical studies, which have shown at least as effective clinical cure and bacteriological eradication rates. These studies have also demonstrated similar tolerability and side-effect profiles. Ciprofloxacin ER combines traditional ciprofloxacin's proven track record of efficacy and safety with favourable pharmacokinetics and convenient once-daily dosing. Increased patient compliance is associated with decreased treatment failures and can help slow the development of antimicrobial resistance. Economic considerations are also increasingly important and providing convenient and effective treatment leading to high clinical success decreases overall costs.
Putting an oil spill cleanup computer model to work for the Navy

A research group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has completed the first phase of the development of a computer assisted model for analyzing complex decisions and policies regarding oil spill cleanup. The model is the product of an ongoing MIT Sea Grant project, sponsored by a consortium of government and industry organizations, including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Navy, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Spill Control Association of America, JFB Scientific Corporation, the Doherty Foundation, PetroCanada and Texaco. The model can be used, among other things, in strategic planning for the long-term oil spill response needs of a region, in assisting On Scene Coordinators in responding to a specific spill (tactical/operational setting), in evaluating the environmental and economic damages of a spill versus the cost of cleanup, in simulation and training, and in the analysis of various policy and regulatory issues such as the effects of delays, the use of dispersants and the investigation of liability and compensation issues. The paper describes the model in detail, focuses on its potential uses and presents experience with its application in conjunction with pollution control efforts of the U.S. Navy. Specifically, we outline the applicationmore » of the model in the Port of Charleston, South Carolina, an ongoing project sponsored by the Naval Facilities Engineering Command. The difficulty of gathering data for such an application is discussed.« less
MUON POLARIZATION IN THE NEUTRINO INDUCED INCLUSIVE REACTION A TEST OF V-A WEAK INTERACTION AT HIGH-ENERGY

A possible modification of the $V\ensuremath{-}A$ weak interaction at high energy is studied through the introduction of an intermediate vector boson with derivative couplings or of a phenomenological momentum-dependent leptonic vector current. It will be shown that a small contamination of a certain derivative coupling both changes the sign of the longitudinal polarization of the muon in the neutrino-nucleon inelastic scattering in the scaling region and lets the ratio $\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}(\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}})}{\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\nu})}$ increase as the neutrino energy gets larger. A different momentum-dependent vector current leaves the sign of the polarization and the ratio $\frac{\ensuremath{\sigma}(\overline{\ensuremath{\nu}})}{\ensuremath{\sigma}(\ensuremath{\nu})}$ unchanged.
What is interdisciplinary communication? Reflections on the very idea of disciplinary integration

In this paper I attempt to answer the question: What is interdisciplinary communication? I attempt to answer this question, rather than what some might consider the ontologically prior question—what is interdisciplinarity (ID)?—for two reasons: (1) there is no generally agreed-upon definition of ID; and (2) one’s views regarding interdisciplinary communication have a normative relationship with one’s other views of ID, including one’s views of its very essence. I support these claims with reference to the growing literature on ID, which has a marked tendency to favor the idea that interdisciplinary communication entails some kind of ‘integration’. The literature on ID does not yet include very many philosophers, but we have something valuable to offer in addressing the question of interdisciplinary communication. Playing somewhat fast-and-loose with traditional categories of the subdisciplines of philosophy, I group some philosophers—mostly from the philosophy of science, social–political philosophy, and moral theory—and some non-philosophers together to provide three different, but related, answers to the question of interdisciplinary communication. The groups are as follows: (1) Habermas–Klein, (2) Kuhn–MacIntyre, and (3) Bataille–Lyotard. These groups can also be thought of in terms of the types of answers they give to the question of interdisciplinary communication, especially in terms of the following key words (where the numbers correspond to the groups from the previous sentence): (1) consensus, (2) incommensurability, and (3) invention.
An Experimental Study of Thorndike's Theory of Learning

Resume Quand E a fait le signal, S, les yeux bandes, a essaye de dessiner une ligne de trois pouces directement a la droite avec sa main droite. Chaque S (sujet) a dessine 100 lignes avec chacun de deux processus; et les quatre processus differents employes avec les differents S ont ete les suivants: (1) Processus blanc. E n'a rien dit apres que S a essaye de dessiner une ligne de trois pouces. (2) Processus non-sens. E a prononce une autre syllabe non-sens apres que S a dessine chaque ligne. (3) Processus correct-incorrect. E a dit “Correct” si la ligne de S n'a pas ete en longueur d'un huiteme d'un pouce plus ou moins de trois pouces. Dans tous les autres cas E a dit “Incorrect.” (4) Processus correct. E a dit a S la longueur de la ligne dessinee immediatement apres que celui-ci a fini de la dessiner. L'ordre de l'efficience pour les quatre processus differents a ete Correct, Correct-Incorrect, Blanc, et Non-Sens, et la superiorite du processus Correct sur tous les autres a ete tout-a-fait marquee. Les ...
Computational analysis of mouse piRNA sequence and biogenesis.

The recent discovery of a new class of 30-nucleotide long RNAs in mammalian testes, called PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA), with similarities to microRNAs and repeat-associated small interfering RNAs (rasiRNAs), has raised puzzling questions regarding their biogenesis and function. We report a comparative analysis of currently available piRNA sequence data from the pachytene stage of mouse spermatogenesis that sheds light on their sequence diversity and mechanism of biogenesis. We conclude that (i) there are at least four times as many piRNAs in mouse testes than currently known; (ii) piRNAs, which originate from long precursor transcripts, are generated by quasi-random enzymatic processing that is guided by a weak sequence signature at the piRNA 5′ends resulting in a large number of distinct sequences; and (iii) many of the piRNA clusters contain inverted repeats segments capable of forming double-strand RNA fold-back segments that may initiate piRNA processing analogous to transposon silencing.
Reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis in Shell Eggs Using Directional Microwave Technology

ABSTRACT Microwaves have been shown to cause thermal as well as nonthermal destruction of pathogens such as Salmonella Enteritidis, which is commonly found in shell eggs. The objective of this study was to examine the use of new directional microwave technology to reduce Salmonella Enteritidis without causing any detrimental effects on quality in white and brown eggs. Treatments were control and microwaved white and brown eggs. Applying directional microwave technology resulted in a 2-log reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis in both the high (105 cfu/g) and low (102 cfu/g) inoculum. At d 0, there were no differences in water activities, albumen pH, and combined pH between treatments; however, there were significant changes in yolk pH. Collectively, these results indicate that applying directional microwave technology can reduce Salmonella Enteritidis in shell eggs without causing any detrimental effects to quality.
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamases: a clinical update.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) are a rapidly evolving group of β-lactamases which share the ability to hydrolyze third-generation cephalosporins and aztreonam yet are inhibited by clavulanic acid. Typically, they derive from genes for TEM-1, TEM-2, or SHV-1 by mutations that alter the amino acid configuration around the active site of these β-lactamases. This extends the spectrum of β-lactam antibiotics susceptible to hydrolysis by these enzymes. An increasing number of ESBLs not of TEM or SHV lineage have recently been described. The presence of ESBLs carries tremendous clinical significance. The ESBLs are frequently plasmid encoded. Plasmids responsible for ESBL production frequently carry genes encoding resistance to other drug classes (for example, aminoglycosides). Therefore, antibiotic options in the treatment of ESBL-producing organisms are extremely limited. Carbapenems are the treatment of choice for serious infections due to ESBL-producing organisms, yet carbapenem-resistant isolates have recently been reported. ESBL-producing organisms may appear susceptible to some extended-spectrum cephalosporins. However, treatment with such antibiotics has been associated with high failure rates. There is substantial debate as to the optimal method to prevent this occurrence. It has been proposed that cephalosporin breakpoints for the Enterobacteriaceae should be altered so that the need for ESBL detection would be obviated. At present, however, organizations such as the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (formerly the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards) provide guidelines for the detection of ESBLs in klebsiellae and Escherichia coli. In common to all ESBL detection methods is the general principle that the activity of extended-spectrum cephalosporins against ESBL-producing organisms will be enhanced by the presence of clavulanic acid. ESBLs represent an impressive example of the ability of gram-negative bacteria to develop new antibiotic resistance mechanisms in the face of the introduction of new antimicrobial agents.
EXACT MULTIPLICITY OF POSITIVE SOLUTIONS FOR A CLASS OF SEMILINEAR PROBLEMS

We establish an exact multiplicity result of positive solutions ofΔu+λf(u)=0inBn,u=0on∂Bn,whereBnis the unit ball,fsatisfiesf″ changes sign only once and asymptotically sublinear or linear. The nonlinearities which we are concerned with here includef(u)=u(u−b)(c−u) for 0<2b<candf(u)=up−uqfor 1<p<q. Precise global bifurcation diagrams are obtained.
Depth from stereo flow

The interpretation is presented of image flow (optical flow) and its relationship with object structure. Depth extraction is described from stereo image flow when the stereo cameras have parallel optical axes or nonparallel optical axes. Using epipolar geometry, the relationship between the optical flow fields on the image planes (stereo) is derived and applied for matching the images to extract the depth information. Three methods are considered, of which the first two assume parallel optical axes: (1) spatial approach which is the same as the traditional stereo method except that binocular difference flow is used as primitives for matching; (2) spatial-temporal approach which extends previous formulation to incorporate temporal variations of image flow; and (3) under nonparallel optical axes assumption from which the model of the stereo cameras is generalized so that they are arbitrarily separated in space. Then two measures are used to evaluate how well the epipolar constraint is satisfied. >
Screening approaches to generating STAT inhibitors: Allowing the hits to identify the targets

STAT transcription factors are regulators of critical cellular processes such as proliferation, survival, and self-renewal. While the activity of these proteins is tightly regulated under physiological conditions, they can become constitutively activated in a broad range of human cancers. This inappropriate STAT activation leads to enhanced transcription of genes that can directly lead to the malignant phenotype. Since STATs are largely dispensable for normal cell function, this has raised the possibility that STATs might be key targets for cancer therapy. Although a number of structure-based strategies have been used to develop STAT inhibitors, an alternate approach is to use cell-based assays that make use of the transcriptional function of STATs. Employing these systems, one can screen large chemical libraries to identify compounds that specifically block the function of a given STAT. This approach can lead to the identification of compounds that inhibit STATs by a variety of mechanisms, and can suggest novel targets for therapy. This type of functional screening strategy has already identified a drug that potently inhibits STAT3, and which is now being evaluated in a clinical trial for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Identification of silver nanoparticles in Pimephales promelas gastrointestinal tract and gill tissues using flow field flow fractionation ICP-MS

The environmental toxicity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is of increasing concern due to their intensified production, use and subsequent environmental release. To further understand nanoparticle toxicity, more knowledge is needed about the particle fate upon uptake. AgNPs were identified in both the GI tract and gill of fathead minnows using field-flow-fractionation interfaced to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (FFF-ICP-MS).
Compressive Rendering: A Rendering Application of Compressed Sensing

Recently, there has been growing interest in compressed sensing (CS), the new theory that shows how a small set of linear measurements can be used to reconstruct a signal if it is sparse in a transform domain. Although CS has been applied to many problems in other fields, in computer graphics, it has only been used so far to accelerate the acquisition of light transport. In this paper, we propose a novel application of compressed sensing by using it to accelerate ray-traced rendering in a manner that exploits the sparsity of the final image in the wavelet basis. To do this, we raytrace only a subset of the pixel samples in the spatial domain and use a simple, greedy CS-based algorithm to estimate the wavelet transform of the image during rendering. Since the energy of the image is concentrated more compactly in the wavelet domain, less samples are required for a result of given quality than with conventional spatial-domain rendering. By taking the inverse wavelet transform of the result, we compute an accurate reconstruction of the desired final image. Our results show that our framework can achieve high-quality images with approximately 75 percent of the pixel samples using a nonadaptive sampling scheme. In addition, we also perform better than other algorithms that might be used to fill in the missing pixel data, such as interpolation or inpainting. Furthermore, since the algorithm works in image space, it is completely independent of scene complexity.
Robust Decentralized Task Assignment for Cooperative UAVs

This paper investigates the problem of decentralized task assignment for a fleet of cooperative UAVs. It extends the analysis of a previously proposed algorithm to consider the performance with dierent communication network topologies. The results show that the second communication step introduced during the planning phase of the new algorithm is crucial for sparse networks because the convergence rate of the information consensus algorithms can be quite slow. Further analysis shows that the selection of the candidate plans communicated during this planning phase has a significant impact on the performance of the overall algorithm. A comparison of the performance and computation of four selection approaches clearly shows the importance of correctly accounting for the potential actions of the other UAVs, even though that tends to be more computationally expensive. A modification of the original candidate plan selection algorithm is also presented, which further improves the overall performance by increasing the robustness to inconsistencies in the information across the team.
Reconnaissance Volcanic Geology of the Batamote Mountains, Ajo, Arizona

The Batamote Mountains represent a 14-16-million-year-old eroded shield volcano complex in the Basin and Range province near Ajo, Arizona. Analysis of Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper “Plus” data and fieldwork enabled mapping the geology at 1:24,000 scale. Volcanic deposits and field relations indicate that mid-Tertiary eruptions initially involved mild explosions from at least six vents, evidenced by near-surface intrusive units surrounded by ash, oxidized cinders, and spatter deposits. The associated lava flows partly cover the pre-Batamote basement silicic volcanic rocks. At least three subsequent effusive phases emplaced multiple flows from a minimum of six vents on the cinder cone deposits and earlier lava flows. The last volcanic event involved fire-fountains that produced several short, thin, agglutinated flows, forming the steeper summit of the volcano. Extension and normal faulting caused rocks in the central portion of the Batamote Mountains to collapse; subsequent erosion of summit material left the amphitheater morphology seen today.
rfb Mutations in Vibrio cholerae Do Not Affect Surface Production of Toxin-Coregulated Pili but Still Inhibit Intestinal Colonization

The toxin-coregulated pilus (TCP) of Vibrio cholerae is essential for colonization. It was recently reported that rfb mutations in V. cholerae 569B cause the translocation arrest of the structural subunit of TCP, raising the possibility that the colonization defects of lipopolysaccharide mutants are due to effects on TCP biogenesis. However, an rfbB gene disruption in either V. cholerae O395 or 569B has no apparent effect on surface TCP production as assessed by immunoelectron microscopy and CTX phage transduction, and an rfbD::Tn5lac mutant of O395 also shows no defect in TCP expression. We conclude that the colonization defect associated with rfb mutations is unrelated to defects in TCP assembly.
Combined Versus Detailed Evaluation Components in Medical Student Global Rating Indexes.

Author(s): Askew, Kim L.; O'Neill, James C.; Hiestand, Brian; Manthey, David E. | Abstract: Introduction: To determine if there is any correlation between any of the 10 individual components of a global rating index on an emergency medicine (EM) student clerkship evaluation form. If there is correlation, to determine if a weighted average of highly correlated components loses predictive value for the final clerkship grade.Methods: This study reviewed medical student evaluations collected over two years of a required fourth-year rotation in EM. Evaluation cards, comprised of a detailed 10-part evaluation, were completed after each shift. We used a correlation matrix between evaluation category average scores, using Spearman’s rho, to determine if there was any correlation of the grades between any of the 10 items on the evaluation form.Results: A total of 233 students completed the rotation over the two-year period of the study. There were strong correlations (g0.80) between assessment components of medical knowledge, history taking, physical exam, and differential diagnosis. There were also strong correlations between assessment components of team rapport, patient rapport, and motivation. When these highly correlated were combined to produce a four-component model, linear regression demonstrated similar predictive power in terms of final clerkship grade (R2=0.71, CI95=0.65–0.77 and R2=0.69, CI95=0.63–0.76 for the full and reduced models respectively).Conclusion: This study revealed that several components of the evaluation card had a high degree of correlation. Combining the correlated items, a reduced model containing four items (clinical skills, interpersonal skills, procedural skills, and documentation) was as predictive of the student’s clinical grade as the full 10-item evaluation. Clerkship directors should be aware of the performance of their individual global rating scales when assessing medical student performance, especially if attempting to measure greater than four components.
Treatment of AML and High Risk MDS at M.D. Anderson: The Lone Star Approach

This paper will review the treatment of AML at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDA) over approximately the last 10 years. Based on the similarities in natural history between AML, RAEB-t, and, in many cases, RAEB, we consider all cases of RAEB-t and those patients with RAEB who have > 10% blasts, or cytogenetic abnormalities, particularly if accompanied by cytopenias, as having AML for treatment purposes. Our experience suggests that response to AML-type therapy is not influenced by diagnosis (AML, RAEB-t, RAEB) except as these diagnoses are associated with features such as age, cytogenetics etc [1].
Obesity and the receipt of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Obesity is a risk factor for inadequate receipt of recommended preventive care services. The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between increasing body mass index and receipt of influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations. A systematic review of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases was conducted from January 1966 to May 2015 for cohort and cross-sectional studies that assessed the relationship between body mass index and the receipt of vaccinations for influenza and pneumococcus. Separate meta-analyses by obesity classification were performed using a random effects model. Six cross-sectional and three cohort studies were included. Average vaccine uptake was 50.4 % for influenza vaccination and 34.6 % for pneumococcal vaccination. Compared to normal weight patients, combined odds ratio (95 % confidence interval) for influenza vaccination was 1.11 (95 % CI 0.97–1.25) for obese (≥30 kg/m2) patients. When the outcome was reported by obesity class, combined odds ratios of influenza vaccination were 1.13 (95 % CI 1.02–1.24) for Class I (30–34.9 kg/m2) obesity, 1.21 (95 % CI 1.05–1.37) for Class II obesity (35–39.9 kg/m2), and 1.19 (95 % CI 0.95–1.42) for Class III obesity (≥40 kg/m2) patients. Compared to normal weight patients, combined odds ratio of pneumococcal vaccination were 1.20 (95 % CI 1.13–1.27) for obese patients. When the outcome was reported by obesity class, combined odds ratios were 1.08 (95 % CI 1.04–1.13) for Class I obesity patients, 1.13 (95 % CI 1.10–1.16) for Class II obesity patients, and 1.26 (95 % CI 1.15–1.38) for Class III obesity patients for pneumococcal vaccination. Combined findings from the current literature suggest that adults with obesity are more likely than non-obese peers to receive vaccination for influenza and pneumococcus. However, suboptimal vaccination coverage was observed across all body sizes, so future interventions should focus on improving vaccination rates for all adults.
Platelet-Derived Factor Va/VaLeiden Cofactor Activities Are Sustained on the Surface of Activated Platelets Despite the Presence of Activated Protein C

We investigated the role of the thrombin-activated platelet in modulating the rate and extent of activated protein C (APC)-catalyzed inactivation of platelet-derived factor Va and factor VaLeiden. Platelet-derived factor Va and factor VaLeiden were inactivated by APC at near identical rates; however, complete inactivation of the cofactors was never achieved. Greater residual cofactor activity remained when using thrombin-activated platelets compared with that observed with synthetic phospholipid vesicles and platelet-derived microparticles, suggesting that thrombin-activated platelets protect the cofactors from APC-catalyzed inactivation. This apparent protection was not due to (1) an insufficient number of membrane binding sites for APC or factor Va; (2) the destruction of these sites; or (3) the presence of a platelet-associated APC inhibitor. Results from a plasma-based clotting assay (with or without APC) with platelets or PCPS vesicles added to induce clot formation indicated that, even in the presence of high concentrations of APC, platelets offered protection of the cofactor by delaying cleavage at Arg506. This resulted in incomplete proteolysis of the heavy chain, suggesting that platelets can also protect plasma-derived factor Va from APC-catalyzed inactivation. However, additional experiments indicated that the plasma-derived cofactor, bound to thrombin-activated platelets, was completely inactivated by APC, suggesting that the plasma and platelet-derived cofactor pools represent different substrates for APC. Collectively, these results indicate that platelets sustain procoagulant events by providing a membrane surface that delays cofactor inactivation and by releasing a cofactor molecule that displays an APC resistant phenotype. Thus, at sites of arterial injury, the factor VLeiden mutation may not as readily predict arterial thrombosis, because the normal and variant platelet-derived cofactors are equally resistant to APC at the activated platelet surface.
Understanding and enhancing visualizations: Two models of collaboration between earth science and cognitive science

Geoscience visualizations are commonplace; they appear in television news pro- grams, classroom lectures, conference presentations, and internet hypermedia. But to what degree do individuals who view such visualizations actually learn from them, and if so, why? As visualizations become more commonplace in school, laboratory, and entertainment settings, there has been a concurrent interest in considering the effectiveness of such presentations. How can we build effective collaborations that address pedagogical questions in the earth sciences while also informing theories about the cognitive processes that underlie visualization experiences? In this chapter, we contend that only through directed, collaborative projects between earth scientists and cognitive scientists will significant advances in visualization research take place. We describe two specific models of such collaboration, the advisory model and the reciprocal model, and argue that a reciprocal model presents a more effective frame- work for addressing important questions about the nature of the visualization experi- ences. Such a model will inform both the design of effective visualizations for teaching complex geoscience topics, as well as provide insight into the processes that underlie learning from visualizations.
Utilization Analysis of NSAID During 2007-2009 Period

OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the utilization status of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAID).METHODS:The utilization data of NSAID in our hospital between 2007 and 2009 were analyzed with the use of Excel software.RESULTS:The consumption quantity and consumption sum etc of NSAID increased year by year.Ibuprofen and acetaminophen dominated the first 2 places over the 3 years in both consumption quantity and DDDs.Ibuprofen dominated the first place among all the single-drug preparations over the 3 years in both consumption quantity and DDDs.CONCLUSION:Ibuprofen and acetaminophen occupied a dominant place in the NSAID therapy in our hospital,and the use of NSAID in our hospital were rational basically.
Mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase and the effect of testosterone on citrate production in rat ventral prostate.

Abstract Mitochondrial aspartate transamination was investigated as a major source of oxalacetate for citrate synthesis in rat ventral prostate. Citrate accumulation was measured in isolated mitochondria incubated with acetyl coenzyme A and various combinations of amino acids. Aspartate plus alpha ketoglutarate in the presence of acetyl coenzyme A resulted in significant citrate accumulation. Neither aspartate nor alpha ketoglutarate alone resulted in any significant citrate accumulation. Aspartate and alpha ketoglutarate use was comparable to glutamate and citrate production. The results indicated the presence of a mitochondrial aspartate aminotransferase. Castration (3 days) caused a significant decrease in citrate production from aspartate plus alpha ketoglutarate as well as a decrease in mitochondrial AA T activity in prostate although no effect on kidney activity occurred. A single injection of 1 mg. testosterone propionate to castrate rats significantly increased prostate mitochondrial AAT activity within 24 hours while MDH activity was unaltered. A double reciprocal plot indicated that testosterone might regulate the level of mitochondrial AAT in prostate. Ventral prostate also contains a uniquely high level of endogenous aspartate. These studies indicate that aspartate might be the major 4-carbon source of oxalacetate for citrate synthesis. Also testosterone possibly regulates prostate citrate production by its effect on the level of mitochondrial AA T activity.
The Use of National Charity Telethons as a Marketing Tool

National charity telethons seem to be a successful solution to the fund raising problems of non-profit organizations while satisfying the marketing needs of major corporations. PRIME TIME EXPOSURE on television, tax incentives, public relations image-building at a fair, tax-deductible price have made telethons major events in the promotional plans of many marketers.
P06.07 The effects of contraception on the vaginal microbiota

Introduction The human microbiota plays important roles in immune system development and resistance to infection. However, factors that influence vaginal bacterial community composition and dynamics are not well understood. There have been conflicting reports of altered vaginal microbiota and infection susceptibility with contraception use. The objective of this study was to determine if contraception use altered the vaginal microbiota. Methods Vaginal swab samples were obtained from over 400 women during their first year of using hormonal contraception (levonorgestrel intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), depot medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA), combined oral contraceptive, contraceptive patch and etonogestrel implant) or a non-hormonal copper intrauterine device. Samples were obtained at baseline, 6 months and 12 months as part of the Contraceptive CHOICE study. The V4 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA-encoding gene was amplified from the vaginal swab DNA and sequenced with an Illumina MiSeq. The 16S rRNA gene sequences were processed and analysed using the software package mothur. After clustering the sequences into operational taxonomic units (OTUs) based on sequence similarity we calculated several ecological metrics including θYC distances (a metric that takes relative abundances of both shared and non-shared OTUs into account) between communities. Results The vaginal microbiota in this study clustered into 3 major vaginal bacterial community types: one dominated by Lactobacillus iners, one dominated by Lactobacillus crispatus and one more diverse community type. Initial analysis indicates differences between the microbiota at baseline and after LNG-IUS use. Additionally, specific OTUs were enriched with the use of certain contraceptive methods. For example, higher levels of 2 Prevotella OTUs were associated with DMPA use. Conclusion Alterations of the vaginal microbiota are associated with the use of certain contraceptives. Further studies and analysis will be needed to verify these findings and determine the implications for infection susceptibility. Disclosure of interest statement We did not receive any commercial contributions for this study.
Leading and Governing: A Model for Local Government Education

The changing nature and increased complexity of governing is well documented and discussed by scholars and practitioners alike. This article presents a leadership training program designed to respo...