cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Interval Identification Predicts Success in Melodic Dictation

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible predictive relationships between interval identification and melodic dictation performance on tasks where students identify short pitch spans a...
Re-envisioning Clinical Reading Instruction during a Time of Uncertainty

The article describes a field experience that unexpectedly shifted online, in response to the global pandemic and national shut down, mid-way through the spring 2020 semester. First, the course and...
Multi-resolution 3D CNN for learning multi-scale spatial features in CAD models

Abstract Learning multi-scale spatial features from 3D spatial geometric representations of objects such as point clouds, 3D CAD models, surfaces, and RGB-D data can potentially improve object recognition accuracy. Current deep learning approaches learn such features using structured data representations such as volume occupancy grids (voxels) and octrees or unstructured representations such as graphs and point clouds. Structured representations are generally restricted by their inherent limitations on the resolution, such as the voxel grid dimensions or the maximum octree depth. At the same time, it is challenging to learn directly from unstructured representations of 3D data due to non-uniformity among the samples. A hierarchical approach that maintains the structure at a larger scale while still accounting for the details at a smaller scale in specific spatial locations can provide an optimal solution for learning from 3D data. In this paper, we propose a multi-level learning approach to capture large-scale features at a coarse level (for example, using a coarse voxelization) while simultaneously capturing flexible sparse information of the small-scale features at a fine level (for example, a local fine-level voxel grid) at different spatial locations. To demonstrate the utility of the proposed multi-resolution learning, we use a multi-level voxel representation of CAD models to perform object recognition. The multi-level voxel representation consists of a coarse voxel grid containing volumetric information of the 3D objects and multiple fine-level voxel grids corresponding to each voxel in the coarse grid containing a portion of the object boundary. In addition, we develop an interpretability-based feedback approach to transfer saliency information from one level of features to another in our hierarchical end-to-end learning framework. Finally, we demonstrate the performance of our multi-resolution learning algorithm for object recognition. We outperform several previously published benchmarks for object recognition while using significantly less memory during training.
Achievable Accuracy of DIR for Tumor/Organ With Large Progressive Shrinkage During the Radiation Treatment: A Bio-Tissue Phantom Study.

Purpose/Objective(s) The purpose of the study was to investigate voxel-wise accuracy of different deformable registration (DIR) schemes on tumor/organ with large shrinkage during radiotherapy, and to find the most suitable schemes for specific clinical scenarios. Materials/Methods An intact porcine liver lobe was utilized and 60 gold markers of 0.5 × 0.5 × 1mm were implanted both on the surface and inside to construct the phantom. To simulate the progressive radiation-induced shrinkage, it was heated by a microwave incrementally from 60 to 200s in 7 phases. For each phase, the phantom was heated and then CT scanned. Two extra image sets were generated from the original CTs by: 1) overriding the gold markers (feature image), and 2) overriding the entire phantom to the mean intensity (featureless image). Ten DIR schemes were evaluated on the secondary images to simulate different combinations of the boundary conditions, availability of image feature or intermediate imaging, and different algorithms as listed in Table 1 (Direct: D, Sequential: S; Surface: SU, Surface-marker: SM; image feature: IF, featureless: NF; IM-DIR: IM, BM-DIR: BM). For example, D/SM/NF/BM means a direct BM-DIR with surface-marker constrain on featureless image. The surface constrain forced the surface matching, while surface-marker constrain further enforced the matching of all surface markers. Direct DIR was between initial and target phase, while sequential DIR utilized all intermediate phases. IM-DIR is intensity based while BM-DIR is a hybrid DIR based on bio-mechanical model. Target registration errors (TRE) using the internal marks as ground truth and Jacobian map (JM) were evaluated for all schemes. Results The volume reduction was about 20%, 30% and 40% after 90s, 130s and 200s of heating, respectively. The TREs of all 10 DIR schemes are listed in Table 1. Without image features and with surface constrain, the schemes 1-4 achieved average TRE of 3.8 to 5.0 mm, while schemes 5 to 7 with the surface-marker constrain improved to 2.4 to 3.2mm. The best TRE of 1.9mm was from scheme 10, which combined the image feature, surface-marker constrain and intermediate imaging, but appeared large JM irregularity. The scheme 6 and 7, which utilized BM-DIR with better boundary condition, achieved the second-best TRE of 2.5 and 2.4mm and 90% points with TRE less than 4mm, as well as smooth JM. Conclusion Achievable DIR accuracy for tumors with large progressive shrinkage depends on multiple factors such as image feature within and around tumor, volume reduction level, and the underlying regularization of DIR. For tumors with salient feature surrounding its boundary, but in the absence of internal contrast, the hybrid DIR method (scheme 6) could achieve registration accuracy within 4mm.
Reddit and the Fourth Estate: Exploring the magnitude and effects of media influence on community level moderation on Reddit.

Most platforms, including Reddit, face a dilemma when applying interventions such as subreddit bans to toxic communities -- do they risk angering their user base by proactively enforcing stricter controls on discourse or do they defer interventions at the risk of eventually triggering negative media reactions which might impact their advertising revenue? In this paper, we analyze Reddit's previous administrative interventions to understand one aspect of this dilemma: the relationship between the media and administrative interventions. More specifically, we make two primary contributions. First, using a mediation analysis framework, we find evidence that Reddit's interventions for violating their content policy for toxic content occur because of media pressure. Second, using interrupted time series analysis, we show that media attention on communities with toxic content only increases the problematic behavior associated with that community (both within the community itself and across the platform). However, we find no significant difference in the impact of administrative interventions on subreddits with and without media pressure. Taken all together, this study provides evidence of a media-driven moderation strategy at Reddit and also suggests that such a strategy may not have a significantly different impact than a more proactive strategy.
A Network Method of Measuring Affiliation‐Based Peer Influence: Assessing the Influences of Teammates’ Smoking on Adolescent Smoking

Using a network analytic framework, this study introduces a new method to measure peer influence based on adolescents’ affiliations or 2-mode social network data. Exposure based on affiliations is referred to as the “affiliation exposure model.” This study demonstrates the methodology using data on young adolescent smoking being influenced by joint participation in school-based organized sports activities with smokers. The analytic sample consisted of 1,260 American adolescents from ages 10 to 13 in middle schools, and the results of the longitudinal regression analyses showed that adolescents were more likely to smoke as they were increasingly exposed to teammates who smoke. This study illustrates the importance of peer influence via affiliation through team sports.
Transforming growth factor-beta switches the pattern of integrins expressed in MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells and causes a selective loss of cell adhesion to laminin.

Abstract Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) induces a marked decrease in adhesion of MG-63 human osteosarcoma cells to laminin-coated surfaces, but does not significantly alter adhesion to fibronectin- or collagen-coated surfaces. We provide evidence that this effect is due to a switch in the repertoire of cell adhesion receptors in response to TGF-beta. MG-63 cells express high levels of alpha 3 beta 1-integrin, which is a polyspecific laminin/collagen/fibronectin receptor, and low levels of alpha 2 beta 1- and alpha 5 beta 1-integrins, which are collagen and fibronectin receptors, respectively. No other integrins of the beta 1-class could be detected in MG-63 cells. Treatment with TGF-beta 1 induces a marked (approximately 60%) decrease in the level of expression of alpha 3-integrin subunit mRNA and protein and a concomitant 8-fold increase in alpha 2-subunit expression. These responses become maximal 7-12 h after addition of TGF-beta 1 to the cells. Expression of alpha 5- and beta 1-integrin subunits also increases in response to TGF-beta 1, but to a lesser extent than alpha 2-subunit expression. Thus, as a result of TGF-beta action, the alpha 2 beta 1-collagen and alpha 5 beta 1-fibronectin receptors replace the alpha 3 beta 1-laminin/collagen/fibronectin receptor as the predominant integrins of the beta 1-class in MG-63 cells. These results suggest that one of the effects of TGF-beta is to modify the adhesive behavior of certain tumor cells by changing the binding specificity of the complement of integrins that they express.
The pipelined set cover problem

A classical problem in query optimization is to find the optimal ordering of a set of possibly correlated selections. We provide an abstraction of this problem as a generalization of set cover called pipelined set cover, where the sets are applied sequentially to the elements to be covered and the elements covered at each stage are discarded. We show that several natural heuristics for this NP-hard problem, such as the greedy set-cover heuristic and a local-search heuristic, can be analyzed using a linear-programming framework. These heuristics lead to efficient algorithms for pipelined set cover that can be applied to order possibly correlated selections in conventional database systems as well as data-stream processing systems. We use our linear-programming framework to show that the greedy and local-search algorithms are 4-approximations for pipelined set cover. We extend our analysis to minimize the lp-norm of the costs paid by the sets, where p ≥ 2 is an integer, to examine the improvement in performance when the total cost has increasing contribution from initial sets in the pipeline. Finally, we consider the online version of pipelined set cover and present a competitive algorithm with a logarithmic performance guarantee. Our analysis framework may be applicable to other problems in query optimization where it is important to account for correlations.
Design Principles for Digital Autopilot Synthesis

This paper presents a control system synthesis technique for direct, computer-aided design of digital control system software with performance improvements in the areas of: sample time determination, control/structural interactions, noise effects (including gusts), dynamic response characteristics, and reduced sensor requirements. The design approach uses a newly developed set of digital control synthesis computer programs (known as DIGISYN). DIGISYN is based on stochastic control and estimation theory. Control requirements are specified as upper bounds for the state vector error and the desired vehicle response to either control commands or external disturbances. Using a system dynamics model that includes parasitic modes, DIGISYN collectively considers system and sensor noise and external stochastic disturbances (e.g., wind gusts) to determine the maximum permissible sample time, the optimal state estimator, and a set of feedback gains to yield the desired response characteristics. The unique feature of this approach is that sample time is determined by propagating the state covariance matrix until the specified error bounds are exceeded. The rationale for using this method to determine sampling time is that corrective action to reduce the system errors is only applied at the end of each sample period. This paper discusses an application of DIGISYN to pitch-plane control of the Grumman V/STOL Design 607A and verifies performance via a digital time history simulation. I. Introduction EVOLVING aircraft requirements include extended flight regimes for multimission aircraft and advanced control modes (e.g., automatic landing, speed command, load alleviation) to obtain improved performance. This increasing demand on flight control systems plus the trend toward increased use of digital computers in aircraft mandates an organized methodology for "digital autopilot" design. In this paper, digital autopilot is defined as the software link between flight control commands (generated manually or via an automatic guidance law), vehicle mo
Effect of Organic Matter Addition to the Pen Surface and Pen Cleaning Frequency on Nitrogen Mass Balance in Open Feedlots

Three finishing trials were conducted to determine the effects of dietary manipulation and management on N losses from open feedlots. In each experiment, 96 steers were assigned randomly to 12 nutrient balance pens. In Trial 1, calves were fed for 180 d during the winter/spring months; in Trial 2, yearlings were fed for 132 d in the summer. In Trials 1 and 2, N losses from pens were compared directly by adding OM to the pen surface or indirectly by feeding digestible ingredients designed to increase OM excretion. The dietary treatment (BRAN) included 30% corn bran (DM basis) replacing dry-rolled corn. Pens where OM was directly added received sawdust applications (SAWDUST) at a rate to match OM excretion from the BRAN diet. These two treatments were compared with a conventional, 75% dry-rolled corn diet (CON). Because CON and SAWDUST diets were identical, performance for both treatments was similar during Trials 1 and 2. The BRAN diet decreased (P < 0.10) gain efficiency during Trials 1 and 2 by 9.5% relative to CON. Fecal N excretion was greater (P < 0.01) for calves and yearlings when BRAN was fed compared with CON. Adding OM to the pen surface increased (P < 0.01) the amount of N in manure removed from pens and reduced (P < 0.10) N losses in Trial 1. Nitrogen losses were not significantly different among treatments in Trial 2. In Trial 3, calves were fed for 166 d during the winter/spring months. A 2 x 2 factorial design was used to evaluate pen cleaning frequency and diets similar to CON and BRAN. Pens were either cleaned monthly or once at the end of the feeding period. Daily DMI was greater (P = 0.01) and ADG was lower (P < 0.01) when cattle were fed BRAN compared with CON. Responses from all three trials indicate a negative effect of BRAN on gain efficiency. Dietary treatment and cleaning frequency interacted for N balance in the feedlot. Nitrogen losses decreased and manure N increased (P < 0.10) for cattle fed BRAN compared with CON when pens were cleaned monthly. Feeding BRAN did not affect total manure N, but resulted in higher N losses when pens were cleaned only once. For all trials, BRAN increased the amount of N remaining in composted manure. Adding OM to pen surfaces and/or cleaning pens more frequently may decrease N losses from open feedlot pens and from compost, although responses seem influenced by ambient temperature or season.
Linkage of human spermatid-specific basic nuclear protein genes. Definition and evolution of the P1-->P2-->TP2 locus.

Abstract Protamines and transition proteins are highly basic sperm-specific nuclear proteins that serve to compact the DNA within the condensing spermatid nucleus. It has been proposed that the genes for protamine P1 and P2 and transition protein 2 may be clustered at a single loci. This may have marked implications for their evolution and coordinate developmental regulation. The cloning of a contiguous segment encompassing this region would directly address these issues. We have utilized a cloned segment of the human protamine P1 gene to isolate a human cosmid clone which contains the genes for protamines P1 and P2 and transition protein TP2. Sequence and hybridization analysis of this cosmid showed that the TP2 gene resided 3' of the P2 gene at a distance of approximately 7 kilobases (kb). This establishes the order of this gene cluster within a 13-kb region of 16p13.13-16p13.2 to be P1-->P2-->TP2. Similar to their spatial order, comparative computer-assisted sequence analysis predicts an identical relative rank order of emergence. Accordingly we propose that this gene cluster may have arisen from the P1 gene through a series of gene duplication events.
Rural-urban disparities in quality of life among patients with COPD.

Examination of geographic variation in disease occurrence and other disease measures provides a method for detection of gaps in quality of public health activities and clinical health care services.1 Moreover, regional variations in health care costs and outcomes have focused attention on the need and opportunity for improvements in delivery of health care in the US.2 These analyses have largely been conducted using administrative databases of specific populations including Medicare,3 Medicaid, Veterans Administration4,5 (VA), and hospitals.6 Regional and system-level variation for a number of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)-related measures has been found in the US and worldwide. The populations studied in the US have largely included health and hospital systems with variations found in use of diagnostic spirometry,7 health status,8 exacerbation/hospitalization rates,3,4,9-12 quality of care,6 and mortality.13 Of these studies 2 have focused on rural-urban differences in mortality in the VA13 and hospitalization rates among Texas hospitals.10,11 While these studies provide evidence for substantial variation in a number of outcomes, limited evidence is available on factors to explain these regional variations. In Texas, Jackson et al. found higher rates of hospitalization for COPD in non-metropolitan counties11 Regional differences in the distribution of racial and ethnic groups, and indices of regional isolation including concentration of non-metropolitan counties, hospitals, and pulmonary specialists were all associated with higher hospitalization rates.10 However, this analysis was limited because of inherent limitations of administrative data, which lacks data on clinical characteristics and other potential determinants of health outcomes. To further examine reasons for these regional differences in COPD hospitalization rates we used detailed patient-specific data from a clinical trial to examine the relationships between rural vs urban residence location and outcomes including patient-reported health status and health care utilization among patients with COPD.
Design and synthesis of light-harvesting rods for intrinsic rectification of the migration of excited-state energy and ground-state holes

We present the design of molecular materials for ultimate use in solid-state solar cells. The molecular materials are semi-rigid oligomeric rods of defined length with metalloporphyrins in the backbone and a carboxy group at one end for attachment to a surface. The rods are designed to absorb visible light, and then undergo excited-state energy transfer and ground-state hole transfer in opposite directions along the length of the rod. The rational synthesis of the multiporphyrin arrays relies on joining porphyrin building blocks in an efficient and controlled manner. Several porphyrin building blocks have been synthesized that bear bromophenyl, iodophenyl, trimethylsilylethynylphenyl and/or ethynylphenyl substituents for use in a copper-free Sonogashira reaction using Pd2(dba)3 and P(o-tol)3. Competition experiments performed on equimolar quantities of an iodo-porphyrin and a bromo-porphyrin with an ethynyl-porphyrin show iodo + ethyne coupling with a low amount (35 °C) or undetectable amount (22 °C) of bromo + ethyne coupling. Efficient coupling of bromo-porphyrins with ethynyl-porphyrins was achieved using the same copper-free Sonogashira reaction conditions at higher temperature (50 °C or 80 °C). These findings allow successive coupling reactions to be achieved using substrates bearing iodo and bromo synthetic handles. Thus, a porphyrin-based tetrad (or pentad) was synthesized with a final convergent coupling of a bromo-substituted dyad (or triad) and an ethynyl-substituted dyad. A porphyrin triad was prepared by sequential iodo + ethyne coupling reactions. The triad, tetrad, and pentad each are comprised of a terminal magnesium porphyrin bearing one carboxy group (for surface attachment) and two pentafluorophenyl groups; the remaining porphyrins in each array are present as the zinc chelate. Electrochemical characterization of benchmark porphyrins indicates the presence of the desired electrochemical gradient for hole hopping in the arrays. Static absorption data indicate that the arrays are weakly coupled, while static fluorescence data indicate that the excited-state energy flows in high yield to the terminal magnesium porphyrin. Time-resolved spectroscopic analysis leads to rate constants in THF of (9 ps)−1, (15 ps)−1, and (30 ps)−1 for ZnMg dyad 20, Zn2Mg triad 13, and Zn3Mg tetrad 15, respectively, and quantum efficiencies ≥99% for energy flow to the magnesium porphyrin in each case. These design and synthesis strategies should be useful for the construction of materials for molecular-based solar cells.
Steel fiber reinforced concrete

Abstract The task of evaluating what is unknown about fiber reinforced cement or concrete is difficult. One should identify the important aspects which must be investigated, and to a large extent this becomes the opinion of the writer. However, it does appear that more thinking is needed in respect of the details of the basic mechanics of ductile fiber reinforcing of a brittle material. Important developments have been made which can be built upon so that the prediction of the mechanical and physical properties will be reliable for design. Considerable research and development effort is needed on the nature of interfacial shear stress (bond) between the fiber and matrix, the interaction among fibers because of their close proximity on the bond strength and debonding mechanism, the upper and lower limits of the fiber aspect ratio and the volume of fibers that will provide the synergistic properties desired. More consideration must be given to the magnitude of the size effect of test data extrapolated to prototype structural units. A corequisite is to establish the appropriate test specimens and methods for quality assurance for fiber-reinforced cement or concrete products.
Occupancy diversity factors for common university building types

Abstract Measured occupancy diversity factors for use in building energy simulations are rare in general and practically nonexistent for university type buildings. To better understand occupancy schedules (or diversity factors) for university buildings, six types of university buildings (eleven buildings in total) were considered in this study: administrative, library, recreation, architecture, research, and classroom. Two occupancy schedules were derived for each building type; a ‘similar-day’ schedule and a more generic ‘weekly’ schedule. In addition, a simple method was developed to easily predict occupancy diversity factors for classroom-type university buildings.
Uncertainty Associated with Future Environmental Costs and the Market’s Differential Response to Earnings Information

This study examines whether the uncertainty arising from a firm’s exposure to future environmental costs (environmental uncertainty) affects the market’s price sensitivity to reported earnings. Specifically, when environmental uncertainty is significantly high, are investors more responsive to reported earnings released by ‘high-polluting’ firms than reported earnings announced by ‘low-polluting’ firms within the same industry? The initial impact of Title IV (the acid rain provisions) of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments (1990 CAAA) on the US electric utility industry provides the research setting required to isolate the effects of environmental uncertainty while addressing this question. Consistent with theoretical predictions, we find that the earnings response coefficients (ERCs) of high-polluting electric utilities are significantly greater than those of their low-polluting counterparts during a predicted period of elevated environmental uncertainty. In adjoining sample years associated with lower environmental uncertainty, we observe no statistical difference in the magnitude of the ERCs between these two groups. In addition, the study’s findings suggest that the magnitude of the ERC is increasing in the firm’s exposure to future environmental costs, after controlling for other factors that potentially affect ERCs.
CSHCN in Texas: Meeting the Need for Specialist Care

Objective: Assuring the sufficiency and suitability of systems of care and services for children with special health care needs (CSHCN) presents a challenge to Texas providers, agencies, and state Title V programs. To meet the need for specialist care, referrals from primary care doctors are often necessary. The objective of this study was to describe the factors associated with the need for specialist care and problems associated with obtaining referrals in Texas. Methods: Bivariate and multivariate analyses were performed using the National Survey of Children with Special Health Care Needs (NS-CSHCN) weighted sample for Texas (n = 719,014) to identify variables associated with the need for specialist care and problems obtaining referrals for specialist care. Results: Medical need of the CSHCN and sensitivity to family values/customs was associated with greater need for specialist care, and Hispanic ethnicity and lower maternal education were associated with less need. Medical need, amount of time spent with doctors and sensitivity to values/customs, living in a large metropolitan statistical area, and lack of medical information were associated with problems obtaining a specialist care referral. Conclusions: Findings revealed some similarities and differences with meeting the need for specialist care when comparing Texas results to other studies. In Texas, aspects of customer satisfaction variables, especially doctors’ sensitivity to family values/customs and parents’ not receiving enough information on medical problems, were significantly associated with problems obtaining specialist referrals. Findings indicate a need to further research relationships and communication among doctors, CSHCN, and their families.
Provenance and distribution of tethyan pelagic and hemipelagic siliceous sediments, pindos mountains, Greece

Abstract The broad range of time over which ribbon bedded cherts were deposited does not extend into the present marine environment, and no ribbon cherts have been recovered from the sea floor by the Deep Sea Drilling Project. The depositional environment of bedded cherts is difficult to determine, but extra-silicic impurities in the rock may offer clues about the provenance of the non-biogenic component. To test the usefulness of relative abundances of the extra silicic components in extracting information on the depositional environment of the chert, I analyzed the major element chemistry of chert samples from a broad range of environments including ophiolite-associated chert from the Franciscan Formation of California, deep-sea chert and porcellanite from the northwest Pacific (DSDP Leg 32), shallow pelagic shelf chert nodules from the Chalk of Britain, continental marginal basin chert from the Monterey Formation of California, and continental marginal basin chert from the Pindos Zone of Greece. The ratios FeO/A12O3, TiO2/A12O3 and A1/A1+Fe+Mn were considered in detail. The interpretative logic is simple but empirically supported by observations of these ratio values at different depositional environments in the Pacific: A1 is concentrated most highly in continental material while Fe and Mn are more concentrated in pelagic sediments. FeO/A12O3 can be used to differentiate between ophiolite associated chert and chert associated only with other sediments. TiO2/A12O3 is not a useful indicator, possibly because of the equalizing effect of widespread eolian transport. The A1/A1+Fe+Mn ratio was measured in detail in one stratigraphic section in central continental Greece. This ratio varied with the type of sediment admixture, decreasing in value after the influx of ophiolite debris-bearing sediments, even when their presence was undetectable in hand sample or under petrographic microscope. To help clarify the paleogeography of the main study area, the Pindos Zone, and to identify sources and dispersal patterns of extra-basinal materials, isopach maps of sedimentary facies of the Pindos were constructed. Superimposed directly upon the series of imbricated thrust slices that comprise the Pindos Zone, the maps are at best compressed pictures of the Pindos Sea Floor. Persistent regional variation of facies thicknesses over time suggests the existence of several smaller depressions surrounded by submarine highs in the Pindos Basin.
Magnetic circular dichroism of iodoform and methylene iodide

Abstract The MCD spectra of iodoform and methylene iodide have been measured in solution in the spectral region of the low intensity bands of the n → σ* transitions. The MCD spectra provide additional information that is utilized in the assignment of the various transitions in these molecules.
Oblique projections in discrete signal subspaces of l2 and the wavelet transform

We study the general problem of oblique projections in discrete shift-invariant spaces of 12 and we give error bounds on the approximation. We define the concept of discrete multiresolutions and wavelet spaces and show that the oblique projections on certain subclasses of discrete multiresolutions and their associated wavelet spaces can be obtained using perfect reconstruction filter banks. Therefore we obtain a discrete analog of the Cohen-Daubechies-Feauveau results on biorthogonal wavelets.
Influence of zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (Dreissena rostriformis) mussel invasions on benthic nutrient and oxygen dynamics.

Although invasive zebra (Dreissena polymorpha) and quagga (Dreissena rostriformis) mussels are known to increase water column concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus, the relative roles of direct nutrient release by the mussels and mussel-induced alterations to sediment fluxes are little understood. In short-term microcosm experiments comparing the presence and absence of mussels on sediments from Oneida Lake, New York, USA, both dreissenid species approximately doubled benthic oxygen consumption and fluxes of ammonium. The impact on soluble reactive phosphate (SRP) flux varied from 40% to 140% depending on whether mussels were located in the water column or directly on sediments. The additional flux was attributable directly to release by the mussels, with fluxes from the sediments remaining largely unchanged. However, mussels located directly on sediment surfaces released twice as much SRP as mussels located higher in the water column, with a molar N:P ratio as low as 4:1. The high rate of SRP release...
Screening for substance abuse risk in cancer patients using the Opioid Risk Tool and urine drug screen

Purpose The use of opioids for management of cancer-related pain has increased significantly and has been associated with a substantial rise in rates of substance abuse and diversion. There is a paucity of data not only on the prevalence of substance abuse in cancer patients, but also for issues of drug use and diversion in family caregivers. This study aimed to evaluate the frequency of risk factors for substance abuse and diversion, and abnormal urine drug screens in cancer patients receiving palliative care.
Clinical features of Tourette syndrome and tic disorders

Abstract Background Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by motor and vocal tics—rapid, repetitive, stereotyped movements or vocalizations lasting at least one year in duration. The goal of this article was to review the long-term clinical course of tics and frequently co-occurring conditions in children with TS. Methods We conducted a traditional literature search to locate relevant articles regarding long-term outcome and prognosis in TS and tic disorders. Results Tics typically have an onset between the ages of 4 and 6 years and reach their worst-ever severity between the ages of 10 and 12 years. By age 10 years, most children are aware of nearly irresistible somatosensory urges that precede the tics. A momentary sense of relief typically follows the completion of a tic. Over the course of hours, tics occur in bouts, with a regular inter-tic interval. Tics increase during periods of psychosocial stress, emotional excitement and fatigue. Tics can become “complex” in nature and appear to be purposeful. Tics can be willfully suppressed for brief intervals and can be evoked by the mere mention of them. Tics typically diminish during periods of goal-directed behavior. Over the course of months, tics wax and wane. By early adulthood, roughly three-quarters of children with TS will have greatly diminished tic symptoms and more than one-third will be virtually tic free. Conclusion Although tics are the defining aspect of TS, they are often not the most enduring or impairing symptoms in children with TS. Indeed in TS tics rarely occur in isolation, and other coexisting conditions—such as behavioral disinhibition, hypersensitivity to a broad range of sensory stimuli, problems with visual motor integration, procedural learning difficulties, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety, and emotional instability—are often a greater source of impairment than the tics themselves. Measures used to enhance self-esteem, such as encouraging independence, strong friendships and the exploration of interests, are crucial to ensuring positive adulthood outcome.
Order and the index of singular time-invariant linar systems

Various concepts of order have been proposed in the literature. It is shown that many of these are directly related to the index of a system.
A Behavioral and Neuroanatomical Investigation of the Lethality Caused by Gestational Day 11-13 Retinoic Acid Exposure

In a companion article, we report that there is a sensitive period for all-trans retinoic acid (RA) lethality on gestational days (GD) 11–13. When dams were given 10 mg/kg RA daily for 3 consecutive days on GD 11–13, a number of pups were found dead in the home cage on the day of birth, and the remainder inevitably died due to an apparent inability to nurse. Here we report a set of experiments further investigating these effects. Dams were exposed PO to 10 mg/kg RA or oil vehicle on GD 11–13. Fetuses were removed by Cesarean section on the afternoon of GD 21, culled, and fostered to non-treated dams that had given normal vaginal delivery a day earlier. Maternal behavior was observed for the first 6 h after fostering. The next morning all surviving pups were given a brief behavioral evaluation, including the ability to attach to the nipple of anesthetized foster dams. At the time of C-section, culls were killed and brains were quickly removed and placed in fixative. A series of paraffin-embedded, cresyl-violet-stained serial sections of a representative brain stem from each litter was prepared. RA exposure did not increase fetal mortality. Treated litters were as large as controls, and virtually all treated fetuses were alive in utero. However, unlike controls, some treated fetuses appeared to have difficulty in initiating spontaneous breathing when delivered by C-section, and considerable physical stimulation was required before normal breathing began. As in the previous report, RA-exposed pups did not have milk in their stomachs after 18 h on the foster dam; further, they did not attach to the maternal nipple, and they had greater difficulty than controls in maintaining an upright posture. Examination of serial sections of the medulla indicated that the hypoglossal nucleus appeared grossly normal in the RA-exposed pups. In contrast, the inferior olive and the area postrema were affected by RA exposure. Both nuclei were normally located, but exhibited reduced cell density and/or intensity of staining. In the inferior olive the dorsal and principal nuclei were primarily affected, to the degree that about one quarter of treated brains had no identifiable principal nucleus. We conclude that RA exposure on GD 11–13 causes abnormal development of cell-dense regions of the medial medulla, and these abnormalities may account for the difficulty these animals experience in beginning spontaneous breathing and in nursing. These breathing and nursing problems in turn almost certainly account for the high mortality seen during natural birth and for the subsequent failure to thrive, respectively.
Prompt γ-ray and early afterglow emission in the external shock model

We describe our attempt to determine if γ-ray burst (GRB) and afterglow emissions could both arise in external shocks for simple GRBs – bursts consisting of just a few peaks in their light curves. We calculate peak flux and peak frequency during the γ-ray burst for 10 well-observed bursts using the same set of parameters that are determined from modelling afterglow emissions. We find the γ-ray emission properties for 970508 (which had a single-peak light curve) fit nicely with the extrapolation of its afterglow data, and therefore this burst was probably produced in the external shock. One can explain two other bursts in this sample as forward shock synchrotron emission provided that the magnetic field parameter during the burst is close to equipartition, and larger by a factor ∼102 than the afterglow value at ∼1 d. The remaining seven bursts cannot be explained in the external shock model even if we allow the energy fraction in electrons and magnetic field and the density of the surrounding medium to take on any physically permitted value; the peak of the spectrum is above the cooling frequency, therefore the peak flux is independent of the latter two of these parameters, and is smaller by about an order of magnitude than the observed values. We have also considered inverse-Compton scattering in forward and reverse shock regions and find that it can explain the γ-ray emission for a few bursts, but requires the density to be 1–2 orders of magnitude larger than a typical Wolf–Rayet star wind and much larger than permitted by late afterglow observations. We have also calculated emission from the reverse shock for these ten bursts and find the flux in the optical band for more than half of these bursts to be between 9th and 12th magnitude at the deceleration time if the reverse shock microphysics parameters are the same as those found from afterglow modelling and the deceleration time is of the order of the burst duration. However, the cooling frequency in the reverse shock for most of these bursts is below the optical band, and therefore the observed flux decays rapidly with time (as ∼t−3) and is unobservable after a few deceleration times. It is also possible that the deceleration time is much larger than the burst duration, in which case we expect weak reverse shock emission.
Causality Effects of Particles That Travel Faster Than Light

This paper comments on a recent paper by Feinberg and describes an experiment in which an effect would precede its cause if there were particles that travel faster than light.
DNA bending between upstream activator sequences increases transcriptional synergy

Abstract To determine if DNA bending enhances transcriptional synergy between tandem upstream activators, we constructed a series of synthetic promoters containing either an AP1 or an NF1 site linked to four copies of the putative transcription factor binding site ACGTGA incorporated into an intrinsic DNA bending sequence. In transient transfections, the intrinsic bending sequence between AP1 and the TATA box or between NF1 and the TATA box elicited a strong synergistic activation of transcription. The synergistic activation of transcription was greatly reduced when the intrinsic bending sequence was replaced with a mutant sequence which retains the binding site, but does not bend the DNA, and when the intrinsic bending sequence was upstream of the AP1 or NF1 sites. These data indicate that bent DNA located between upstream activator sequences can facilitate transcriptional synergism between bound activators.
O-095 Infants With Fractures In The Paediatric Emergency Department: Are We Considering Child Physical Abuse?

Background Recognition of child physical abuse (PA) is important to avoid further morbidity and mortality. There is limited knowledge regarding how frequently paediatric emergency department (PED) clinicians consider child abuse in infants with fractures. Objective Estimate the percentage of infants with fractures for whom PA was considered, and to examine characteristics that are associated with consideration of PA. Methods We reviewed the electronic medical record (EMR) of all patients ≤ 1 year with fractures in a PED between 2008–2012. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine associations of patient and physician characteristics with our primary outcome variable, consideration of PA, defined as clearly-documented consideration of PA in attending or trainee note OR skeletal survey ordered OR child-abuse team consult ordered. Co-variates examined as well. Results Characteristics of 529 patients and physicians are displayed in Table 1. For the entire cohort, consideration of PA occurred in 346 (65%), whereas consideration in infants Conclusion PED physicians frequently do not consider PA in infants with fractures. Characteristics associated with consideration for PA include patient age, no history provided to explain the injury, soft-tissue injury, and male attending gender.
Incorporating Wavelet Decomposition Technique to Compress TransGuide Intelligent Transportation System Data

With the improvement and application of various data collection techniques, intelligent transportation system (ITS) data have created obstacles for the effective storage, transmission, and retrieval of data. Some traffic management centers (TMCs) collect ITS information and maintain the "recent" data until it can be transferred to users for ultimate longterm storage, management, or both. Others archive data in convenient storage formats (usually compressed text) without action on data usage and analyses. In currently compressed ITS data (e.g., TransGuide zipped data), many redundant and empty spaces can be eliminated and compressed. Sophisticated approaches must be developed to compress ITS data in TMCs effectively. The wavelet-incorporated ITS data compression method not only makes use of conventional data-compression techniques but also incorporates the advanced one-dimensional discrete waveletcompression approach. Three compression indices are constructed, and one threshold selection algorithm is propo...
Plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress: relationship to lung disease and inhaled nitric oxide therapy in premature infants.

OBJECTIVES. Inhaled nitric oxide treatment for ventilated premature infants improves survival without bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, there has been no information regarding possible effects of this therapy on oxidative stress. We hypothesized that inhaled nitric oxide therapy would not influence concentrations of plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress. PATIENTS AND METHODS. As part of the Nitric Oxide Chronic Lung Disease Trial, we collected blood samples at specified intervals from a subpopulation of 100 infants of <1250 g birth weight who received inhaled nitric oxide (20 ppm, weaned to 2 ppm) or placebo gas for 24 days. Plasma was assayed for total protein and for 3-nitrotyrosine and carbonylation by using immunoassays. RESULTS. The demographic characteristics and primary outcome for the infants were representative of the entire group of infants who were in the Nitric Oxide Chronic Lung Disease Trial. For all infants at baseline, before receiving study gas, the concentration of total protein was inversely correlated with the respiratory severity score, and plasma carbonyl was positively correlated with severity score, supporting an association between oxidative stress and severity of lung disease. Infants who survived without bronchopulmonary dysplasia had 30% lower protein carbonylation concentrations at study entry than those who had an adverse outcome. At each of 3 time points (1-10 days) during exposure to study gas, there were no significant differences between control and treated infants for concentrations of plasma protein, 3-nitrotyrosine, and carbonylation. CONCLUSIONS. Inhaled nitric oxide treatment for premature infants who are at risk for bronchopulmonary dysplasia does not alter plasma biomarkers of oxidative stress, which supports the safety of this therapy.
Capture and release of proteins on the nanoscale by stimuli-responsive elastin-like polypeptide "switches".

This article describes the fabrication and characterization of stimulus-responsive elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) nanostructures grafted onto ω-substituted thiolates that were patterned onto gold surfaces by dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). In response to external stimuli such as changes in temperature or ionic strength, ELPs undergo a switchable and reversible, hydrophilic−hydrophobic phase transition at a lower critical solution temperature (LCST). We exploited this phase transition behavior to reversibly immobilize a thioredoxin-ELP (Trx-ELP) fusion protein onto the ELP nanopattern above the LCST. Subsequent binding of an anti-thioredoxin monoclonal antibody (anti-Trx) to the surface-captured thioredoxin showed the presentation of the immobilized protein in a sterically accessible orientation in the nanoarray. We also showed that the resulting Trx-ELP/anti-Trx complex formed above the LCST could be reversibly dissociated below the LCST. These results demonstrate the intriguing potential of ELP nanostruct...
The impact of distributed computing on education

In this paper, developments in digital computer technology since the early Fifties are reviewed briefly, and the parallelism which exists between these developments and developments in analysis and design procedures of structural engineering is identified. The recent trends in digital computer technology are examined in order to establish the fact that distributed processing is now an accepted philosophy for further developments. The impact of this on the analysis and design practices of structural engineering is assessed by first examining these practices from a data processing standpoint to identify the key operations and data bases, and then fitting them to the characteristics of distributed processing. The merits and drawbacks of the present philosophy in educating structural engineers are discussed and projections are made for the industry-academia relations in the distributed processing environment of structural analysis and design. An ongoing experiment of distributed computing in a university environment is described.