cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The understanding of internal control principles by pastors

Although the concept of internal control is as relevant to churches as it is to profit-seeking organizations, many authors have indicated that churches typically have weak systems of internal control. Pastors usually serve in the position of chief professional officer of their churches, and the implementation and maintenance of an adequate system of internal control is ultimately the responsibility of management. This study is a preliminary effort to determine whether pastors understand general principles of internal control and are able to recognize strengths and weaknesses in systems of internal control. The results show that pastors have a reasonable ability to recognize strengths and weaknesses in internal control systems in churches.
Authigenic iron sulfides as paleosalinity indicators

ABSTRACT A reasonably good correlation has been found between overlying water salinities and the pyrite-to-"FeS" (acid-volatile iron monosulfides) ratio in modern anoxic sediments below the zone of sulfate reduction. Values of FeS2/FeS greater than 10.0 are characteristic of marine sediments, whereas ratios from brackish estuarine or fresh water lake sediments are generally less than one. The low ratios are believed to result from an incomplete conversion of FeS to pyrite. Since the reaction is dependent upon available interstitial sulfate, it cannot proceed to completion in low sulfate-containing fresh or brackish water sediments. It is suggested that the presence of appreciable authigenic iron monosulfides in ancient sediments may be used as evidence that they were deposited in br ckish or fresh water environments.
Characterization of node disjoint (parallel) path in star graphs

This paper presents an analysis that leads to the complete characterization of the node disjoint (parallel) paths in a star graph. It is shown that by exploiting the cycle structure of permutations (same as the conjugacy class) one can decentralize a routing algorithm for transfer of packets between a pair of nodes in these graphs. >
Using Data to Improve Quality: the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium.

A program to collect and analyze cardiac catheterization, electrophysiologic studies and cardiac operations in children was initiated in 1982. The purpose was to help centers compare their experience and outcomes with a group of centers to determine areas where their performance might improve. Cardiac centers became members of the Pediatric Cardiac Care Consortium and submitted demographic data and copies of procedure reports regularly to a central office. Data were extracted from the reports, coded by trained coders and entered into a computer database. Annually, the data were analyzed to compare the experience of an individual center with that of the entire group of centers. The annual data were adjusted for severity on the basis of eight factors selected after discussion with participants in the Consortium. Adjustment was by multivariate analysis. Reports were prepared for each center and distributed at an annual meeting. The data were used by centers to review operations where the mortality rate exceeded +2 standard deviations of the group. With discussion, the center staff often initiated changes to improve outcome. The outcome could then be monitored by the annual reports. Our data were also utilized in the creation of the Risk Adjustment for Surgery for Congenital Heart Disease (RACHS)-1 categories of disease severity. The mortality rates of our centers were comparable with the combined hospital discharge data from New York, Massachusetts, and California. From 1982 through 2007, the mortality rates of our centers dropped for each RACHS-1 category, falling to less than 1% for categories 1 and 2 for the last 5-year period. During the 25 years, we received data from 52 centers about 137 654 patients who underwent 117 756 cardiac operations.
EXTRUCT: using deep structural information in XML keyword search

Users who are unfamiliar with database query languages can search XML data sets using keyword queries. Previous work has shown that current XML keyword search methods, although intuitive, do not effectively use the data's structural information and provide poor precision, recall, and ranking for most queries. Based on an extension of the concept of information theory, we have developed principled frameworks called normalized total correlation (NTC) and normalized term presence correlation (NTPC) to measure the relevance of candidate answers to keyword queries. We demonstrate EXTRUCT, an XML keyword search interface that uses NTC and NTPC. An extensive empirical evaluation over two real-world XML DBs has shown that EX-TRUCT has better precision and recall and provides better ranking than all previous approaches. We demonstrate EXTRUCT, along with seven other keyword search systems for four real-world XML data sets, using prepared queries as well as queries from the audience. The demonstration shows that using deep structural information increases the effectiveness of XML keyword search systems considerably.
Update on the Role of Topotecan in the Treatment of Recurrent Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women. Most patients with ovarian cancer respond to first-line chemotherapy, but many relapse within 18 to 22 months. The development of efficacious salvage therapies that increase overall survival while maintaining quality of life is a great challenge in the treatment of this disease. Topotecan, a novel topoisomerase I inhibitor, is currently indicated for the treatment of recurrent metastatic carcinoma of the ovary. In patients with relapsed ovarian cancer, the overall response rates on treatment with topotecan range from 19%-33% in platinum-sensitive patients, 14%-18% in platinum-resistant patients, and 5%-11% in platinum-refractory patients. The proportion of patients achieving stable disease ranges between 17% in refractory and 48% in sensitive patients. In phase III studies, topotecan was shown to be equivalent in efficacy to both paclitaxel and liposomal doxorubicin as second-line therapy in patients with relapsed ovarian cancer. Further, non-cross-resistance between topotecan and paclitaxel was demonstrated in a third-line, phase III crossover study, suggesting that topotecan may be effective in the first-line setting with paclitaxel and/or platinum. Hematologic toxicities include neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia; however, these toxicities are usually short lived, noncumulative, and manageable with dose modifications, including low-dose topotecan regimens. Nonhematologic toxicities are usually mild to moderate in severity. These data support the use of topotecan for second-line therapy and suggest that topotecan may also be effective in first-line therapy. Further studies with topotecan alone and in combination with other agents are needed to fully characterize the role and sequencing of topotecan in the salvage and first-line settings.
The Future of Nursing: How Important is Discipline-Specific Knowledge? A Conversation with Jacqueline Fawcett

Nurses have long attempted to secure a unique identity for the profession. Many scholars are now promoting an interdisciplinary framework for nursing practice. Fawcett is convinced that interdisciplinary practice poses a danger for nursing to lose its identity and that interdisciplinary practice cannot be successful if members of each discipline do not understand the conceptual models, practice, and research of their own discipline. Dr. Janie Butts and Dr. Karen Rich interviewed Dr. Jacqueline Fawcett about her views related to discipline-specific knowledge and nursing's future. The authors conclude that Fawcett's scientific foundation gives nursing the solidarity and power necessary to determine the unique internal goods of its practice.
Nuclear reprogramming in nuclear transplant rabbit embryos.

The first six genetically verified nuclear transplant rabbits have been produced in this study. Individual eight-cell stage embryo blastomeres were transferred and fused with enucleated mature oocytes of which six full-term offspring were produced out of 164 manipulated eggs. The following efficiency rates were determined for the nuclear transplantation procedure: chromosomal removal from oocytes, 92%; fusion rate, 84%; activation rate, 46%; embryo transfer rate, 27%. Additional reasons for the low efficiency rate of nuclear transplant embryos may include limited development due to aging in recipient oocytes and asynchronous transfers of manipulated embryos to recipient females. The successful development to term may have been due to the ability of the mature oocyte to reprogram the eight-cell stage nuclei. The number of cells in blastocysts derived from isolated eight-cell blastomeres (18 +/- .08) was lower than that of nonmanipulated pronuclear (106 +/- 5.1) and nuclear transplant embryos derived from eight-cell stage nuclei (91 +/- 10.2) (p less than 0.001). This evidence along with the significant amount of nuclear swelling in nuclear transplant embryos and a delay in the time of blastocyst formation indicate that nuclear reprogramming had taken place in these embryos. Successful nuclear reprogramming indicates that serial transfers could result in the expanded multiplication of mammalian embryos.
Risk and Benefits of Bilateral Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Bilateral total knee replacements can be performed under the same anaesthetic or so-called “single-stage” (simultaneously or sequentially); or under different anaesthetics or so-called “staged” (during the same or different hospitalizations). The main advantages of single-stage bilateral total knee replacement surgery include good clinical results, the need for a single anaesthetic, lower total amount of pain medication used, shorter overall surgical and rehabilitation time, high patient satisfaction, and possibly lower total cost. The drawbacks of single-stage bilateral total knee replacement surgery include increased risk of perioperative complications. Our institutional guidelines for the selection of patients being considered for single-stage bilateral knee arthroplasty contemplate the exclusion of patients of extreme age—patients with significant end organ dysfunction (i.e. ASA physical status of 3 or greater).
Cesarean Scar Ectopic Pregnancy

This case illustrates the importance of considering a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy at previous cesarean scar in a patient with pregnancy of unknown location. Pregnancy of unknown location is a term used by sonographers when a live intrauterine pregnancy consisting of gestational sac, fetal pole and or yolk sac cannot be visualized, in presence of sufficiently elevated quantitative serum chorionic gonadotropin ( β -HCG). Modern obstetrician needs to be aware of the diagnosis of cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy and consider evaluation of scar with ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We present here such a patient with pregnancy of unknown location, in whom cesarean scar pregnancy was accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4021/jcgo98w
Graphical design of frequency sampling filters for use in a signals and systems laboratory

In this paper, we present educational filter design tools used in the signals and systems course. A graphical-user-interface (GUI) for filter design using the frequency-sampling method has been developed and embedded as a module in the Java-DSP (J-DSP) editor. Three realizations are presented: the non-recursive, non-recursive using least squares, and recursive. The paper describes several laboratory exercises that involve interactive filter design using the 'freq. samp' block. The performance of the frequency sampling method is compared against the performance of the Kaiser and Parks-McClellan algorithms. The exercises have been used at Arizona State University in the signals and systems course. Pre- and post- assessment quizzes have been assigned and results have been compiled to evaluate the learning attributed specifically to the J-DSP software and exercises.
Labor Market Influences on Personality Scale Scores among Job Applicants

Abstract. Four studies investigating labor market influences on personality scale scores of job applicants are presented. The first three studies examined whether or not job applicants from internal vs. external labor markets scored similarly on multi-scale personality inventories used for personnel selection. Across three samples, data from external job applicants (total N = 11,147) and internal job applicants (total N = 10,468) for managerial positions indicated that on average external job applicants scored slightly higher (by an average of .10 to .20 standard deviation units). A variety of control variables had no influence on comparisons. The fourth study examined integrity test scores of job applicants in a buyer’s labor market (selection ratio = .03). Job applicants (N = 1,002) in this labor market scored .52 SD units above general job applicant norms. The variability for this group was markedly smaller. There may be small, but consistent, labor supply and demand influences on personality scale res...
Second order heuristics in ACGP

Genetic Programming explores the problem search space by means of operators and selection. Mutation and crossover operators apply uniformly, while selection is the driving force for the search. Constrained GP changes the uniform exploration to pruned non-uniform, skipping some subspaces and giving preferences to others, according to some heuristics. Adaptable Constrained GP is a methodology for discovery of such useful heuristics. Both methodologies have previously demonstrated their surprising capabilities using only first-order (parent-child) heuristics. Recently, they have been extended to second-order (parent-children) heuristics. This paper describes the second-order processing, and illustrates the usefulness and efficiency of this approach using a simple problem specifically constructed to exhibit strong second-order structure.
Active stiffness control of a manipulator in cartesian coordinates

A method of actively controlling the apparent stiffness of a manipulator end effecter is presented. The approach allows the programmer to specify the three transnational and three rotational stiffness of a frame located arbitrarily in hand coordinates. Control of the nominal position of the hand then permits simultaneous position and force control. Stiffness may be changed under program control to match varying task requirements. A rapid servo algorithm is made possible by transformation of the problem into joint space at run time. Applications examples are given.
The effects of intra-arterial vasodilators on radial artery size and spasm: implications for contemporary use of trans-radial access for coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention

Abstract Background Transradial access (TRA) offers advantages including decreased vascular complications, reduced length of hospital stay, and reduced cost. The size of the radial artery (RA) limits the equipment that can be used via TRA. Intra-arterial (IA) vasodilators prevent and treat RA spasm, yet are not uniformly used in TRA and their effect on the absolute size of the RA remains unknown. Methods and materials 121 patients undergoing TRA for cardiac catheterization were included. 78 patients underwent RA angiography prior to administration of IA vasodilators (‘no vasodilator’ group), 43 patients underwent radial angiography after administration of an IA verapamil and nitroglycerin cocktail (‘vasodilator’ group). Quantitative angiography was used to compare the RA diameters. Results Clinical characteristics were similar between the groups, except that patients in the 'no vasodilator' cohort were taller (1.67 ± 0.1 m vs. 1.73 ± 0.1 m, p = 0.002), and heavier (84.9 ± 18.2 kg vs. 75 ± 17.1 kg, p = 0.003). In the 'vasodilator' group the proximal RA diameter was larger (2.29 ± 0.47 mm vs. 2.09 ± 0.41 mm, p = 0.02) as was the narrowest segment (1.83 ± 0.56 mm vs 1.39 ± 0.43, p Conclusion IA vasodilators increase pre-procedural RA diameter in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization via TRA. This increase in diameter has important implications for procedural planning. Summary for Table of Contents Boyer et al. performed a blinded controlled clinical trial investigating the effects of intra-arterial vasodilators on radial artery size and spasm during cardiac catheterization. The study demonstrates that intra-arterial vasodilators significantly increased the radial artery size throughout the entire course of the vessel and significantly decreased the amount of radial artery spasm. The authors conclude that these findings support the use of intra-arterial vasodilators during cardiac catheterization and have important implications for emerging technologies such as larger bore sheathless radial procedures.
Probing phase segregation in porphyrin-polymer blends with multidimensional ir spectroscopy

Multidimensional IR spectroscopy is used to study blends of the regioregular semiconducting polymer, poly(3-hexylthiophene) with ruthenium porphyrins in solid state thin films. A ruthenium-bound carbon monoxide ligand is a sensitive reporter of the local electrostatic environment and indicates that the porphyrins localize into phase-segregated domains upon annealing in solvent vapor. The FTIR spectrum of this ligand reports on the state of aggregation, which we then correlate with transmission electron microscopy images of these films before and after annealing. We then use 2D-IR spectroscopy, an ultrafast IR technique, to measure the fast structural dynamics that are present in the vicinity of the CO ligand when it is homogeneously blended in the polymer film and phase segregated into purely porphyrinic domains.
Self-Limiting Deposition of Anatase TiO2 at Low Temperature by Pulsed PECVD

The self-limiting deposition of anatase TiO 2 was accomplished by pulsed plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) using a simultaneous delivery of TiCl 4 and O 2 . The amorphous to anatase phase transition was examined as a function of temperature, plasma power, and film thickness. Films deposited at T = 120°C, with the plasma power set at 100 W were amorphous, containing residual amounts of chlorine. At 200 W, the films displayed an anatase structure, and no chlorine was detected by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Spectroscopic ellipsometry, Fourier transform infrared, and X-ray diffraction measurements concur that a minimum film thickness of ∼25 nm is required for the formation of the anatase phase.
Least squares subspace projection approach to mixed pixel classification for hyperspectral images

An orthogonal subspace projection (OSP) method using linear mixture modeling was recently explored in hyperspectral image classification and has shown promise in signature detection, discrimination, and classification. In this paper, the OSP is revisited and extended by three unconstrained least squares subspace projection approaches, called signature space OSP, target signature space OSP, and oblique subspace projection, where the abundances of spectral signatures are not known a priori but need to be estimated, a situation to which the OSP cannot be directly applied. The proposed three subspace projection methods can be used not only to estimate signature abundance, but also to classify a target signature at subpixel scale so as to achieve subpixel detection. As a result, they can be viewed as a posteriori OSP as opposed to OSP, which can be thought of as a priori OSP. In order to evaluate these three approaches, their associated least squares estimation errors are cast as a signal detection problem ill the framework of the Neyman-Pearson detection theory so that the effectiveness of their generated classifiers can be measured by receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis. All results are demonstrated by computer simulations and Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data.
A chaincode based scheme for fingerprint feature extraction

A feature extraction method using the chaincode representation of fingerprint ridge contours is presented. The representation allows efficient image quality enhancement and detection of fine minutiae feature points. The direction field is estimated from a set of selected chaincodes. The original gray-scale image is enhanced using a dynamic filtering scheme that takes advantage of the estimated direction flow of the contours. Minutiae are generated using ridge contour following.
Forskolin: A potential antimetastatic agent

Forskolin, a diterpene from the roots of an Indian plant, Coleus forskohlii, is a potent platelet aggregation inhibitor and has been examined for its effects on (a) tumor-induced human platelet aggregation and (b) pulmonary tumor colonization in mice. These studies employed a subline of B16 murine melanoma, B16-F10 (highly metastatic to lungs). Forskolin (2 microM) strongly inhibits the melanoma cell-induced human platelet aggregation. A single dose of forskolin (82 micrograms/mouse) administered intraperitoneally 30 or 60 min prior to tail vein injection of cultured B16-F10 cells (2 or 3 X 10(5) cells/mouse) reduced tumor colonization in the lungs by more than 70%. Similar results were obtained in three separate experiments. These findings raise the possibility that forskolin could prove of value in the clinic for the prevention of cancer metastasis.
Social Network Formation Based on Inclusion

In this paper we propose a framework for the evolution of social networks based on a game theoretical model of inclusion. In this model, agents are involved in repeated interactions in the form of partnership games. Based on the results of their actions, they learn to include or exclude the others while simultaneously learn on their acts in the game. By introducing reinforcement learning for the evolution of inclusion we propose a tool for the study of the evolution of social networks. Using our model, we confirm the speculation that propensity based selective interaction instead of random encounters can foster political and social polarization.
Comparison of Stimulation Patterns to Elicit Steady-State Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SSSEPs): Implications for Hybrid and SSSEP-Based BCIs

The goal of this study was to systematically compare signal characteristics and performance of three stimulation patterns that have been used to elicit steady-state somatosensory evoked potentials (SSSEPs): no pulses, random pulses, and rhythmic pulses with a consistent pattern. These three different vibrotactile stimulation patterns were provided to the fingertips of five healthy subjects by a small solenoid-type vibrating tact or. The five subjects, who were blindfolded, were asked to selectively focus their attention to either left or right fingertip flutter sensations, according to the audible cue given. Results of this study showed that small solenoid-type hap tic tactors can elicit SSSEPs near the contra lateral central brain areas. There were significant differences in the resulting signals between the three paradigms, with the rhythmic pattern showing the highest classification accuracy. Moreover, the accuracy of the rhythmic pulse pattern was significantly higher than with or without random pulse patterns for the majority of subjects. The results of this study should provide insights to future research of SSSEP based BCIs and hybrid BCIs that use SSSEPS as one type of brain signal for users who are unable to use visual BCIs.
Biochemical Characterization of Some Components in Cell-Free Extracts from Penicillium Chrysogenum

It is significant that much of the progress of modern cellular chemistry is based on the development of methods which allow the disruption of cells without extensive damage to the cellular components. Thus, it is possible to isolate from cell-free extracts of various tissues not only enzymes but nuclei, mitochondria, oxidase-bearing particles, microsomes and ribosomes (Alexander, 1956). Despite these advances with certain forms of life, studies on the physiology and biochemistry of fungi have in general lagged. Studies on the oxidative metabolism of Penicillium chrysogenum Thom, although fruitful, have been hindered by the twin barriers of low activity and failure of standard techniques of purification (Sih, Hamilton, and Knight, 1958). The recent major advance in studies of terminal oxidation by many tissues has been the result of recognition that function is a result of structure. Although little work has been done on the isolation of intracellular components of fungi, some knowledge of the intercellular components has been obtained by electron microscopy of ultrathin sections. Shatkin and Tatum (1959) showed that the intracellular organization of Neurospora crassa was much the same as that of other forms of life. The hyphae contained nuclei bounded by a double membrane and mitochondria which had the classical lamellar structure. The endoplasmic reticu-
Charged-particle beam weapons?

“Even if it were true, the ‘evidence’ used to demonstrate that the Soviets are close to deploying these weapons is completely irrelevant.”
Non-destructive investigation of thermoplastic reinforced composites

This paper studies various manufacturing defects in glass fiber/Polypropylene (PP) composite parts and their methods of detection. Foreign Object Inclusion (FOI) of different shapes, sizes, and materials were placed in a glass fiber/PP panel made by compression molding. The paper aims to characterize the fiber orientation and fiber related defects such as fiber waviness in the composite specimen. Comprehensive investigation for different Non Destructive Evaluation (NDE) techniques, namely X-ray radiography and Ultrasonic Testing (UT) techniques to trace and characterize the embedded defects and the composite texture are presented. Conventional X-ray radiography successfully identified the fiber orientation in two dimension (2-D) plane; however, information for the sample depth was not captured. The radiography techniques showed low relative errors for the defect size measurements (maximum error was below 9.5%) when compared to the ultrasonic techniques. Ultrasonic techniques were able to map all the embedded artificial defects. Phase Array (PA) ultrasonic technique was able to precisely locate the FOI in the glass fiber/PP specimen. Nerveless, the shape and size of the defects were not accurately determined due to the high signal attenuation and distortion characteristics of the E-glass fiber.
Reversal-learning deficits in childhood-onset bipolar disorder across the transition from childhood to young adulthood

Abstract Background Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe mental illness that can have high costs for youths ( Methods We measured errors on a reversal-learning task, as well as spatial working memory and other executive function, among participants with BD (N=75) and HC (N=130), 7–27 years old. Regression analyses focused on the effects of diagnosis on reversal-learning errors, controlling for age, gender, IQ, spatial span, and executive function. Similar analyses examined non-reversal errors to rule out general task impairment. Results Participants with BD, regardless of age, gender, or cognitive ability, showed more errors than HC on the response reversal stages of the cognitive flexibility task. However, participants with BD did not show more errors on non-reversal stages, even when controlling for other variables. Limitations Study limitations include the cross-sectional, rather than longitudinal, design; inability to measure non-linear age effects; and inclusion of medicated participants and those with psychiatric comorbidity. Conclusions Individuals with BD show a specific impairment in reversing a previously rewarded response, which persists across the transition from childhood to young adulthood. Tailored interventions targeting this deficit may be effective throughout this developmentally turbulent time.
Evaluating Motor Profiles of the Hearing Impaired

(1981). Evaluating Motor Profiles of the Hearing Impaired. Journal of Physical Education and Recreation: Vol. 52, No. 9, pp. 50-52.
Optimization of CMOS-ISFET-Based Biomolecular Sensing: Analysis and Demonstration in DNA Detection

Ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) have been used to detect a variety of biomolecules whose charges alter the current or threshold voltage of the transistor. ISFETs can be built into large-scale arrays by CMOS compatible technology, offering the promise of highly parallel, all-electrical biomolecule sensing in a true chip-scale construct. Although CMOS-ISFET-based biomolecule detection has been amply demonstrated, a comprehensive optimization study of its sensitivity based on the device design, which would aid the development of large-scale arrays, remains lacking. Here, we present a systematic optimization strategy for CMOS-ISFET-based biomolecule sensing, using real-time DNA hybridization detection as an example. We analytically show that biasing the ISFETs close to the threshold is optimal, whereas minimizing the channel-to-sensing area ratio is beneficial but with limited sensitivity enhancement due to the double-layer capacitance of the sensing area. We then experimentally confirm our strategy with 26 ISFETs of varying sizes and biases from two CMOS chips, which detect the same 200-nM target DNA with different hybridization signals. The measured data correlate well to the presented theory. Our results are generally applicable to detecting other types of biomolecules, and may help in developing large-scale arrays of electrical biomolecular sensors.
Persistent cutaneous manifestations of hyperoxaluria after combined hepatorenal transplantation

A 30-year-old woman with primary hyperoxaluria type I (PHI) developed livedo reticularis with overlying ulcerations on her legs 16 months after receiving a liver-kidney transplant. A skin biopsy of the lesion showed deposits of calcium oxalate. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of livedo reticularis in patients with PH1 after a combined liver-kidney transplant.
ZNNi: maximizing the inference throughput of 3D convolutional networks on CPUs and GPUs

Sliding window convolutional networks (ConvNets) have become a popular approach to computer vision problems such as image segmentation and object detection and localization. Here we consider the parallelization of inference, i.e., the application of a previously trained ConvNet, with emphasis on 3D images. Our goal is to maximize throughput, defined as the number of output voxels computed per unit time. We propose CPU and GPU primitives for convolutional and pooling layers, which are combined to create CPU, GPU, and CPU-GPU inference algorithms. The primitives include convolution based on highly efficient padded and pruned FFTs. Our theoretical analyses and empirical tests reveal a number of interesting findings. For example, adding host RAM can be a more efficient way of increasing throughput than adding another GPU or more CPUs. Furthermore, our CPU-GPU algorithm can achieve greater throughput than the sum of CPU-only and GPU-only throughputs.
A strongly-coupled immersed-boundary formulation for thin elastic structures

We present a strongly-coupled immersed-boundary method for flowstructure interaction problems involving thin deforming bodies. The method is stable for arbitrary choices of solid-to-fluid mass ratios and for large body motions. As with many strongly-coupled immersed-boundary methods, our method requires the solution of a nonlinear algebraic system at each time step. The system is solved through iteration, where the iterates are obtained by linearizing the system and performing a block-LU factorization. This restricts all iterations to small-dimensional subsystems that scale with the number of discretization points on the immersed surface, rather than on the entire flow domain. Moreover, the iteration procedure we propose does not involve heuristic regularization parameters, and has converged in a small number of iterations for all problems we have considered. We derive our method for general deforming surfaces, and verify the method with two-dimensional test problems of geometrically nonlinear flags undergoing large amplitude flapping behavior.
Dear John, You are a Human Trafficker

Human trafficking finally presents a crime that appropriately shifts the culpability from the abused to the abuser. As the heinous world of human trafficking is studied and more is understood about its inner workings, we can no longer conflate victimization with over-criminalization. The purpose of this paper is to shine light on the force and fraud that perpetuates the enslavement of victims who are sexually trafficked. Beginning with the Mann Act passed by Congress and up until more recently, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, this paper traces the historical and societal shifts that are necessary to situate Sex Purchasers in their proper place as the cause of so much victimization. It also calls for the need to refocus our methodology and law enforcement efforts to change previously held beliefs about the causes and effects of prostituting people. Sex trafficking is the use of force, fraud, coercion or the use of minors to in engage in a commercial sexual act. When Congress passed the Trafficking Victims Protection Act and finally identified sex trafficking as a standalone federal crime, this passage paved the way for an effective way to combat sex trafficking; prosecution of the sex purchasers. This recent legislation can be used to put purchasers in their proper place as integral components to the system of degradation that is sex trafficking. Such a tool can only be effective if utilized by prosecutors. Resistance to this effort has precluded this legislation from reaching its promise. This article proposes adjustments to the sentencing scheme of Purchasers of Sex convicted of sex trafficking. It calls for a graduated approach to sentencing determined by the level of knowledge of the purchaser to accurately reflect the gravity of the victimization.
Genetic engineering, genetic modification, or agricultural biotechnology: does the term matter?

The risk perception and communication literature appears to use terms such as genetic engineering (GE), genetic modification (GM), and agricultural biotechnology (agbiotech) almost interchangeably....
Infant crossed renal ectopia with UPJ obstruction repaired via robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

Summary Introduction We present a robot-assisted approach to surgical treatment of UPJ obstruction associated with crossed renal ectopia in a male infant. Methods A 31 year-old woman presented at 37 weeks gestation for prenatal hydronephrosis and delivered at 39 weeks. Renal ultrasound identified the bladder and right kidney in a crossed ectopic position in the left pelvis, and MRI showed the cystic lesion to be hydronephrosis associated with a ureteropelvic junction obstruction of the crossed ectopic right kidney. At three months of age, a robot-assisted laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty was performed. Post-operative renal ultrasounds at one, two, and 7 months showed persistent but decreasing hydronephrosis. He remains asymptomatic. Discussion Crossed renal ectopia with associated ureteropelvic junction obstruction has been reported in the literature and managed using both open and minimally invasive approaches. To our knowledge, this is the first reported robot-assisted pyeloplasty performed for this condition in an infant. Conclusions With careful patient selection, the robot-assisted laparoscopic approach can be applied to infants that require pyeloplasty for kidneys with anomalous development that have evidence of ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
Does Nutrient Availability Regulate Seagrass Response to Elevated CO2

Future increases in oceanic carbon dioxide concentrations (CO2(aq)) may provide a benefit to submerged plants by alleviating photosynthetic carbon limitation. However, other environmental factors (for example, nutrient availability) may alter how seagrasses respond to CO2(aq) by regulating the supply of additional resources required to support growth. Thus, questions remain in regard to how other factors influence CO2(aq) effects on submerged vegetation. This study factorially manipulated CO2(aq) and nutrient availability, in situ, within a subtropical seagrass bed for 350 days, and examined treatment effects on leaf productivity, shoot density, above- and belowground biomass, nutrient content, carbohydrate storage, and sediment organic carbon (Corg). Clear, open-top chambers were used to replicate CO2(aq) forecasts for the year 2100, whereas nutrient availability was manipulated via sediment amendments of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilizer. We provide modest evidence of a CO2 effect, which increased seagrass aboveground biomass. CO2(aq) enrichment had no effect on nutrient content, carbohydrate storage, or sediment Corg content. Nutrient addition increased leaf productivity and leaf N content, however did not alter above- or belowground biomass, shoot density, carbohydrate storage, or Corg content. Treatment interactions were not significant, and thus NP availability did not influence seagrass responses to elevated CO2(aq). This study demonstrates that long-term carbon enrichment may alter the structure of shallow seagrass meadows, even in relatively nutrient-poor, oligotrophic systems.
Fluoroalcohol – Induced coacervates for selective enrichment and extraction of hydrophobic proteins

Abstract As previously reported, fluoroalcohols can induce coacervation in aqueous solutions of amphiphilic compounds with subsequent formation of two-phase systems, where one phase is enriched in amphiphile and fluoroalcohol and the other is primarily an aqueous – rich phase. This study focuses on the use of simple coacervates made of a single component amphiphile induced by a fluoroalcohol for extraction and enrichment of proteins. 1,1,1,3,3,3-Hexafluoroisopropanol (HFIP) and 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) were used to induce coacervation in the aqueous solutions of a cationic amphiphile, cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) or tetra-n-butylammonium bromide (TBAB). Cationic amphiphiles (CTAB, TBAB) formed two-phase coacervate systems in a basic pH and/or sufficient ionic strength depending on the strength of coacervator (HFIP or TFE). The phase diagrams for TBAB paired with HFIP or TFE coacervates were created. By increasing the concentration of coacervator (HFIP or TFE) at a constant surfactant concentration, transition from a single liquid phase to a two or multiple phase mixture, and then eventually to a single liquid phase was observed. TBAB/HFIP mixture without additives showed a unique three-phase system before transitioning to a two-phase system upon increasing HFIP concentration. However, salt addition eliminated this three-phase region and expanded the region of two-phase formation. Select two-phase systems composed of TBAB and a perfluoroalcohol (HFIP or TFE) were utilized to extract model proteins of ranging hydrophobicity. All coacervate phases extracted bacteriorhodopsin, a membrane protein, and gramicidin, a very hydrophobic polypeptide ion channel. The most hydrophilic protein in the mixture, ribonuclease A, remained in aqueous phases. The coacervates formed from TBAB/TFE/200 mM NaCl mixture and TBAB/HFIP mixture exhibited the most selectivity in extracting proteins of high hydrophobicity. The partition coefficient (P) for each protein was calculated using the ratio of the protein concentration in the coacervate to that in the aqueous-rich phases. TBAB (50 mM)/HFIP (8%, v/v) coacervate showed remarkable selectivity and a high partition coefficient (>100) for both bacteriorhodopsin and gramicidin. Thus, this system may potentially be beneficial for facile fractionation of hydrophobic and membrane proteins in proteomics applications.
Hybrid fuel cell gas turbine (FC/GT) combined cycle systems

Abstract: Hybrid fuel cell gas turbine systems consisting of high-temperature fuel cells (HTFCs) integrated into cycles with gas turbines can significantly increase fuel-to-electricity conversion efficiency and lower emissions of greenhouse gases and criteria pollutants from the electric power sector. In addition, the separated anode and cathode compartments of the fuel cell can enable CO 2 separation and sequestration for some cycle configurations. Hybrid fuel cell gas turbine technology has the potential to operate on natural gas, digester gas, landfill gas, and coal and biomass syngas. HTFC technologies are emerging with high reliability and durability, which should enable them to be integrated with gas turbine technology to produce modern hybrid power systems. Advanced thermodynamic and dynamic simulation capabilities have been developed and demonstrated to enable future system integration and control.
Posterior Pole Manifestations of Hematologic Diseases

Hematologic diseases often share clinical features within the choroid and retina because of the limited number of cell line or lines affected. No one chorioretinal change is specific for a particular hematologic anomaly; rather, it is the context and pattern that help guide clinical diagnoses. Retinal and choroidal manifestations of hematologic illness may be critical not only in identifying new or recurrent illness but also in ultimately reducing patient morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is paramount that an open and regular dialogue be maintained between a patients hematologist and ophthalmologist.
What impact has managerialism had on a New South Wales Area Health Service

In a perfect world, the health public sector would be completely efficient and effective. In reality, managers, policy-makers,politicians, academics, public sector employees and business representatives are constantly searching for newways to orientate the public sector towards being more cost-effective, accountable, results- and outcome-orientated, task-specificand better organised and structured. In New South Wales (NSW), this has been most apparent in endeavoursto bring about a change towards the philosophy of 'new managerial thinking' or corporate management. This paperexplores the hypothesis that managerialism has significantly influenced the culture of the New England Area HealthService (NEAHS) and its relationship with its staff. To test this hypothesis, between 1996-1997 a self-administeredquestionnaire survey form was sent to a sample of the NEAHS staff across all work sites and all levels. It is concludedthat during this time, the organisation was struggling with change management issues and the successfulimplementation of managerialist philosophy and its elements as evidenced by staff confusion, doubt and 'cultural shock'.
Glass Formation in Borate Systems

Glass formation achieved by quenching a melt is a fundamental material property associated with a number of independent variables: composition, melt volume, type of quench, quench temperature and melt history1. Collectively, these variables combine to yield a quench rate which may or may not be sufficient for a given melt to suppress crystallization when cooled, and thus transform to the vitreous state through a reversible increase of viscosity. When assessing a tendency towards glass formation, two related factors are a) one’s method (capability) of detecting crystallization and b) how one chooses to define a glass. The first, of course, is an experimental description; regarding the second, an appropriate working definition for the present text is “a transparent or opaque solid composed of a single or multiple non-crystalline phases(s)”.
The Role of Deformation Character on Fatigue Crack Growth in Titanium Alloys

ABSTRACT Deformation character has been shown to exhibit a strong effect on the fracture-related properties of a wide range of alloys. In this study, the role of slip planarity on fatigue crack growth in titanium alloys has been investigated. The principal variables of interest were aluminum content (Ti-4A1 and Ti-8A1) and aging treatment, with an emphasis on fatigue crack growth in the low growth rate, near-threshold region. Fatigue crack growth rates were significantly decreased with increasing aluminum content however this benefit was substantially reduced upon aging the Ti-8A1. The results are discussed in terms of the role of deformation mode on fatigue crack growth and the influence of such factors as slip reversibility, environmental susceptibility and roughness-induced fatigue crack closure.
Beginning SAP R/3 Implementation at Geneva Pharmaceuticals

Faced with intense competition in the generics drugs industry, eroding margins, and continuous price pressures, Geneva Pharmaceuticals, the North American subsidiary of Novartis International AG, made a bold, multi-million dollar decision to reengineer all its demand and supply processes using the SAP R/3 system. This case describes Geneva’s journey through the first two of three phases of R/3 implementation from mid-1997 to mid-2000, and the company’s plans for Phase III (scheduled for completion by late-2000). It highlights initial mistakes during this journey, strategies that helped overcome those mistakes, and how R/3 delivered operational efficiencies and competitive advantage under difficult business circumstances. As the case illustrates, ERP implementation is much more than technology change, it also incorporates substantive process and people changes; and without appropriate change management strategies and experienced leadership, ERP projects are likely to fail.
Biological sterilization monitors: a four-year in-use evaluation of two systems.

Biological monitors (BI) are considered to be the best monitor of the sterilization process yet false positives may result in recalls and quality assurance difficulties. To assess the frequency, type and reasons for questionable results, we undertook a 4-year in-use study of two commonly used BI types—spore strips (Spordi®) and a self-contained crushable ampule (Attest®)—for both steam and ethylene oxide (EO). After laboratory verification of time/kill ratios for a portion of each involved lot, 2 BI of each type were placed in test pack within a randomly selected load run at standard time and temperature. All resulting positive BI were subcultured. Steam cycle positives were uncommon (32/1,1710 positive Spordi, 1.9%; 20/1,710 positive Attest, 1.2%) and could be related to chamber temperature or steam quality. All of the 4 BI per load were positive in only three loads; physical monitors indicated gross malfunction. Five positive Spordi were due to either contaminants or a malfunctioning incubator. EO-related positives were more common (53/1,109 positive Spordi, 4.8%; 25/1,109 positive Attest, 2.3%). One-half of the Spordi tests became positive after 48 hours of incubation. Organisms other than B. subtilis were recovered from 49.1% of the positive tests (26/53). The Attest was remarkable for its lack of contamination; 1/25 was positive for Pseudomonas stutzeri only. More positives were observed during the winter months when relative humidity was below 20%. This finding was more commonly observed with the EO Attest. In summary, we found no significant difference in the performance of either BI. Subculturing of positives and maintenance of proper humidity during storage should be emphasized.