cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural and biochemical analyses of choroidal thickness in human donor eyes.

PURPOSE The choroid plays a vital role in the health of the outer retina. While measurements of choroid using optical coherence tomography show altered thickness in aging and macular disease, detailed histopathologic and proteomic analyses are lacking. In this study we sought to evaluate biochemical differences in human donor eyes between very thin and thick choroids. METHODS One hundred forty-one eyes from 104 donors (mean age ± standard deviation, 81.5 ± 12.2) were studied. Macular sections were collected, and the distance between Bruch's membrane and the inner surface of the sclera was measured in control, early/dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD), neovascular AMD, and geographic atrophy eyes. Proteins from the RPE-choroid of eyes with thick and thin choroids were analyzed using two-dimensional electrophoresis and/or mass spectrometry. Two proteins with altered abundance were confirmed using Western blot analysis. RESULTS Donor eyes showed a normal distribution of thicknesses. Eyes with geographic atrophy had significantly thinner choroids than age-matched controls or early AMD eyes. Proteomic analysis showed higher levels of the serine protease SERPINA3 in thick choroids and increased levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP3) in thin choroids. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with clinical imaging observations, geographic atrophy was associated with choroidal thinning. Biochemical data suggest an alteration in the balance between proteases and protease inhibitors in eyes that lie at the extremes of choroidal thickness. An improved understanding of the basic mechanisms associated with choroidal thinning may guide the development of new therapies for AMD.
Formulating gels for decreased mucociliary transport using rheologic properties: Polyacrylic acids

The purpose of these studies was to identify the rheologic properties of polyacrylic acid gels necessary for optimal reductions in mucociliary clearance. The mucociliary transport of 2 bioadhesive polyacrylic acid polymers, polycarbophil and carbopol, was assessed in vitro by measuring their clerance rates across explants of ciliated bovine tracheal tissue. The viscoelastic properties of polymer gels were measured in the presence of mucus using controlled stress rheometry. Combinations of apparent viscosity (η) and complex modulus (G*) were found to be the most useful parameters in the identification of polyacrylic acid formulations capable of decreasing mucociliary transport rate (MTR). A narrow range of η and G* values suitable for reducing mucociliary clearance, while remaining sufficiently fluid for intranasal administration, were identified. The correlations between the rheologic parameters of the polycarbophil gels and their mucociliary transport rates were used to identify other polyacrylic acid gels that also had suitable mucociliary clearance properties, demonstrating that these parameters can be used to direct the optimization of formulations using simple in vitro rheologic testing.
Surface water nutrient concentrations and litter decomposition rates in wetlands impacted by agriculture and mining activities

Abstract Decomposition rates of a site-specific dominant litter, a standard litter (Typha latifolia), and cellulose were quantified in 10 western Kentucky wetlands using the litterbag technique. Short-term (60 and 42 days) incubations were conducted during fall 1998 and spring 1999. The effect of variable tissue nitrogen content on decomposition rates was evaluated by comparing mass loss among site-specific dominant species from each wetland. Effects of variable surface water and sediment nutrient concentrations on decomposition were assessed by measuring mass loss of standard litter materials (Typha latifolia and cellulose) of uniform C:N ratio. Decomposition of the site-specific dominant litter was significantly correlated with tissue C:N ratios and phosphorus concentrations in wetland waters and sediments. Water column and sediment phosphorus were also significant predictors of decomposition rates for the standard litter types. Nitrogen concentrations in surface waters were not significant predictors of decomposition for any of the substrates in either season. Wetlands impacted by mine drainage exhibited slower decomposition rates and lower nutrient levels in comparison to wetlands occurring in predominantly agricultural areas.
You Don't Need a PHD to Grow a Tumor

Prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) perceive intracellular oxygen tension and signal hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) to induce hypoxia-adaptive processes such as angiogenesis. A paper from Chan and colleagues in the June issue of Cancer Cell demonstrates that PHD2 inactivation in tumor cells accelerates tumor growth via HIF-independent, NF-κB-mediated changes in tumor angiogenesis.
Individuals and institutions

ECONOMICS AND INSTITUTIONS: A MANIFESTO FOR MODERN INSTITUTIONAL ECONOMICS by Geoffrey Hodgson Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1988. 365pp., $39.95 Traditional institutional economics argued that the methodological individualism of both classical and neoclassical economics was grounded in a false conception of human nature and a pre‐scientific understanding of economic life. Geoffrey Hodgson has provided a restatement of this position and extended the institutionalist critique to modern developments within economics at both a positive and normative level. In the course of doing so, Hodgson both draws on and differs from developments within modem Austrian economics. It is argued that Hodgson misunderstands key aspects of the Austrian project and as a result his indiscriminate criticisms of methodological individualism and classical liberalism are not convincing.
RESULTS OF STUDIES ON A TWIN-GYRO ATTITUDE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR SPACE VEHICLES

Automatic closed loop and pilot operated twin-gyro systems are discussed as attitude stabilizers for large space vehicles
Multi-Issue Automated Negotiations Using Agents

Software agents can perform effectively as negotiators in automated negotiation settings. We present a model for software agents that can automate negotiations by implementing a multi-issue learning heuristic that allows agents to learn from the bidding behavior of opponents. The performance of agents is evaluated using an experimental study involving human subjects. The results indicate that software agents can act as effective surrogates of human negotiators under some circumstances.
Uncertainty in Quantum Measurements

The object of this Letter is to show that except in the case of canonically conjugate observables, the generalized Heisenberg inequality does not properly express the quantum uncertainty principle. It is, in general, too weak. An inequality is obtained which does express the principle.
Intra-individual variation in cuticular lipids studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy

We report here a method for studying phase transitions in cuticular lipids of insects. This technique, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), is more sensitive than previous biophysical methods and is applicable to either lipid extracts or lipids in situ (in cast skins or intact wings). We used FTIR to compare biophysical properties of cuticular lipids in different regions of individual insects. Lipid melting points varied by approx. 10°C in different body regions of the tropical cockroach, Blaberus craniijk, and by almost 30°C in the grasshopper, Melanoplus sunguinipes. Using cast skins, we followed the time course of lipid acclimation to temperature in single individuals of M. sanguinipes. We conclude that FTIR is useful for studies of spatial and temporal differences in cuticular lipids of arthropods. Key Word Index: Cuticle; Fourier transform IR; hydrocarbon; phase transition; surface lipid
Behavioral correction to prevent overhydration and increase survival by larvae of the net-spinning caddisflies in relation to water flow

We report behavioral regulation of body water content in caddisfly larvae, Hydropsyche morosa and Cheumatopsyche pettiti, by selecting microhabitats with different water flow rates. The purpose of our study was to examine features necessary for survival in the same apparent habitat, because the two species co-exist in riffle areas of freshwater streams. Both species are highly sensitive to water loss as a result of high water loss rates and depend on immersion in fresh water (hypo-osmotic) to maintain water stores. In contrast to C. pettiti, H. morosa is larger, retains water more effectively, and features reduced water loss rates with suppressed activation energies. When H. morosa was confined to areas of low or no water flow, overhydration led to rapid mortality, whereas the same conditions favored water balance maintenance and survival in C. pettiti. In attraction bioassays, H. morosa moved and remained within areas of high water flow and C. pettiti preferred areas with low water flow. Because water flow rates are unlikely to directly impact water gain, the mechanism responsible for increased survival and water balance maintenance is likely related to the impact of water flow on oxygen availability, differences in feeding ecology, or other underlying factors.
Signal flow graphs of sampled-data systems: A new formulation

The pictorial representation of either continuous or discrete systems accomplished by the signal flow-graph technique is extended to mixed discrete-continuous (hybrid) systems. A new flow-graph symbol is introduced in order to distinguish between continuous and discrete variables as well as to indicate the operation of sampling. For the case of linear, time-invariant systems, the algebra for manipulation of such graphs is given. It is shown that the input-output relations of the system are related to certain topological properties of the corresponding signal flow graph. This relation is established and illustrated by several examples. In the case of continuous (or completely discrete) systems, it is shown that the general input-output relation reduces to Mason's formula.
Tendon collagen fibrillogenesis: intracellular subassemblies and cell surface changes associated with fibril growth.

The fine structure of tendon fibroblasts in developing limbs of chick and mouse embryos have been examined to define the cellular features of collagen fibrillogenesis in vivo . Two structural features of the fibroblast which may relate to fibril assembly have been observed: intracellular aggregates resembling SLS (segment-long-spacing)-like aggregates of monomeric and dimeric lengths and deep recesses of the cell surface containing striated fibrils. A model is proposed which suggests that assembly of a collagen fibril in vivo begins by formation of subassemblies inside the cell which then are excreted by exocytosis and added to a unique region at the fibril end. This end is closely associated with the cell surface in a manner which allows for cellular regulation of some parameters of fibril morphology.
Quantification of the effect of treatment duration on local-regional failure after definitive concurrent chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiation therapy for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.

Background The purpose of this study was to quantify the effect of treatment duration on locoregional progression after definitive concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT) for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Methods We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients treated between 2004 and 2010. After a prior analysis, measures were taken to limit therapy beyond 7 weeks. Comparison of outcomes were made between cohorts 1 (2004–2007, n = 78) and 2 (2007–2010, n = 62). Results Median therapy duration was statistically significantly different between cohorts as follows: 51 days, cohort 1 and 46 days, cohort 2 (p < .01). Locoregional progression in cohorts 1 and 2 was 19% and 5% (p = .01), respectively. On multivariate analysis, patients with prolonged treatment (≥57 days) had an 8-fold increase in risk of locoregional progression compared to patients who completed on time (p < .01). Conclusion Treatment duration was a significant predictor of locoregional progression in patients with SCCHN who received definitive CCRT. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2013
Evaluation of Cocoa- and Coffee-Derived Methylxanthines as Toxicants for the Control of Pest Coyotes

Methylxanthines were quantified in coffee, tea, and chocolate products. Tarajuilie tea from India, cocoa powder, and cocoa nibs contained the highest levels of methylxanthines. Theobromine, caffeine, and theophylline combined in the ratios observed in tea and chocolate were ingested by coyotes. Although both mixtures induced acute toxicity, the symptoms accompanying the chocolate methylxanthine mimic were preferable. Manipulation of the ratios of methylxanthines in the chocolate mimic led to the identification of a 5:1 theobromine/caffeine mixture as a promising coyote toxicant. This mixture was then administered to coyotes using the coyote lure operative device (CLOD). Mortality occurred in every coyote that ingested any portion of the CLOD contents. These results indicate that mixtures of theobromine and caffeine have the potential to be developed into a selective, effective, and socially acceptable toxicant for the control of pest coyotes.
Specific dephosphorylation of membrane proteins in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chick embryo fibroblasts.

Chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with avian sarcoma virus become rapidly transformed as a result of expression of the viral src gene1,2 in the form of a single polypeptide of molecular weight 60,000 (pp60src)3 with protein kinase activity4 and suggested preferential association with the plasma membrane5,6. Studies with normal avian and mammalian cells have revealed the presence of an antigenically related protein7,8 which seems to have similar kinase activity, but which is present at less than 1% of the levels of virally induced src protein found in transformed cells8,9. As dynamic protein phosphorylation is important in numerous regulatory processes10,11, the phenotypic expression of transformation may arise from an imbalance in one or more regulatory mechanisms that are controlled by protein phosphorylation4,8,12. The cell membrane is affected during transformation13, including its phosphotransferase activity14,15. The latter has been shown using isolated membrane fractions whose properties may be changed during preparation16. Therefore, we have compared the phosphorylation state of individual membrane proteins found in intact normal and RSV-transformed cells and report here the identification of two heavily phosphorylated, acidic membrane proteins in normal CEF which are specifically dephosphorylated on transformation by wild-type and temperature-sensitive Rous sarcoma viruses.
Discussion of Fullinwider and Lichtenberg's Leveling the Playing Field.

This article emphasizes the diversity argument for affirmative action and seeks to build on the discussion of it by Fullinwider and Lichtenberg. I try to defend a view of affirmative action that depends on the notion that what is required by justice is restoration of voice to those whose voices were unfairly excluded, and I claim that such a view does not presuppose perspective unity or depend on the idea that affirmative action benefits the education of all. I also take up what Fullinwider and Lichtenberg call the legitimacy argument. I claim that the legitimacy of American society does not depend on the representation of diverse groups in positions of leadership per se. It depends on not unfairly excluding people from positions of leadership. When a group has been unfairly excluded, affirmative action can be an effective tool for restoring legitimacy.
Temperature effects on the valve structure of the bipolar diatoms Thalassiosira antarctica and Porosira glacialis

Clones of the bipolar diatoms Thalassiosira antarctica Comber and Porosira glacialis (Grun.) Jorg. from both hemispheres grown at 4 and-1.5°C were noted to have morphological differences between the two temperatures that were not visible in the light microscope but evident in the scanning electron microscope. At the lower temperatures T. antarctica lost the occluded processes and the external tubes of the strutted processes but retained the external tube of the labiate process. P. glacialis lost all external tubes at-1.5°C. In both species, the foramina were greatly constricted at-1.5°C, in contrast to the open foramina at 4°C. Heterovalvate cells were found in both species, indicating a discrete change in valve structure rather than a slow, gradual change resulting in a continuum of variation.
Interference effects in pion double charge exchange

Pion double charge exchange (${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$,${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$) has been measured using targets of $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{18}\mathrm{O}$ from 80 to 292 MeV at a laboratory angle of 5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. The magnitude and energy dependence of the cross section for the double-analog transition is qualitatively described in terms of a direct double-analog amplitude and a two-step nonanalog amplitude.NUCLEAR REACTIONS $^{16}\mathrm{O}$(${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$,${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$)$^{16}\mathrm{Ne}$(g.s.) and $^{18}\mathrm{O}$(${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$,${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$)$^{18}\mathrm{Ne}$(g.s.); $\ensuremath{\theta}=5\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$, ${E}_{\ensuremath{\pi}}=80 \mathrm{to} 292$ MeV, deduced two amplitude explanation for cross-section variation.
Magnetomechanical Four‐State Memory

With current non-volatile memory technology approaching intrinsic storage density limits, new data storage technologies are under development. Probe-based storage systems provide alternatives to conventional mass storage technologies. Ni-Mn-Ga, a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA), is proposed as a medium for multi-bit storage using scanning probe microscopy (SPM) techniques. Local modifications of the magnetic stray field were achieved using nanoindentation. Magnetic poles collect within the indentation, which is leveraged to control the magnetic stray field for the patterning of magnetic information. Four magnetic-based memory states are possible due to magnetic field or stress-induced twin rearrangement along two crystal orientations, each with two possible magnetic orientations.
Mutational alterations of tryptophan-specific transfer RNA that generate translation suppressors of the UAA, UAG and UGA nonsense codons.

Abstract The recessive lethal amber suppressor su + 7(UAG-1) in Escherichia coli inserts glutamine in response to the UAG codon. The genetic analysis presented in this paper shows that the su − 7 precursor allele can give rise to suppressors of the UGA codon as well as of the UAG codon. This observation suggests that the su − 7 gene normally codes for transfer RNA Trp , a tRNA whose anticodon can be modified by single base changes to forms that can translate either UAG or UGA. The chemical findings presented in the accompanying paper (Yaniv et al. , 1974) are wholly in accord with this interpretation. Thus, a single base substitution in the anticodon sequence of a tRNA can affect both the coding specificity of the molecule and also the amino acid acceptor specificity.
Oxidation and Removal of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene using Sodium Persulfate in a Sorption-Desorption Experiment

The sorptive and desorptive behavior of 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene (TCB) was studied in a mixture of river sediments and TCB at initial aqueous concentrations of 0.5, 4, and 21 mg/L. All experiments were performed at a temperature of 20∘C and at pH 5.58. Grain size, fraction of organic carbon (FOC), and pH analyses were conducted to determine the initial condition of the sediment. Adsorption experiments reached equilibrium 8 hours after the start of the experiment. Adsorption data were used to calculate the monolayer sorption capacity (Q), the Langmuir entropy constant (b), the Freundlich adsorption coefficients (Kd, Kd′), and the Freundlich characteristic constant (n) as well as R-square values. Desorption experiments utilized a 4 g/L persulfate solution added to soils “pre-contaminated” with TCB during the adsorption experiments. Studies indicated that persulfate was an effective oxidizer of both sediment organic matter and TCB. After a contact time of 5 hours, the mass of sediment organic carbon was reduced from 4.45% to 0.44%. The TCB released to solution with organic matter oxidation was then oxidized to non-detectable levels by persulfate and the possible presence of free radicals. The conclusions were made that persulfate has the potential to be an effective oxidizer of both TCB and sediment organic matter.
Active Essays on the Web

This paper describes "Active Essays" and their implementation with Internet technology. An Active Essay combines a written essay, program fragments, and the resulting live simulations into a single cohesive narrative. We believe the integration of programming and natural language makes a superior teaching medium for expressing mathematical, scientific, and even literary ideas. It is especially effective when it can be read, run, and authored in a web browser. We review our previous implementations of Active Essays on the Web. Chalkboard is our latest Active Essay framework. We discuss Chalkboard's features, examples, design decisions, and unresolved issues.
Inequality of Income and Consumption in the U.S.: Measuring the Trends in Inequality from 1984 to 2011 for the Same Individuals

This paper examines the distribution of income and consumption in the U.S. using one dataset that obtains measures of both income and consumption from the same set of individuals. We develop a set of inequality measures that show the increase in inequality during the past 27 years using the 1984–2011 Consumer Expenditure Survey. We find that the trends in income and consumption inequality are similar between 1984 and 2006, and diverge during and after the Great Recession. For the entire 27-year period we find that consumption inequality increases almost as much as does income inequality.
On what can be learned by observing teaching

(1991). On what can be learned by observing teaching. Theory Into Practice: Vol. 30, Educational Evaluation: An Evolving Field, pp. 37-45.
Visualization and Analysis of System Monitoring Data using Multi-resolution Context Information

Projection of high dimensional data into a lower dimensional subspace is required for human understanding of the health of an IT infrastructure. Over the past several years, there have been a large number of dimensionality reduction techniques that have been proposed. Their direct application for visualizing system monitoring data is challenged by two factors. First, system monitoring data does not lie in a metric space. Second, system monitoring data is intrinsically iquestmulti-resolutioniquest in that an event may lead to cascaded events (a server going down impacts one or more applications running on the server; a network outage may impact several network dependent components). Lower dimensional representations which do not take into account the intrinsic multi-resolution nature of the monitoring data are thus limited in their utility and challenge human comprehension. In this paper, we exploit the multi-resolution nature of the monitoring data and a 1-of-n representation of event data to construct navigable multi-resolution topology preserving views for visualizing system monitoring data. We also demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed approach using data from a real data center.
An Autonomic Framework for Integrating Security and Quality of Service Support in Databases

The back-end databases of multi-tiered applications are a major data security concern for enterprises. The problem becomes more critical with the proliferation of enterprise hosted web applications in the cloud. At the same time, an e-business application needs to process requests with a certain service quality to maintain current customers and attract new ones. While prior work has concentrated on securing applications and providing quality of service (QoS) independently, little work has focused on integrating security and QoS support for business applications, in which the system can manage the security and QoS requirements automatically in a way that preserves the security and QoS goals. This paper focuses on designing an autonomic controller for databases that integrates the security requirements with QoS requirements in order to ease the management burden of system administrators by automatically varying security configurations that meet the system performance and security objectives.
Ki-67 (clone MIB-1) proliferation index in recurrent glial neoplasms: no prognostic significance

Abstract Background To determine if the Ki-67 (MIB-1 clone) proliferative index (PI) has prognostic potential in patients with recurrent astroglial neoplasms. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of 27 patients whose initial and recurrent specimens were available. Histopathology was determined according to the World Health Organization classification. Proliferation index was calculated on formalin-fixed tissue using the Ki-67 (MIB-1 clone) antibody. Morphometric data were analyzed in conjunction with clinical data and Cox Proportionate Hazards Analysis, Spearman’s correlation co-efficient and Mann-Whitney Test. Results Initial histopathology included 14 glioblastoma multiforme, 7 anaplastic astrocytoma, 3 oligoastrocytoma, and 3 astrocytoma. Recurrent specimens showed changes consistent with treatment. While univariate analysis shows initial histology correlated with survival (p Conclusions Ki-67 PI does not confer additional prognostic information for patients with recurrent astroglial neoplasms. One possible explanation for this observation is that treatment may alter the PI independent of its effect on tumor growth.
Freedom in Asia

Asian Freedoms: The Idea of Freedom in East and Southeast Asia, David Kelly, Anthony Reid, eds. (Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press, 1998). 228 pp., cloth (ISBN: 0-5216-2035-X), $64.95; paper (ISBN: 0-5216-3757-0), $22.95. Book reviewed: Asian Freedoms: The Idea of Freedom in East and Southeast Asia , David Kelly and Anthony Reid, eds.
Full‐brain T1 mapping through inversion recovery fast spin echo imaging with time‐efficient slice ordering

Brain T1 mapping has important clinical applications in detecting brain disorders. Conventional T1 mapping techniques are usually based on inversion recovery spin echo (IRSE) imaging or its more time-efficient counterpart inversion recovery fast spin echo (IRFSE) imaging because they can deliver good image quality. Multiple inversion times are required to accurately estimate T1 over a wide range of values. Without acquisition optimization, both the IRSE and the IRFSE T1 mapping techniques require long scan times to image the whole brain. To reduce the scan time and maintain the quality of the T1 maps, we propose a new full-brain T1 mapping pulse sequence based on a multislice inversion recovery fast spin echo imaging using a time-efficient slice ordering technique.
Pulpal Response of Monkeys to Modifications of a Bisphenol A Composite Resin and Cement

This investigation demonstrated the minimal pulpal response of the teeth of monkeys to bisphenol A restorative materials in the form of a cement and as a composite resin. Each material was thinned with a monomer of methyl methacrylate or of dimethacrylate.
On statistical behavior of branch coverage in testing behavioral VHDL models

During behavioral model verification, it is important to determine the stopping point for the current test strategy and for moving to a different test strategy. It has been shown that the location of the stopping point is highly dependent on the statistical model one should choose to describe the coverage behavior during the verification process. This paper presents a study on the coverage behavior of VHDL models. The resulting statistical behavior is compared to the statistical behavior used by some commonly used models for software reliability and shows the inappropriateness of applying the existing models for the behavior model verification.
Calibration and Testing Time Reduction Techniques for a Digitally-Calibrated Pipelined ADC

Modern mixed-signal/RF circuits with digital calibration capabilities could achieve significant performance improvements once the calibration process is completed; however, the calibration time is often very long – in the order of hundreds of milliseconds or even seconds. As testing such devices would require completion of calibration first, lengthy calibration time would result in unacceptably long testing time. In this paper, we propose design-for-testability modifications and acceleration techniques for adaption algorithms to reduce the calibration time required for testing a digitally-calibrated pipelined ADC. For the pipelined ADC proposed in [2], simulation results show that the proposed techniques can achieve a 60X reduction in the calibration time.
Decision analysis with indeterminate or incoherent probabilities

This paper presents a new method of modeling indeterminate and incoherent probability judgments in decision analysis problems. The decision maker's degree of beliefs in the occurrence of an event is represented by a unimodal (in fact, concave) function on the unit interval, whose parameters are elicited in terms of lower and upper probabilities with attached confidence weights. This is shown to provide a unified framework for performing sensitivity analysis, reconciling incoherence, and combining expert judgments.
Branch history table indexing to prevent pipeline bubbles in wide-issue superscalar processors

Even with a very accurate dynamic branch predictor, a superscalar processor must predict instruction fetch addresses no later than the first pipeline stage to avoid suffering pipeline bubbles every time a branch is taken. Unfortunately, branch addresses generally are not known prior to instruction decode. Therefore, some indirect technique is required to identify a branch instruction and enable branch prediction while the branch instruction is being fetched. This is the branch identification problem. Intel Pentium adopts a scheme that solves this problem; however, its scheme assumes an issue rate of two instructions per cycle. An aggressive superscalar processor, issuing more than two instructions per cycle, cannot effectively use that scheme. The authors propose and compare two viable schemes for solving the branch identification problem for wide-issue superscalar processors. >
Loop-free routing using a dense label set in wireless networks

We present a new class of on-demand routing protocols called split label routing (SLR). The protocols guarantee loop-freedom at every instant by ensuring that node labels are always in topological order, and thus induce a directed acyclic graph (DAG). The novel feature of SLR is that it uses a dense ordinal set with a strict partial order to label nodes. For any two labels there is always some label in between them. This allows SLR to "insert" a node in to an existing DAG, without the need to relabel predecessors. SLR inherently provides multiple paths to destinations. We present a practical, finitely dense implementation that uses a destination-controlled sequence number. The sequence number functions as a reset to node ordering when no more label splits are possible. The sequence number is changed only by the destination. Simulations show that our proposed protocol outperforms existing state-of-the-art on-demand routing protocols.
From Poetry to Music: Northern Lullaby

Nancy White Carlstrom’s children’s book, Northern Lullaby, conjures through poetry the beauty of the Alaskan landscape in the evening. The book provides an opportunity for music teachers to help their students transform text and visual images to music. The author describes connections for reading comprehension in the general music classroom and suggests music lessons for upper elementary and middle school students.
Short-Term Efficacy of Sacroiliac Joint Corticosteroid Injection Based on Arthrographic Contrast Patterns

Abstract Objective To determine the relationship between sacroiliac joint (SIJ) contrast dispersal patterns during SIJ corticosteroid injection and pain relief at 2 and 8 weeks after the procedure. The association between the number of positive provocative SIJ physical examination maneuvers (minimum of one in all patients undergoing SIJ injection) and the patient's response to the intervention was also assessed. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Academic outpatient musculoskeletal practice. Patients Fifty-four subjects who underwent therapeutic SIJ corticosteroid injection were screened for inclusion; 49 subjects were included in the final analysis. Methods A retrospective review of electronic medical records identified patients who underwent SIJ corticosteroid injection. Fluoroscopic contrast flow patterns were categorized as type I (intra-articular injection with cephalad extension within the SIJ) or type II (intra-articular injection with poor cephalad extension). Self-reported numeric pain rating scale (NPRS) values at the time of injection and 2 and 8 weeks after the procedure were recorded. The number of positive provocative SIJ physical examination maneuvers at the time of the initial evaluation was also recorded. Main Outcome Measures The primary outcome measure was the effect of contrast patterns (type I or type II) on change in NPRS values at 2 weeks and 8 weeks after the injection. The secondary outcome measure was the association between the number of positive provocative SIJ physical examination maneuvers and decrease in the level of pain after the procedure. Results At 2 weeks after the procedure, type I subjects demonstrated a significantly lower mean NPRS value compared with type II subjects (2.8 ± 1.4 versus 3.8 ± 1.6, respectively, P = .02). No statistically significant difference was observed at 8 weeks after the procedure. NPRS values were significantly reduced both at 2 weeks and 8 weeks, compared with baseline, in both subjects identified as having type I flow and those with type II flow ( P Conclusions Fluoroscopically guided corticosteroid injections into the SIJ joint are effective in decreasing NPRS values in patients with SIJ-mediated pain. Delivery of corticosteroid to the superior portion of the SIJ leads to a greater reduction in pain at 2 weeks, but not at 8 weeks. Patients with at least one positive provocative maneuver should benefit from an intra-articular corticosteroid injection.
Foster Youth and the Transition to Adulthood The Theoretical and Conceptual Basis for Natural Mentoring

The transition from adolescence to adulthood is considered a significant developmental stage in a young person’s growth. Most youth receive family support to help them weather the difficulties associated with this stage. When foster youth age out of the child welfare system, they confront the challenges associated with this developmental stage and are at risk of having to transition without family support. This article applies the life course perspective to describe the theoretical and contextual foundation that explains the hardships foster youth experience when they emancipate from the U.S. child welfare system. Next, the theoretical basis for natural mentoring among foster youth is explored using the resiliency perspective to frame the discussion. Then, current research on natural mentoring among foster youth is reviewed. The article concludes with implications for U.S. child welfare practice, policy, and research with respect to how to improve outcomes for youth who age out of foster care through the ...
Lipoproteins and Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment is complex, with lipoproteins constituting a key part of any prediction algorithm. In addition to circulating lipoprotein fractions, an individual’s CVD risk is also influenced by the concomitant presence or absence of other standard CVD risk factors. In this chapter, we describe the strengths and weaknesses of common circulating lipoproteins that are measured in clinical practice for predicting CVD risk. We also discuss how risk assessment tools utilize lipoprotein values in the general assessment of global CVD risk. We highlight the differences between various guidelines for the management of dyslipidemia specifically related to the measurement of select apolipoproteins for assessing CVD risk, comparing the recommendations from Europe, Canada, and the USA. In the end, we elucidate the concept of “residual risk” that accrues from not reaching the target goals for individual lipoprotein concentrations when all other modifiable risk factors are well controlled.
Neural representations of temporally asymmetric stimuli in the auditory cortex of awake primates.

The representation of rapid acoustic transients by the auditory cortex is a fundamental issue that is still unresolved. Auditory cortical neurons have been shown to be limited in their stimulus-syn...
The Illusory Nature of Environmental Protection in a Marxist-Socialist Polity: The Case of Poland [Book Review of Daniel H. Cole, Instituting Environmental Protection: From Red to Green in Poland (MacMillan Press/St. Martin's Press 1998)]

This review favorably considers Professor Cole's analysis of Poland's environmental protection efforts following the fall of communism in Eastern Europe.
Plastic pikas: Behavioural flexibility in low-elevation pikas (Ochotona princeps)

Behaviour is an important mechanism for accommodating rapid environmental changes. Understanding a species' capacity for behavioural plasticity is therefore a key, but understudied, aspect of developing tractable conservation and management plans under climate-change scenarios. Here, we quantified behavioural differences between American pikas (Ochotona princeps) living in an atypical, low-elevation habitat versus those living in a more-typical, alpine habitat. With respect to foraging strategy, low-elevation pikas spent more time consuming vegetation and less time caching food for winter, compared to high-elevation pikas. Low-elevation pikas were also far more likely to be detected in forested microhabitats off the talus than their high-elevation counterparts at midday. Finally, pikas living in the atypical habitat had smaller home range sizes compared to those in typical habitat or any previously published home ranges for this species. Our findings indicate that behavioural plasticity likely allows pikas to accommodate atypical conditions in this low-elevation habitat, and that they may rely on critical habitat factors such as suitable microclimate refugia to behaviourally thermoregulate. Together, these results suggest that behavioural adjustments are one important mechanism by which pikas can persist outside of their previously appreciated dietary and thermal niches.
Optimal Network Function Virtualization Realizing End-to-End Requests

Network function virtualization provides a new network resource utilization approach which decouples network functions from proprietary hardware and enables adaptive services to end-user requests. In this paper, we present a joint design which optimally deploys network functions and allocates physical resources satisfying end-to-end requests with generated routes. We first discuss the problem behind such design and show its NP-completeness. We then propose a mixed-integer program which simultaneously identifies physical nodes to be deployed with network functions and generates routes sharing common physical resources realizing end-to-end requests. Computational results demonstrate the value of the integrated approach and its ability to allocate network functions supporting end-to-end requests with limited physical resources.
Usability Testing for Rapid Fielding with Small Ns: Lessons Learned during an Army Operational Field Experiment

The Army's acquisition process is transforming to meet the needs of a force that must be agile, adaptive, and responsive to asymmetric threats. Advanced capabilities and technologies, which are urgently needed to enable rapid response to evolving military needs, are being developed and pushed out to troops at unprecedented rates. As a result, not all systems have undergone an iterative design process, received usability feedback from their target users, or had design support from human factors engineers to ensure that unit and Soldier considerations have been addressed. Subsequently, these systems may possess characteristics that induce high cognitive workload, fatigue, detectability, or trigger events that lead to fratricide. When human factors engineers encounter a system that has not derived these benefits, they too must become more agile, adaptive, and responsive to ensure that Soldier feedback is collected and that serious issues are identified and resolved before the system makes its way to the batt...
Osteoporosis knowledge assessment and osteoporosis education recommendations in the health professions

A previous systematic review on osteoporosis knowledge published showed that only several studies investigated osteoporosis knowledge in health professionals, and it found that their knowledge was not as adequate and sufficient as it should be. Since then, studies published on osteoporosis knowledge among health professionals have also assessed and found that they still do not have adequate and sufficient osteoporosis knowledge. To increase and improve osteoporosis knowledge among health professionals, recommendations in osteoporosis education in the health professions, including the application of the cognitive load theory, online learning, problem-based learning, practical learning, simulation-based learning, interactive learning, and feedback are covered in order to ensure health professionals can have adequate and sufficient osteoporosis knowledge to best prevent and treat individuals with the disease.
The Role of Startups in Structural Transformation

Abstract The U.S. economy has been going through a striking structural transformation--the secular reallocation of employment across sectors--over the past several decades. We propose a decompositi...
Investigation on X-ray Manifestations of the Heart of Congestive Ischemic Cardiomyopathy:A Reports of 38 Cases

Objective:To explore the X-ray manifestations of the heart of congestive ischemic cardiomyopathy.Methods:36 cases of ischemic cardiomyopathy were retrospectively analysed.Results:In 36 cases ,mild cardiac enlargement was 10.5%,moderate was 42.1%,severe was 47.4%,47.4% of cardiac enlargement were categorized as aortic type,21.1% were generally type,15.8% were generally—mitral type,13.3% were generally—aortic type.Left ventricular enlargement 100%,Left atrial enlargement 65.7%,right ventricular enlargement 52.6%,right atrial enlargement 31.5%.Conclusion:The heart shape on X—ray manifestations of the congestive ischemic cardiomyopathy were variety and the X—diagnosing of congestive ischemic cardiomyopathy should be combined with clinical manifestation,it is essentical to differentical diagnosis.
Studying protein-protein interactions using surface plasmon resonance

Protein-protein interactions regulate many important cellular processes, including carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, cell cycle and cell death regulation, protein and nucleic acid metabolism, signal transduction, and cellular architecture. A complete understanding of cellular function depends on full characterization of the complex network of cellular protein-protein interactions, including measurements of their kinetic and binding properties. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is one of the commonly used technologies for detailed and quantitative studies of protein-protein interactions and determination of their equilibrium and kinetic parameters. SPR provides excellent instrumentation for a label-free, real-time investigation of protein-protein interactions. This chapter details the experimental design and proper use of the instrumentation for a kinetic experiment. It will provide readers with basic theory, assay setup, and the proper way of reporting this type of results with practical tips useful for SPR-based studies. A generic protocol for immobilizing ligands using amino coupling chemistry, also useful if an antibody affinity capture approach is used, performing kinetic studies, and collecting and analyzing data is described.
Group-orthogonal multi-carrier CDMA

Code division multiple access (CDMA) over frequency-selective fading channels faces challenges in suppressing multiuser interference (MUI), but can also benefit from the channel-induced multipath diversity. On the other hand, uncoded orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) is MUI-free by design, but faces challenges arising from the fading-induced loss of multipath diversity. We wed the advantages of CDMA with those of OFDMA. We design a group-orthogonal multi-carrier CDMA (GO-MC-CDMA) scheme that minimizes MUI subject to the constraint that the full multipath diversity is enabled for all users. Each group of GO-MC-CDMA users shares a properly selected set of system subcarriers. MUI only exists among users in the same small-size group, which renders the application of low-complexity multiuser detection per group practically feasible. Simulation results illustrate the merits of GO-MC-CDMA over competing multi-access alternatives.
Anterograde Viral Tracer Methods

Viruses are used extensively in the neuroscience community due to their efficacy and ease of engineering. In nature, viruses come in all shapes and sizes and have evolved for different functions. For example, some viruses are optimized for rapid gene expression, while others are optimized for long-term, stable gene expression. Some viruses cannot replicate, while others can spread transsynaptically among neurons. For neuroscience experiments, there is no one-size-fits-all approach, as each virus has strengths and weaknesses for a given purpose. Therefore, the optimum virus to use depends on the particular experimental goals. In this chapter, the strengths and weaknesses of viruses in various experimental approaches are discussed through specific examples highlighting state-of-the-art viral techniques, as well as how these studies have used viruses to investigate questions of central nervous system circuitry.
Reconfiguring the Parkinson's Personality in the Twentieth and Twenty-First Centuries.

This article explores the historical construction of a bio-psychological model of a pre-diagnostic Parkinson's Disease Personality. The essay interrogates the historically situated value-laden assu...
Monolithically integrated mid-IR interband cascade laser and photodetector operating at room temperature

We report on the demonstration of a monolithically integrated mid-IR interband cascade (IC) laser and photodetector operating at room temperature. The base structure for the integrated laser and detector is a six-stage type-I IC laser with GaInAsSb quantum well active regions. The laser/detector pair was defined using focused ion beam milling. The laser section lased in cw mode with an emission wavelength of ∼3.1 μm at 20 °C and top-illuminated photodetectors fabricated from the same wafer had Johnson-noise-limited detectivity of 1.05 × 109 cm Hz1/2/W at this wavelength and temperature. Under the same condition, the detectivity for the edge illumination configuration for the monolithically integrated laser/photodetector pairs is projected to be as high as 1.85 × 1010 cm Hz1/2/W, as supported by experimentally observed high photocurrent and open-circuit voltage. These high performance characteristics for monolithically integrated IC devices show great prospects for on-chip integration of mid-IR photonic de...