cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-level test generation using physically-induced faults

A high-level fault modeling and testing philosophy is proposed which is aimed at ensuring full detection of low level, physical faults, as well as the industry-standard single stuck-line (SSL) faults. A set of independent functional faults and the corresponding functional tests are derived (induced) from the circuit under test; of particular interest are SSL-induced functional faults or SIFs. We present, for the first time, complete functional circuit models and tests for representative 74X-series and ISCAS-85 benchmark circuits, and apply the proposed methodology to them. These examples demonstrate that functional testing can, with far less effort than conventional method, produce test sets that provide complete coverage of SSL faults in practical circuits. Surprisingly, these test sets are also provably of minimal or near-minimal size.
The Analysis of Visual Evoked Potentials during Spike and Wave EEG Activity

SUMMARY 1 Ongoing research is described which employs the visual evoked potential to investigate the nature of the central changes in centrencephalic or petit mal epilepsy. 2 Studies have been conducted both with petit mal patients and with monkeys treated with chlorambucil to produce experimental spike and wave discharges. In each instance, the visual evoked potentials in the presence and absence of the spike-wave complexes are compared. The data analysis is conducted with a magnetic tape system and LINC-8 digital computer. 3 In general, the results indicate that visually evoked potentials may be seen during both the natural and the experimental spike-wave activity. The amplitude of the evoked potential appears enhanced in man in the fronto-central regions; less enhancement is seen in the parieto-occipital placements. The amplitude of the evoked potential appears diminished in the monkey at visual system locations and enhanced at non-visual locations. Factors which may relate to these findings, on both a peripheral and central level, are discussed and other problems under investigation are indicated. RESUME 1 Des recherches sont discutees qui utilisent les potentiels evoques visuels pour etudier la nature des modifications cerebrales au cours des epilepsies centrencephaliques ou petit mal. 2 Ces etudes sont faites chez des malades souffrant de petit mal et chez des singes faisant des decharges de pointes-ondes experimentales sous 1'efTet du chlorambucil. Dans chaque cas on compare les potentiels evoques visuels en la presence ou en l'absence de complexes pointes-ondes. Les donnees sont analysees a l'aide d'un enregistreur magnetique couplea un calculateur digital LINC-8. 3 Les resultats indiquent que, en regie generate, les potentiels evoques visuels peuvent etre enregistres pendant les decharges de pointes-ondes naturelles ou experimentales. L'amplitude de ces potentiels augmented semble etre renforcee chez l'homme dans les regions fronto-centrales, moins augmentes dans les regions parieto-occipitales. Chez l'animal leur amplitude semble etre diminuee sur les localisations du systeme visuel, augmentee en dehors de ces localisations. Les facteurs centraux ou peripheriques qui peuvent etre relies a ces constatations sont discutes.
Beyond Bodies: Institutional Sources of Representation for Women in Democratic Policymaking

The idea that individual members of marginalized groups provide substantive representation for the wider group rests on a problematic understanding of the relationship between individual experience and group perspective. I propose understanding group perspectives as collective products. In this view, institutional structures and social movements, not just bodies, can be more or less representative of groups. Comparing the impact of various modes of women's representation on policies to address violence against women in 36 democratic countries in 1994, I find that women's movements and women's policy agencies may provide more effective avenues of expression for women's perspective than the presence of women in the legislatures. Thus, studies of representation for marginalized groups should consider institutional changes and increased political mobilization as potential sources of improved political representation.
Cell membrane permeabilization and death caused by subnanosecond electric pulses

Subnanosecond electric pulses (200 ps) at an electric field intensity of 25 kV/cm induce the death of B16 skin melanoma cells. We have observed 20% cell death after the exposure to 1.8 million pulses. The cytotoxic effect is due to the electric field effect coupled with temperature rise. A higher number of pulses, 2.4 million, causes 90% cell death, which is largely due to hyperthermia. When exposed to a much lower number of pulses (2000 pulses), NG108 cells exhibit an increase in membrane conductance, which allows a leakage current to flow from the extracellular medium to the interior of the cell. Such an increase of rectified current is likely due to pores of nanometer size being formed in the cell membrane. The pore formation is a nonthermal process, as the temperature rise due to the pulsing is negligible. The pores are not associated with cell death, as the number of pulses is much less than that required for cell killing.
Purine metabolism abnormalities in a hyperuricosuric subclass of autism

A subclass of patients with classic infantile autism have uric acid excretion which is >2 S.D.s above the normal mean. These hyperuricosuric autistic individuals may comprise approx. 20% of the autistic population. In order to determine the metabolic basis for urate overexcretion in these patients, de novo purine synthesis was measured in the cultured skin fibroblasts of these patients by quantification of the radiolabeled purine compounds produced by incubation with radiolabeled sodium formate. For comparison, de novo purine synthesis in normal controls, in normouricosuric autistic patients, and cells from patients with other disorders in which excessive uric acid excretion is seen was also measured. These experiments showed that de novo purine synthesis is increased approx. 4-fold in the hyperuricosuric autistic patients. This increase was less than that found in other hyperuricosuric disorders. No unusual radiolabeled compounds (such as adenylosuccinate) were detected in these experiments, and no gross deficiencies of radiolabeled nucleotides were seen. However, the ratio of adenine to guanine nucleotides produced by de novo synthesis was found to be lower in the cells of the hyperuricosuric autistic patients than in the normal controls or the cells from patients with other disorders. These results indicate that the hyperuricosuric subclass of autistic patients have increased de novo purine synthesis, and that the increase is approximately that expected for the degree of urate overexcretion when compared to other hyperuricosuric disorders. No particular enzyme defect was suggested by either gross deficiency of a radiolabeled compound or the appearance of an unusual radiolabeled compound, and no potentially neurotoxic metabolites were seen. Although an enzyme defect responsible for the accelerated purine synthesis was not identified, the abnormal ratio of adenine to guanine nucleotides suggests a defect in purine nucleotide interconversion.
A Comparison of Output Interventions and Un-enhanced Reading Conditions on Vocabulary Acquisition and Text Comprehension

This investigation assessed whether L2 readers' sensitivity towards a new lexical form is heightened if they are repeatedly pushed to produce output and are immediately provided with relevant input in input-output cycles. In addition, the study sought to assess how these interventions influence text comprehension. Fourth-semester learners read three texts, with four target words each, under the following conditions: (a) cued-output task, (b) self-selected output task, and (c) un-enhanced (control) reading. Results showed that four input-output cycles did not contribute to retain more or more robust form-meaning connections (FMCs) than the normal reading condition. In all three conditions, FMCs varied in strength and completeness, requiring different cues for retrieval. The two input-output tasks affected text comprehension differently. The self-selected output task resulted in text comprehension similar to the un-enhanced reading; the cued-output task seemed to interfere with text comprehension.
Weight status and disability in multiple sclerosis: An examination of bi-directional associations over a 24-month period

Abstract Background Natural history studies have typically focused on non-modifiable factors as predictors of disability progression in multiple sclerosis (MS). Weight status has emerged as a correlate of disability status in cross-sectional studies of persons with MS and represents a possible modifiable predictor of disability progression over time. Objective This study examined the prospective, bi-directional associations between body mass index (BMI) and disability over a 24-month time course in persons with MS who have mild-to-moderate disability. Methods The sample included 269 individuals with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) that were part of an ongoing, longitudinal investigation of symptoms and physical activity in persons with RRMS. BMI and PDDS were determined by self-report questionnaires distributed and collected through the U.S. postal service. Data were collected from participants on three occasions: baseline, 12 months, and 24 months. Results Mean BMI at baseline was 27.2 (7.0)kg/m 2 and over 50% of participants were classified as overweight (BMI=25.0–29.9kg/m 2 ) or obese (BMI≥30.0kg/m 2 ). There was a significant increase in PDDS over the study period ( p p =0.41). There were no significant correlations between BMI and PDDS for any of the three time points ( p >0.05). Path analysis indicated a minimal and inconsistent impact of BMI on the change in PDDS over time, and PDDS had a minimal and inconsistent influence on change in BMI. Conclusions Over a 24-month time course, we demonstrated an increase in disability, but minimal evidence that this change was predicted by BMI in persons with mild-to-moderate MS. Even though BMI was not predictive of disability, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was considerable and should be the focus of subsequent intervention in MS.
Bayesian hierarchical model assessment of nest site and landscape effects on nest survival of aplomado falcons

We investigated potential effects of nest site and landscape scale factors, including anthropo- genic disturbance and habitat patchiness, on the nesting success of a reintroduced population of northern aplomado falcons (Falco femoralis septentrionalis) in southern Texas. We monitored 62 nesting attempts during 2002-2004 in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. We developed hierarchical models describing daily nest survival rates (DSR) and compared the models using a Bayesian approach in R and WinBUGS. We considered possible effects of nest age, temporal trends, nest site variables, landscape structure, territory (a random effect), and 3 measures of anthropogenic disturbance: distance to paved road, proximity to power pole, and nocturnal light intensity. Whether evaluated by Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) scores or the models' overall posterior probabilities as estimated with a reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm, none of our landscape or disturbance measures affected DSR. Rather, variation in DSR was best described by nest height, overhead cover, and nest source (artificial or natural). These nest site level factors may be manipulated by managers through provision of artificial nests. We recommend that artificial nests continue to be provided, as such nests are highly successful when located on moderately tall substrates, and they permit researchers to access nest contents for population monitoring. 2011 The Wildlife Society.
Searching ChIP-seq genomic islands for combinatorial regulatory codes in mouse embryonic stem cells

Background To facilitate deciphering underlying transcriptional regulatory circuits in mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells, recent ChIP-seq data provided genome-wide binding locations of several key transcription factors (TFs); meanwhile, existing efforts profiled gene expression in ES cells and in their early differentiated state. It has been shown that the gene expression profiles are correlated with the binding of these TFs. However, it remains unclear whether other TFs, referred to as cofactors, participate the gene regulation by collaborating with the ChIP-seq TFs.
The function of language switching during bilingual mother‐child interactions

Spanish‐English bilingual mother‐child pairs (children's age, 2.5–3.5 years) were observed in a “natural” situation over a 9‐month period. Analysis of recorded transcripts with respect to the use of switched language indicated three forms for mothers: a. Instruction: Information about second language was given in the first. ("Se dice apple en ingles") b. Translation: The same information was given in both languages. ("This is a boy. Este es muchacho.”) c. Code switching: Switched language use not in the above categories. For mothers, 60 per cent of all utterances identified as language‐switched were of type (a) and (b) above. Children rarely switched languages, with less than 1 per cent of all utterances of the switched language form. From these data it seems that language switching during mother‐child interaction was relatively rare; although, when it did occur, it served a very meaningful function related to conversational clarification and possibly language learning (teaching).
Importance reweighting reduces dependence on temperature in Gibbs samplers: an application to the coseismic geodetic inverse problem

SUMMARY We employ importance reweighting to extend Gibbs sampling (GS) to a larger class of unnormalized, multidimensional probability functions and to reduce the dependence of the results on critical temperature T ∗ ,w hich is sometimes poorly known. Instead of sampling at T ∗ ,w esample at several sampling temperatures, T S ,i na ninterval centred on an estimate of T ∗ , correcting the results for each temperature to T = 1. Convergence is verified in part by agreement of marginal posterior distributions obtained at different T s .F or the coseismic geodetic problem, experiments with synthetic data suggest that optimal sampling temperature varies inversely with the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR): as signal strength increases, optimal sampling temperature decreases. Inversion of surface displacement data from the 1994 Northridge earthquake confirms coseismic source parameters from other methods, while providing extra information in the form of properly scaled marginal posterior probability density functions.
Silicon applications have minimal effects on Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) populations on pepper plant, Capsicum annum L.

ABSTRACT Silicon (Si) is the second most abundant element in soils, and at elevated concentration levels in plant tissue Si is reported to improve plant resistance to a range of biotic and abiotic stresses. In the present study, Si solutions at 100, 300 or 500 mg L-1 made from potassium silicate (K2SiO3) were applied as foliar sprays or soil drenches to pepper (Capsicum annum L.) plants, and their effects on chilli thrips (Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood) populations were studied. Data from 3 greenhouse tests showed minimal effects of Si treatments on visual leaf damage and numbers of thrips recovered from infested plants. An addition of jasmonic acid (a plant defense elicitor) with or without Si applications also did not alter the proportion of pepper leaves that sustained thrips damage. Tissue analyses showed that soil-drenched plants were able to absorb Si in roots up to ≈2.5% (w/w), but the Si was not being translocated to leaf or stem tissues at an equivalent rate. Foliar application of Si resulted in clo...
The Increasing Use of Visualization in Ship Hydrodynamics

Flow field visualization is an important part of the study of fluid dynamics and ship hydrodynamics. The field of computational fluid dynamics has provided an unprecedented ability to explore the hydrodynamics of marine vehicles through visualization. Many examples of this exist in the literature for steady flow field situations. However, unsteady visualization provides both challenges and opportunities to extract meaningful physical insight and information from computational simulations. This paper discusses some of these issues along with approaches being pursued to obtain adequate flow field information using remote high performance computing resources as well as concurrent visualization using local resources. A number of examples of flow field computations being pursued are discussed including: cavity flow, ship roll motions, trailing edge vortex shedding, ballast water exchange and crashback.
Children's long-term retention of salient personal experiences

Research on young children's long-term retention is reviewed in this article. More specifically, the abilities of 3- to 7-year-olds to remember the details of two types of medical experiences—a routine physical examination and an invasive radiological procedure—are discussed in the context of a framework for considering the flow of information in the developing memory system. The framework emphasizes four general themes about memory performance and provides a vehicle for relating research on memory development to discussions of children's testimony and adults' abilities to remember early experiences.
Public response to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Generating Station

We examine the nature of the public response to the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Generating Station located in San Luis Obispo, California, from the early 1960s to the present. Four distinct phases of public intervention were discerned, based on change in both plant-related issues and in the nature of the antinuclear constituencies in the region. The level of public concern varied both geographically and temporally and is related to the area's social structure, environmental predispositions, and distribution of plant-related economic benefits. External events, such as the prolonged debate over the risk assessment of the seismic hazard and the Three Mile Island accident were found to be important factors in explaining variation in public concern and political response.
Aspiration-related illnesses: definitions and diagnosis.

Background: Aspiration is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality. It is the most common cause of pneumonia and one of the most serious adverse effects of enteral nutrition support. It is important to use standardized terminology to define and discuss aspiration-related illnesses. Methods: Review of the medical literature and extraction of definitions and descriptions of aspiration-related illnesses. Results: Definitions, clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of common aspiration-related illnesses are discussed. Conclusions: Precisely defined terminology of aspiration-related illnesses adds consistency to this area of medicine and simplifies analysis and comparison of clinical studies.
Effects of Rest Interval on the Release of Calcium From the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum in Isolated Guinea Pig Ventricular Myocytes

Guinea pig cardiac myocytes were loaded with the fluorescent dye indo 1, and cell contraction was measured by a video edge-detection system. Ca2+ was released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) by rapidly cooling the myocytes or by rapid application of 10 mmol/L caffeine. Estimates of the amount of Ca2+ released from the SR after different rest intervals (ie, under different loading conditions) were obtained by measuring the current evoked by rapid application of 10 mmol/L caffeine, which we call Na+/Ca2+ exchange current. This current is completely inhibited by removal of extracellular Na+ and Ca2+ or by application of 5 mmol/L Ni2+. SR Ca2+ release after rest intervals of 5 to 120 seconds (assuming cell volume to be 30 x 10(-12) L) was estimated to be 57.8 +/- 5.7 to 25.7 +/- 4.5 mumol/L accessible cell volume, respectively, equivalent to 23 to 10 mumol/kg wet wt, respectively. There was an exponential decline in Ca2+ release from the SR after rest intervals of 2 to 120 seconds (rate constant, 0.029 s-1; t1/2, 24 seconds); thereafter, there remained a portion (56%) of Ca2+ releasable to caffeine application. We found a similar exponential decay (rate constant, 0.020 s-1; t1/2, 35 seconds) of the size of rapid cooling contractures with increasing rest intervals. The time to peak of the Na+/Ca2+ exchange current in the presence of caffeine slowed at long rest intervals, ie, at smaller SR loads. A decrease in SR load of 50% increased the time to peak of the exchange current by 213 +/- 37% (n = 6).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identifying Appropriate Patients for Early Salvage Radiotherapy after Prostatectomy

Purpose: It remains unclear whether relapsed prostate specific antigen at postprostatectomy salvage radiotherapy impacts outcomes as long it is 1.0 ng/ml or less.Materials and Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of 197 patients treated with salvage radiotherapy in the setting of detectable relapsed prostate specific antigen 1.0 ng/ml or less. Patients were excluded from analysis if they had lymph node involvement or received androgen deprivation therapy. Freedom from prostate specific antigen progression after salvage radiotherapy was analyzed by a Cox regression model.Results: Median relapsed prostate specific antigen was 0.33 ng/ml (range 0.07 to 1.0). There was 86% freedom from prostate specific antigen progression at a median followup of 52 months. Relapsed prostate specific antigen (HR 1.9, p = 0.004), Gleason score 8–10 (HR 5.2, p <0.001) and negative margin status (HR 2.0, p = 0.02) were independently associated with an increased risk of prostate specific antigen progression after sa...
Phase Extension: A reply

is, Boeckx’s statement, in his comments, that ‘as soon as an inherent phase merges with another category, there is no way of avoiding phase extension’ is false. Neither Phase Extension per se nor phase-extending head movement is the automatic result of Merge of a phase-external head; Phase Extension is the result of head movement that takes place for some reason. The original paper discusses a number of reasons why phase-extending head movement may take place — including facilitation of Predicate Inversion, licensing of RELATOR heads at LF (‘small clause restructuring’), etc. It is under such circumstances, and such circumstances alone, that Phase Extension will come about; it certainly is not an automatic consequence of the merger of a phase-external head. In the general context of automatic consequences, also note that the Phase Extension theory does not claim that phase-extending head movement automatically gives rise to things like Predicate Inversion; rather, Predicate Inversion happens for independent reasons (discussed in Den Dikken 2006), and must be facilitated by phase-extending head movement. Frank is right, therefore, in concluding that ‘there is nothing about the head movement, so far as I can tell, which requires the P[redicate] I[nversion] movement to take place’ — that is correct; but it does not present a problem for the theory proposed.
Decoding real-number convolutional codes: change detection, Kalman estimation

Convolutional codes which employ real-number symbols are difficult to decode because of the size of the alphabet and the numerical and roundoff noise inherent in arithmetic operations. Such codes find applications in both channel coding for communication systems and in fault-tolerance support for signal processing subsystems. A new method for error correction based on optimum mean-square recursive Kalman estimation techniques incorporates time-varying models for the system and associated disruptive noise sources. The underlying common model for communications and fault tolerance applications assumes the system operates nominally with low levels of channel or numerical and roundoff noise, occasionally experiencing temporarily larger noise statistics. A time-varying Kalman estimation structure which uses single-step and fixed-lag smoothing predictors can correct errors to within the nominal low-noise levels. Correction actions may be activated only when larger activity is detected, so methods for detecting possible error situations are developed. However, misdetection is not a serious problem because the Kalman correction methods only track significant errors in the data. Two activity detection techniques are examined; one is based on likelihood ratio tests while another uses clipped samples and binary pattern matching. Several examples showing simulated mean-square error performance and decoded waveforms from error injection experiments are presented.
Strand breaks produced in X-irradiated crystalline DNA: Influence of base sequence

Abstract Razskazovskiy, Y., Debije, M. G. and Bernhard, W. A. Strand Breaks Produced in X-Irradiated Crystalline DNA: Influence of Base Sequence. Radiat. Res. 159, 663–669 (2003). This study reports the radiation-chemical yields for DNA single-strand breaks (SSBs) in crystals of CGCACG:CGTGCG (I) and CACGCG:CGCGTG (II) duplexes induced by direct ionization using X rays. The DNA fragmentation products, consisting of 3′- and 5′-phosphate-terminated fragments, were quantified by ion-exchange chromatography using a set of reference compounds. The yields of single-strand breaks in I and II are 0.16 ± 0.03 μmol/J and 0.07 ± 0.02 μmol/J, respectively. The probability of cleavage at a given site is relatively independent of which of the four bases is at that site. For the very small sample of base sequences studied to date, there is no obvious dependence on base sequence. However, there appears to be an increased frequency of strand breaks at the non-phosphorylated termini of the oligodeoxynucleotides. These resu...
Order and TimeUpdate Relations

This chapter contains sections titled: Backward Order-Update Relations Forward Order-Update Relations Time-Update Relation
As Long as You Name My Name Right: Social Circles and Social Sentiment in the Hollywood Hearings

The Hollywood Blacklist was based on a series of interviews conducted by the House Committee on Un-American Activities (HUAC), trying to identify members of the communist party. We use various NLP algorithms in order to automatically analyze a large corpus of interview transcripts and construct a network of the industry members and their “naming” relations. We further use algorithms for Sentiment Analysis in order to add a psychological dimension to the edges in the network. In particular, we test how different types of connections are manifested by different sentiment types and attitude of the interviewees. Analysis of the language used in the hearings can shed new light on the motivation and role of network members.
Abstract 2835: Hyperdense MCA as a Predictor of Stroke Severity: Does Size Matter?

Background and Objective Hyperdense MCA (HDMCA) sign is an early sign seen on CT head after acute ischemic stroke indicating acute arterial thrombosis. It has been reported as a predictor of stroke...
Characterization of Grain Boundaries in Polycrystalline GaAs

Examination of capacitance transients arising from the emission or capture of electrons at a charged GaAs grain boundary reveal for the first time the existence of discrete interface levels. The position of these levels in the bandgap and their associated capture cross sections are determined from the transients.
4′,6′-O-Benzylidene- and 4′,6′-O-p-Methoxybenzylidene-α,β-cellobiose and Their Hexa-O-β-benzoyl Derivatives

The preparation of 4′,6′- O -benzylidenecellobiose has been improved and its p -methoxybenzylidene counterpart was prepared in a similar way. As with other alkylidene derivatives of sugars, the corresponding per- O -benzoates are versatile intermediates in carbohydrate synthesis, allowing, after hydrolytic cleavage or opening of the phenylidene ring, regioselective manipulation of hydroxyl groups in cellobiose, or access to various derivatives of lactose.
Understanding Post-Depositional Processes Through Electron Microbeam Analysis of Archaeological Bone From Se Missouri

Archaic period bone in Southeast Missouri characteristically displays a patchy black and reddish brown staining not found on bone from other-aged sites in the area. The stained areas appear to be post-depositional additions to the bone matrix. Preliminary tests suggest that the stain is inorganic and is rich in Mn and Fe. Here, electron microbeam analysis is used in conjunction with SEM imaging to identify elements specifically linked to the staining. Comparisons are made between the elemental composition of bone and associated sediments from several different-aged occupations. Variability in postdepositional environment between occupations is documented and related to the presence of the staining.
Computation of Damping for Vibrating Micro-Machined Cantilevers in the Slip Flow Regime

The viscous losses in vibrating micromachined cantilevers, similar to those used for ambient sensing and biological detection, are computed using several methods: existing semi-analytical models, quasi-steady solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations with and without slip boundary conditions, and unsteady solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations with and without slip boundary conditions. The results are compared to experimental data for two geometries: a 40 μm wide, 5 μm thick, and 200 μm long cantilever vibrating at 1.04 x 10 s, and a 100 μm wide, 5 μm thick, and 600 μm long cantilever vibrating at 1.15 x 10 s. The quasi-steady solutions fail to capture observed characteristics of this damping, including strong pressure dependence. Semi-analytic solutions give pressure dependence weaker than that encountered experimentally. At pressures between 10 KPa and 70 KPa, the unsteady solution of the Navier-Stokes equations computes damping consistent with that observed experimentally. Use of a slip boundary condition changes the computed viscous loss by several percent, and appears to of much less importance than unsteady effects. The quality factor is then computed as a function of frequency for a 10 μm wide, 5 μm thick cantilever vibrating at atmospheric pressure at frequencies between 4.14 x 10 and 8.46 x 10 s. The results agree with experimental data over a range of frequencies, suggesting that unsteady computational fluid mechanics provides a reliable method for prediction of the performance of micro-resonators.
Considerations for management of interstitial ectopic pregnancies: two case reports

Conventional treatment of interstitial pregnancies includes systemic methotrexate, direct methotrexate injection, wedge resection, or hysterectomy. We present two cases of interstitial pregnancies that were successfully managed by different minimally invasive surgical techniques. We also report the novel use of hysteroscopic urologic stone retrieval forceps in the transvaginal removal of persistent products of conception after systemic methotrexate for an interstitial pregnancy. Case 1 was a 28-year-old gravida 1 white woman at 8 weeks gestation; she was diagnosed with a left interstitial pregnancy. After laparoscopic confirmation of the interstitial pregnancy, successful ultrasound-guided suction dilation and curettage was performed. Case 2 was a 33-year-old gravida 3 para 1021 (one term pregnancy, no preterm pregnancies, one ectopic pregnancy and one spontaneous miscarriage, and one living child) Hispanic woman with persistent products of conception after systemic methotrexate for a left interstitial pregnancy. She underwent hysteroscopic-guided removal of the persistent products of conception, which was possible due to novel use of urologic stone retrieval forceps. Successful minimally invasive treatment of interstitial pregnancies may be possible in certain cases. Collaboration between different specialties continues to be important for improving minimally invasive options.
Apnea after Routine Eye Examinations in Premature Infants

Objective To determine the frequency of cardiorespiratory events following routine exams for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). Study Design This is a retrospective review of 79 premature infants in the neonatal intensive care unit at the University of Rochester Medical Center. The baseline for each infant (mean cardiorespiratory events in the 72 hours before the exam) was compared with the number of cardiorespiratory events during the subsequent 24 hours using generalized estimating equation and the Mantel–Haenszel chi-square test to determine if there was an association between cardiorespiratory events and potential risk factors. Results Approximately 19 to 25% of infants experienced an increase in cardiorespiratory events in the 24 hours following their eye exams. These newborns were generally of a younger gestational age and lower birthweight. Conclusion The frequency of cardiorespiratory events following routine ROP exams is similar to that following routine immunizations in this population. Thus, in infants being continuously monitored during the 24 hours after the exam, alterations in medical care in the absence of other clinical signs suggestive of sepsis or clinical deterioration may not be required, limiting unnecessary antibiotic exposure, prolonged caffeine administration, unwarranted gastroesophageal reflux treatment, and undue family stress.
Understanding the Normal and Diseased Retina Using Adaptive Optics Imaging

Abstract (35 Word Limit) Over the past 15 years, we have seen an explosion in the clinical applications of adaptive optics retinal imaging. Here I review some of these applications, with an emphasis on photoreceptor pathology. Article not available.
System of Two Linear Differential Equations

In Chapter 5 we shall model the interaction between predator y and prey x by a system of two differential equations: the differential equation for x will involve the predator y and the differential equation for y will involve the prey x. The functions f(x, y) and g(x, y) will generally be nonlinear functions. We shall develop the theory in two stages: The first stage to be taken up in this chapter deals with the special case where f and g are linear functions, and the second stage, to be taken up in Chapter 4, will extend the theory to nonlinear functions f and g. Before we start, with a linear system of two equations, however, it will be instructive to consider one linear differential equations of the second order.
Pediatric neurointervention: collimation on radiation exposure-associated lifetime excess tumor risk

Background Intracranial vascular malformations in children are being addressed through a variety of treatment modalities including open surgery, external beam radiation, and image-guided neuroendovascular procedures. These patients often receive multiple treatments and incur serial exposures to ionizing radiation which has been linked to tumor development in population-based data. Objective This study quantifies the effect of collimation on exposures from single procedures and over patient lifetimes to estimate excess risk of lifetime tumor development. Methods 215 patients aged 0–21 years from a single center took part in the study. Radiation exposure from neuroendovascular procedures was tabulated and converted to brain doses using modeled data and extrapolated to risk ratios using results of population-based estimates found in the literature. Results Lifetime and per procedure risk was highest in patients with brain arteriovenous malformations, brain arteriovenous fistulas, and vein of Galen malformations, a reflection of our institutional referral patterns. Across all pathologies the per procedure excess relative risk decreased from 13.4 to 2.3 when full collimation was employed. Lifetime excess relative risk decreased from 49.0 to 7.7 for full collimation. Conclusions This is the first study to quantify the effect of collimation on lifetime and per procedure risk of tumor development in a pediatric population. In addition to collimation, technical and operator-based aspects of the neurointerventional suite are discussed to further reduce patient exposure without sacrificing image quality.
Effect of numerical soil-foundation-structure modeling on the seismic response of a tall bridge pier via pushover analysis

Abstract This paper examines the role of the numerical modeling of soil-foundation-structure (SFS) interaction on the seismic response of a tall, partially embedded, flared bridge pier. For this purpose, static, pushover, nonlinear, finite-element, stand-alone analyses are performed on nine different models of one of the two piers of the Mogollon Rim Viaduct, a long-span, reinforced-concrete bridge supported on pile foundations. Structural modeling considerations, such as selection of concrete constitutive models, material properties, and bond-slip and P-Δ effects, on the nonlinear response of this pier are investigated. p-y, t-z and Q-z nonlinear curves are applied to model the soil-pile interaction, and equivalent nonlinear springs are developed to reproduce the soil-pile cap interaction. In addition, the effects of the partial pier embedment and the slope of the ground surface on the lateral resistance of the pier and the total capacity of the SFS system are examined. The results illustrate how structural and geotechnical modeling approaches for the SFS interaction can affect the nonlinear response of tall bridges, and may lead to differences in the numerical prediction of local or global failure. For the case analyzed herein, the partial pier embedment and foundation flexibility can dramatically modify the structural response, and influence the bond-slip effect at the pier-pile cap connection.
Subjective anger and overt aggression in psychiatric outpatients

Abstract Background The attention given to anger and aggression in psychiatric patients pales in comparison to the attention given to depression and anxiety. Most studies have focused on a limited number of psychiatric disorders, and results have been inconsistent. The present report from the Rhode Island Methods to Improve Diagnostic Assessment and Services (MIDAS) project sought to replicate and extend prior findings examining which psychiatric disorders and demographic characteristics were independently associated with elevated levels of anger and aggression. Method 3800 individuals presenting to the Rhode Island Hospital Department of Psychiatry outpatient practice underwent a semi-structured interview to determine current Axis I (N = 3800) and Axis II (N = 2151) pathology. Severity of subjective anger and overt aggression within the past week were also assessed for each patient, and odds ratios were determined for each disorder. Multiple regression analyses were conducted to determine which diagnoses independently contributed to increased levels of anger and aggression. Results Almost half of the sample reported moderate-to-severe levels of current subjective anger, and more than 20% endorsed moderate-to-severe levels of current overt aggression. The frequency of anger was similar to the frequencies of depressed mood and psychic anxiety. Anger and aggression were elevated across all diagnoses except adjustment disorder. Anger and aggression were most elevated in patients with major depressive disorder, panic disorder with agoraphobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, and cluster B personality disorders. Conclusions Anger is as common as depressed mood and psychic anxiety amongst psychiatric outpatients, and problems with anger cut across diagnostic categories. Given the high prevalence of problems with anger in psychiatric patients, more research should be directed towards its effective treatment.
Configuration of Building Fac¸ade Surface for Seasonal Selectiveness of Solar Irradiation: Absorption and Reflection

A novel building facade surface configuration is proposed. This facade consists of grooved cavities that are configured in a manner that reflects summer (cooling season) insolation and absorbs winter (heating season) insolation. The effective absorptivities of the facade for various cavity reflectance characteristics, i.e., a wide range of diffuse and specular reflectance characteristics, are evaluated using a Monte Carlo model. It was determined the best cavity surface reflectivity is the one with fully diffuse surfaces and absorptivity of 0.7 or more. This reflectance characteristic of cavity results in a small depth of facade cavity and thicker divider fin between two adjacent cavities. The calculations in the present work are performed for the latitude of 41°N where both heating and cooling loads are significant. The same model can be applied to locations with different latitude which may result in slightly different cavity configurations and effective absorptivities.© 2011 ASME
Automatic conversion of Pop music into chiptunes for 8-bit pixel art

In this paper, we propose an audio mosaicing method that converts Pop songs into a specific music style called “chiptune,” or “8-bit music.” The goal is to reproduce Pop songs by using the sound of the chips on the old game consoles in 1980s/1990s. The proposed method goes through a procedure that first analyzes the pitches of an incoming Pop song in the frequency domain, and then synthesizes the song with template waveforms in the time domain to make it sound like 8-bit music. Because a Pop song is usually composed of the vocal melody and the instrumental accompaniment, in the analysis stage we use a singing voice separation algorithm to separate the vocals from the instruments, and then apply different pitch detection algorithms to transcribe the two separated sources. We validate through a subjective listening test that the proposed method creates much better 8-bit music than existing nonnegative matrix factorization based methods can do. Moreover, we find that synthesis in the time domain is important for this task.
Etel Adnan’s Transcolonial Mediterranean

Through close readings of works by Lebanese-American poet and artist Etel Adnan, including “Jebu,” The Arab Apocalypse, and In the Heart of the Heart of Another Country, this chapter investigates the Mediterranean as a transcolonial site: a region that has been and continues to be shaped by overlapping forms of imperial rule as well as by transregional, South–South alliances. Without implying that the colonial is past or that we are mired in coloniality, a transcolonial Mediterranean perspective, I argue, opens up the possibility of a critical relation to the region’s colonial past and neocolonial present, as well as the prospect of alternative or even transformative political and cultural alliances across and beyond the area we commonly—and problematically—refer to simply as the Mediterranean.
It's more than skin-deep: The relationship between social victimization and telomere length in adolescence.

This study examined the relationship between peer victimization and telomere length (TL), an indicator of biological aging that is associated with stressors (Epel, 2009). It was predicted that social victimization would have a greater impact upon TL, as well as the frequency and severity of health complaints than physical victimization. Adolescents (Mage = 15.91 years, SDage = 1.65) and their parents completed measures of peer victimization and physical health problems; adolescents also submitted a DNA sample for telomere analysis. Greater instances of being socially, but not physically, victimized were associated with shorter telomeres, as well as more frequent and severe health complaints. TL was also negatively related to both the frequency and severity of health problems, even after controlling for BMI, age, and sex of participant. The relationship between social victimization and health complaints via TL held only at higher levels of social victimization. These findings are the first to find an association between peer victimization and shortened telomeres.
Nonphotosynthetic fixation of carbon dioxide by three microorganisms.

Studies by Lynch and Calvin (1952,1953) have established the nature of the compounds incorporating C{sup 14} nonphotosynthetically from C{sup 14}O{sub 2} in thirteen microorganisms: a yeast, a protozoan, two water moulds, one slime mould, three algae, three bacteria, and the green flagellate Euglena Gracilis. With the exception of H. gracilis, and of Lactobacillus cassi which fixed no detectable amounts of carbon dioxide, all these organisms fixed carbon dioxide into amino and organic acids derived from the tricarboxylic acid cycle, and into a few other compounds in individual cases (tyrosine, phenylalanine, polysaccharides [probably glucose polymers], acetic acid and butyric acid). The authors concluded that the presence of C{sup 14} in almost all these compounds could be accounted for by the carboxylation of pyruvate to yield oxalacetic or malic acids, followed by transaminase reactions. In E. gracilis, however, considerable quantities of activity also appeared in phosphorylated compounds in the dark, especially in the sugar monophosphates, phosphoglyceric acid, and phosphoenolpyruvic acid. Only with this organisms was a kinetic study performed to determine the identity and degree of labeling of the compounds containing C{sup 14} after varying periods of time. It was not stated definitely by which route carbon dioxide entered the photosynthetic intermediates,more » but it was implied that it was incorporated directly into phosphoglyceric acid, and that the energy for this process, which in photosynthesis is derived from sunlight, and was provided by respiration or fermentation. Certain aspects of these presumptions however, do not adequately account for all the experimental data.« less
Toxicology of suicide: touchstone for suicide prevention?

Summary Background: Systematic studies of consecutive suicides show that risk for suicide concentrates heavily in people with psychiatric illness, particularly depressive disorders and substance abuse. It is generally assumed that suicide is preventable although there is currently no conclusive evidence for efficacy of any preventive action, including use of psychotropic prescription medications. The low base-rate of suicide and ethical concerns of studying suicidal people in controlled trials of medications or psychotherapy are the two most important obstacles for progress in suicide research. No prevention suicide program currently includes routine toxicological monitoring of suicide or other violent death. The use of toxicological monitoring in suicide was examined in this study. Material/Methods: Review of the literature on toxicological studies of suicide, in particular of a study done in consecutive suicides in Mobile County, Alabama, between 1990–1998. Results: Toxicological studies in suicides support that there is undertreatment of depressive disorders in people who are at risk for suicide and that substance abuse is an important risk factor. Higher detection rates of antidepressants in recent suicide samples may indicate higher treatment rates of depression. Conclusion: Surveillance of psychoactive substances among suicides may be a novel and practical way to assess efficacy of selected medical interventions aimed at reducing the number of suicides. Use of toxicological monitoring in suicide should be explored in future studies.