cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Initial Performance of the NAL 200-MeV Linear Accelerator

The first three months of operation of the NAL linac after first achieving a 200-MeV beam have been encouraging. The design performance has been achieved at beam intensities of about 20 mA both in the transverse emittance and the momentum spread. Attempts have not been made to go to intensities of 100 mA or greater as yet, and it will be interesting to see how the beam quality is affected by intensity. It is expected that when the linac rf phase and amplitude controls are properly working, the beam quality will be less than the design values. In particular, the momentum spread at the present operating currents is sufficiently small so that a debunching cavity currently is not envisioned. The beam measurements made so far confirm the theoretical results obtained with the PARMILA dynamics program. The particle distributions used in the program are those measured at the entrance to the linac. The large number of components in the systems have lead to concern over the reliability of the linac. The performance over the last three months has dispelled some of this concern. As running periods have increased the failure rate has decreased. Only two major problems stand out at this time. The first is the failure of the spring contacts on the filament leads to the power amplifier tubes. Installation care and the elimination of two of the contact rings which were not water-cooled seem to be providing at least a temporary solution.
Determination of model order for NARX models directly from input-output data

Abstract Nonlinear auto-regressive models with exogenous inputs (NARX models) have proved to be versatile and useful empirical models for industrial processes. There are a wide variety of identification methods and model structures from which to choose; in all methods, however, key parameters are the model orders, which are the number of past outputs and inputs used in the model. In this paper the methods of Lipschitz numbers and false nearest neighbors are evaluated as a means of estimating the model orders of dynamic, discrete-time NARX models. No specific model structure is assumed and the model orders are estimated directly from input-output data using only geometric concerns and the continuity property. The two methods are applied to several dynamic systems, including realistic process simulations and experimental data from the UCSB pH neutralization process, and the consistency and accuracy of these methods are examined. The usefulness of these methods of model order determination for radial basis function network (RBFN) identification is examined.
New opportunities with intense ultra-short-pulse lasers

The authors review the motivations for the rapid progress in ultra-high intensity, short-pulse lasers. The advantages, advances and limitations of current laser approaches are discussed. The potential impact on this field of new laser materials and advanced laser engineering is also appraised. Some of the new sciences and applications which will benefit from future advances in this field are identified.
Gasoline demand revisited: an international meta-analysis of elasticities

Meta-analysis is used to determine if there are factors that systematically affect price and income elasticity estimates in studies of gasoline demand. Four econometric models are estimated, using long-run and short-run price and income elasticity estimates from previous studies as the dependent variables. Explanatory variables include functional form, lag structure, time span, national setting, estimation technique, and other features of the model structure. Elasticity estimates are found to be sensitive to the inclusion or exclusion of some measure of vehicle ownership. Static models appear to overestimate short-run elasticities, underestimate long-run price elasticities, but pick up the full long-run income responsiveness. There is variation in the elasticity of demand across countries, especially in the short-run, and gasoline demand appears to be getting more price-elastic and less income-elastic over time.
133Cs nuclear magnetic resonance study of one-dimensional fluctuations in CsH2PO4 and its ferroelectric and antiferroelectric transitions at high pressure.

Pressure and temperature effects on the one dimensional (1D) and higher-dimensionality correlations associated with the ferroelectric and antiferroelectric phase transitions in cesium dihydrogen phosphate were studied by means of the $^{133}\mathrm{Cs}$ nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spin-lattice relaxation time ${T}_{1}$. We measured ${T}_{1}$ at 6.5 MHz at temperatures down to the ferroelectric (FE) Curie point ${T}_{C}$ at 1 bar and at 1.5 and 3.0 kbar, down to the triple point ${T}_{t}$=124.6 K at 3.3 kbar, and down to the antiferroelectric (AFE) N\'eel point ${T}_{N}$ at 3.6 kbar. With decreasing temperature, ${T}_{1}$ first decreases exponentially due to 1D fluctuations associated with the ${J}_{b}$ interactions in disordered hydrogen-bonded chains running along b. As the temperature falls further, ${T}_{1}$ then decreases linearly as the ${J}_{c}$ interaction between these chains in hydrogen-bonded planes comes into play. From these results and the known pressure derivatives of ${T}_{C}$ and ${T}_{N}$, we calculated pressure dependences for ${J}_{b}$, ${J}_{c}$, and for the interplanar interaction ${J}_{a}$. At 3.3 kbar ${J}_{a}$ changes sign, so the plane stacking becomes AFE instead of FE. Above 8.9 kbar, where ${J}_{c}$ extrapolates to zero, a new AFE phase with a checkerboard arrangement of FE b chains is predicted.
Use of remifentanil in infants

We describe the use of remifentanil in three infants with complex medical issues (hepatic failure, cyanotic heart disease and renal compromise). The short duration of opioid effect even after a long period of drug infusion (18 h) suggests this drug may be useful in some infants. Continued study is warranted.
Multiwavelet-transform-based image compression techniques

Multiwavelet transforms are a new class of wavelet transforms that use more than one prototype scaling function and wavelet in the multiresolution analysis/synthesis. The popular Geronimo-Hardin-Massopust multiwavelet basis functions have properties of compact support, orthogonality, and symmetry which cannot be obtained simultaneously in scalar wavelets. The performance of multiwavelets in still image compression is studied using vector quantization of multiwavelet subbands with a multiresolution codebook. The coding gain of multiwavelets is compared with that of other well-known wavelet families using performance measures such as unified coding gain. Implementation aspects of multiwavelet transforms such as pre-filtering/post-filtering and symmetric extension are also considered in the context of image compression.
Cracking analysis of fracture mechanics by the finite element method of lines (FEMOL)

The Finite Element Method of Lines (FEMOL) is a semi-analytic approach and takes a position between FEM and analytic methods. First, FEMOL in Fracture Mechanics is presented in detail. Then, the method is applied to a set of examples such as edge-crack plate, the central-crack plate, the plate with cracks emanating from a hole under tensile or under combination loads of tensile and bending. Their dimensionless stress distribution, the stress intensify factor (SIF) and crack opening displacement (COD) are obtained, and comparison with known solutions by other methods are reported. It is found that a good accuracy is achieved by FEMOL. The method is successfully modified to remarkably increase the accuracy and reduce convergence difficulties. So it is a very useful and new tool in studying fracture mechanics problems.
The Howard University Program in Atmospheric Sciences (HUPAS): A Program Exemplifying Diversity and Opportunity.

This paper discusses experiences and lessons learned from developing an interdisciplinary graduate program (IDP) during the last 10 y: The Howard University Graduate Program in Atmospheric Sciences...
Use of structural bone graft with cementless acetabular cups in total hip arthroplasty.

We retrospectively studied 15 primary and 13 revision total hip arthro- plasties in which structural acetabular bone grafts were used in conjunction with cementless acetabular cups (for 11 type I segmental acetabular defects and 17 type III combined segmental/cavitary acetabular defects). Mean follow-up was 7.7 years in the primary and 6.8 years in the revision group. Radiographic analysis was per- formed to assess graft incorporation, component migration, bone-implant radiolu- cencies, and polyethylene wear. Two acetabular components (7.1%) were radio- graphically loose and demonstrated component migration. One of the two patients with these components also showed evidence of eccentric polyethylene wear. Three patients (10.7%) exhibited eccentric polyethylene wear. All grafts were well-incor- porated radiographically without evidence of resorption. Modified Harris hip scores for all patients improved postoperatively. Key words: allograft, cementless, cups, hip, arthroplasty. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Improving Health-Related Quality of Life in Non–Small-Cell Lung Cancer with Current Treatment Options

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for > 80% of all lung carcinomas, with the majority of patients presenting with late-stage disease. Selection of an appropriate therapy depends on the stage of disease, with treatment of patients with advanced NSCLC often aimed at palliation of symptoms and improving the well-being of patients. Health-related quality of life (QOL) has been largely ignored as an endpoint in clinical trials for NSCLC, but there is increasing acceptance by clinicians and regulatory authorities that alleviation of symptoms and improved health-related QOL should be carefully considered. This article discusses current approaches to measuring health-related QOL. This discussion is followed by a brief review of some of the current treatment options for patients with NSCLC and their effect on health-related QOL.
Investigation on singularity of stochastic differential algebraic power system model

This paper presents the results of the investigation of the singularity of power systems with random loads. The power system is modeled with stochastic differential algebraic equations (SDAE). This is the extension of singularity induced bifurcation analysis in the deterministic DAE model. This paper explores the probability of loss of voltage causality. The WECC 3-machine-9-Bus system is used to illustrate the impact of diffusion coefficients on voltage stability.
The Miracle of Being: Cosmology and the Experience of God

The new scientific cosmology which has emerged over the past forty years seems to be forcing philosophers and theologians alike to rethink the traditional theistic conception of God in which God is pictured as a First Cause designer of the universe in favor of what Joseph Campbell more mystically calls an “immanent ground of being, transcendent of conceptualization.” The central thrust of these reflections is that we encounter that “immanent ground of being” through the experience of wonder and awe. Since actual experience is involved, then a phenomenological description of exactly what it is in the new cosmology (and the universe) which induces such wonder is possible. The basic thesis is that we experience wonder in the face of the remarkable and transcendent (beyond finite predicates and understanding) coming-into-being of nature over twelve to fifteen billion years. Wonder is the human reaction to and appreciation for the astounding fact that nature and all of its parts actually are. It is; we are; such is the ineffable beyond in our midst.
Folding of the RNA Recognition Motif (RRM) Domains of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)-linked Protein TDP-43 Reveals an Intermediate State

Pathological alteration of TDP-43 (TAR DNA-binding protein-43), a protein involved in various RNA-mediated processes, is a hallmark feature of the neurodegenerative diseases amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Fragments of TDP-43, composed of the second RNA recognition motif (RRM2) and the disordered C terminus, have been observed in cytoplasmic inclusions in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis cases, suggesting that conformational changes involving RRM2 together with the disordered C terminus play a role in aggregation and toxicity. The biophysical data collected by CD and fluorescence spectroscopies reveal a three-state equilibrium unfolding model for RRM2, with a partially folded intermediate state that is not observed in RRM1. Strikingly, a portion of RRM2 beginning at position 208, which mimics a cleavage site observed in patient tissues, increases the population of this intermediate state. Mutually stabilizing interactions between the domains in the tethered RRM1 and RRM2 construct reduce the population of the intermediate state and enhance DNA/RNA binding. Despite the high sequence homology of the two domains, a network of large hydrophobic residues in RRM2 provides a possible explanation for the increased stability of RRM2 compared with RRM1. The cluster analysis suggests that the intermediate state may play a functional role by enhancing access to the nuclear export signal contained within its sequence. The intermediate state may also serve as a molecular hazard linking productive folding and function with pathological misfolding and aggregation that may contribute to disease.
Pseudospin entanglement and Bell test in graphene

We propose a way of producing and detecting pseudospin entanglement between electrons and holes in graphene. Electron-hole pairs are produced by a fluctuating potential and their entanglement is demonstrated by a current correlation measurement. The chirality of electrons in graphene facilitates a well-controlled Bell test with (pseudo-)spin projection angles defined in real space.
Chain transfer for vinyl monomers polymerized in N-allylstearamide

Apparent transfer constants have been determined for styrene, methyl methacrylate vinyl acetate, and diethyl maleate polymerized in N-allylstearamide at 90°C. Regression coefficients for transfer were: methyl methacrylate, 0.301 × 10−3; styrene, with no added initiator, 0.582 × 10−3; styrene, initiated with benzoyl peroxide, 0.830 × 10−3; vinyl acetate, 62.01 × 10−3; and diethyl maleate, 2.24 × 10−3. Rates of polymerization were retarded for both styrene and methyl methacrylate. Vinyl monomer and comonomer disappearance followed an increasing exponential dependence on both initiator and monomer concentration. Although degradative chain transfer probably caused most of the retardation, the cross-termination effect was not eliminated as a contribution factor. Rates for the vinyl acetate copolymerization were somewhat retarded, even though initiator consumption was large because of induced decomposition. The kinetic and transfer data indicated that the reactive monomers added radicals readily, but that rates were lowered by degradative chain transfer. Growing chains were terminated at only moderate rates of transfer. Unreactive monomers added radicals less easily, producing reactive radicals, which transferred rapidly, so that molecular weights were lowered precipitously. Although induced initiator decomposition occurred, rates were still retarded by degradative chain transfer. A simple empirical relation was found between the reciprocal number-average degree of polymerization, 1/Xn1 and the mole fraction of allylic comonomer entering the copolymer F2, which permitted estimation of the molecular weight of copolymers of vinyl monomers with allylic comonomers. This equation should be applicable when monomer transfer constants for each homopolymer are known and when osmometric molecular weights of one or two copolymers of low allylic content have been determined.
Advancements at the bedside: diagnostic and therapeutic tools

The field of medicine today is evolving to bring care directly to the patient at the bedside. New technological advances have allowed for quicker diagnoses and, therefore, more efficient patient care. Bedside ultrasound has become more compact and portable so that it can fit in the pocket of a lab coat and transmit images over Wi-Fi networks. The availability of new and improved point-of-care testing has decreased the time between diagnosis and treatment. Non-traditional applications of the smartphone are increasingly expanding, and are being used to reach users in settings outside the hospital and clinic. In addition, the use of video laryngoscopy has become more of a first-line therapeutic tool for airway management at the bedside.
Breast Cancer Heterogeneity: Need to Review Current Treatment Strategies

Although the heterogeneity of breast cancer has long been recognized, the hierarchical organization and existence of tumor initiating subpopulation within breast tumors was not known until the last decade. These tumor initiating cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs) display features of stem cells such as unlimited ability to self-renew and lineage differentiation. Accumulating evidence now suggests that by virtue of their relative resistance to both radiation and chemotherapy, these cells contribute to resistance and relapse following therapy. Utilizing cell cultures and mouse xenograft models, we and others demonstrated that breast CSCs have far greater invasive and metastatic potential than differentiated tumor cells which comprise the tumor bulk. Altogether, these studies suggest that targeting and elimination of breast CSCs may be required to improve patient outcome. In this review, we will discuss recent developments in breast CSC research and advances in CSC specific targeted therapies that are in preclinical and clinical trials.
One-dimensional systems: From metallic conductors to quantum fields

Abstract We present a variational solution of the sine-Gordon theory and the Luther-Emery backward scattering model that is useful for the study of various quasi-one-dimensional systems. This solution yields a renormalized mass for the fundamental fermion of the massive Thirring model and the energy gap in the fermion spectrum of the backward scattering model. We then generalize this to a coupled chain problem and relate it to the SU(2) massive Thirring model.
The demise of community banks? Local economic shocks are not to blame

The number of US community banks is falling rapidly. Is this reduction being driven in part by banks’ desire to geographically diversify to reduce their vulnerability to local economic shocks? A comparison of the performance of banks in counties that suffered economic shocks in the 1990s with similar banks in counties that did not suffer economic shocks shows that banks withstand local economic shocks quite well. This result suggests that the geographic concentration risk that community banks must bear to focus on relationship lending is small and is not an important factor contributing to the decline of community banks.
The Effect of Clothianidin Seed Treatments on Corn Growth following Soybean

Cool soil conditions after planting frequently delay corn (Zea mays L.) emergence in the northeastern United States, which contributes to occasional early-season soil insect damage. Two corn hybrids with three seed-applied insecticide treatments, which included a control, 0.25 mg a.i. seed-1 clothianidin [(E) 1-(2-chloro-1, 3-thiazolyl-5-ymethyl)-3-methyl-2-nitroguanidine], and 1.25 mg a.i. seed -1 clothianidin were evaluated in 2004 and 2005 in New York to determine how clothianidin affects corn growth and yield in an environment with low incidence of soil insect pests. Both clothianidin treatments had greater leaf area index (LAI) values (∼2.60) at the 10th to 11th leaf stage (V10-11) compared with the control (2.45). The 0.25 mg a.i. rate had a greater LAI (4.46) than the 1.25 mg a.i. rate (4.28) at the silking stage (R1) and a greater mean crop growth rate from the V10-11 to R1 stage (36.5 and 32.7 g m-2 d-1, respectively). The control had a greater harvest index (0.54) than the 1.25 mg a.i. rate (0.50), but all three treatments had similar grain yield (9.7-10.3 Mg ha-1). Results from this study indicate that clothianidin seed treatments do not have phytotoxic effects on corn growth and yield in an environment with low incidence of soil insect pests. Nevertheless, we do not recommend clothianidin seed treatment as inexpensive insurance against early-season soil insect damage when corn follows soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] in the north-eastern United States.
Giant Congenital Melanocytic Nevi of the Trunk and an Algorithm for Treatment

Giant congenital melanocytic nevi (CMN) are rare, congenital, disfiguring lesions with a risk of degeneration to malignant melanoma. Giant CMN are associated with an increased risk of malignant degeneration. In a minority of cases, patients with giant CMN may have associated neurocutaneous melanosis with leptomeningeal involvement. Giant CMN of the trunk pose difficult diagnostic and reconstructive problems requiring complex multistage treatment. For high-risk cases, diagnostic evaluation in the form of neuro-imaging is an essential component of the planning phase. Although nonsurgical options for the treatment of giant CMN have been advocated, these modalities may decrease the burden of nevus cells but do not result in complete removal of these cells. The ability to monitor nevus cells that remain after nonsurgical management of giant CMN remains questionable. These nonsurgical options include dermabrasion, laser ablation, and chemical peel. In contrast, direct excision of the nevus is the mainstay of treatment of nonsurgical management of giant CMN. There are numerous surgical options to resurface the resultant cutaneous defect after excision of the nevus. The simplest of these options consists of serial excision and direct closure of the defect in stages. However, if the defect cannot be closed by direct cutaneous advancement, other options for wound resurfacing include split- or full-thickness skin graft, tissue expansion, and free tissue transfer. Tissue expansion should be viewed as a category of treatment options because expanders can be used to create an expanded full-thickness skin graft, local expanded flaps adjacent to the lesion, or expansion of a free tissue donor site. Given the diversity of reconstructive options that use tissue expansion, these techniques have evolved as the primary treatment method for giant CMN of the trunk. The authors outline an approach to the evaluation of giant CMN of the trunk, review the risks of melanoma and of neurocutaneous melanosis, describe their preferred treatment regimen, and offer a treatment algorithm for giant CMN of the trunk.
The index formula for the moduli of G-bundles on a curve

We prove the formulae conjectured by the first author for the index of K-theory classes over the moduli stack of algebraic G-bundles on a smooth projective curve. The formulae generalize E. Verlinde's for line bundles and have Witten's integrals over the moduli space of stable bundles as their large level limits. As an application, we prove the Newstead-Ramanan conjecture on the vanishing of high Chern classes of certain moduli spaces of semi-stable G-bundles.
Vitamin C, Collagen, and Cracks in the Plaque

Most fatal acute myocardial infarctions result from a fracture of the plaque’s fibrous cap. We proposed the hypothesis some years ago that the level of collagen in the fibrous cap depends on a dynamic balance of synthesis and degradation.1 We further showed that inflammatory cytokines can regulate both the expression of genes that direct interstitial collagen synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells and the interstitial collagenases (matrix metalloproteinases 1, 8, and 13) required to initiate the breakdown of collagen fibrils.2–5⇓⇓⇓ Given the capital importance of collagen in protecting the plaque from rupture and hence thrombosis, the metabolism of this complex molecule merits consideration in depth. See p 1485 The formation of mature fibrillar collagen involves many steps beyond gene transcription (Figure). The initial translation product, the procollagen peptide chain, undergoes extensive posttranslational modification: an especially noteworthy point during this period of exploration of the proteome. Collagen contains unusual amino acids, hydroxyproline and hydroxylysine, formed by a vitamin C–dependent process that entails enzymatic transfer of hydroxyl groups to selected proline and lysine residues in the nascent procollagen chains. Glycosyl transferases then add sugar moieties to the procollagen chains. The hydroxylated and glycosylated monomers then self-assemble into helical trimers as they traverse several intracellular compartments. Trimming the nonhelical tails (the telopeptides) from both ends of the procollagen molecule by proteinases yields the mature interstitial collagen triple helix secreted by smooth muscle cells in arteries. These building blocks then further self-aggregate into multimers and form interstitial collagen fibrils, linear structures as strong as steel wires. Biosynthetic pathway for interstitial collagen. The text describes the various steps depicted in this diagram, which provides particular …
An alternate pathway of cAMP-stimulated Cl secretion across the NKCC1-null murine duodenum.

Abstract Background & Aims: Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated anion secretion across the duodenal epithelium requires the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) in the apical membrane and anion uptake proteins in the basolateral membrane. NKCC1, the epithelial Na+/K+/2Cl− cotransporter, is the major protein responsible for Cl− uptake. In this study, we evaluate the role of NKCC1 in determining the relative rates of transepithelial Cl− and HCO3− secretion during cAMP stimulation of the duodenum. Methods: Bicarbonate and chloride secretion across duodenal mucosa was measured in Ussing chambers by pH stat and 36Cl flux methods using mice with either gene-targeted deletion of NKCC1 (NKCC1−/−) or bumetanide blockade of NKCC1. Results: Total anion secretion stimulated by forskolin treatment of NKCC1-null duodenum resulted from approximately equivalent rates of electrogenic chloride, electrogenic bicarbonate, and electroneutral bicarbonate secretion. Evaluation of the alternate chloride secretory pathway indicated chloride uptake by a basolateral membrane anion exchange process with characteristics consistent with the anion exchanger isoform AE2. Conclusions: Chloride uptake by basolateral anion exchanger activity (AE2) supports intracellular cAMP–stimulated chloride secretion in the NKCC1-null duodenum. A model for the alternate chloride secretion pathway is proposed whereby chloride uptake via AE2 is coupled to basolateral NaHCO3 cotransport to support CFTR-mediated chloride and bicarbonate secretion. GASTROENTEROLOGY 2002;123:531-541
Nucleosome Positioning and Transcription-associated Chromatin Alterations on the Human Estrogen-responsive pS2 Promoter

The positioning of nucleosomes on a promoter is a significant determinant in its responsiveness to inducing signals. We have mapped the chromatin structure of the human, estrogen-responsive pS2 promoter at nucleotide level resolution within the context of its normal genomic location in human mammary epithelial cells. In vivo digestion by nucleases followed by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed two rotationally phased and translationally positioned nucleosomes within the promoter between nucleotide positions −450 and +7. The estrogen response elements at −400 and TATAA box at −35 are each located at the edge of a nucleosome. The two precisely positioned nucleosomes exist in both transformed and nontransformed human mammary epithelial cells, regardless of estrogen receptor status or transcriptional activity of the gene. However, two structural alterations correlate with the transcriptional potential of the promoter. In MCF-7 cells, in which the pS2 promoter is inducible, the chromatin exhibits an increased sensitivity to DNase I in a region of DNA adjacent to the TATAA box and an additional micrococcal nuclease-hypersensitive site in the linker DNA between the two positioned nucleosomes. We were also able to demonstrate that nucleotides −1100 to +10 of the pS2 promoter are sufficient to determine the positioning of these two nucleosomes. Our results establish the structural features of the chromatin covering the pS2 promoter as well as transcriptionally associated alterations, suggesting how the nucleosomal template influences transcriptional regulation by estrogen receptor.
The Reaction of (Dicarbonyl)(η5‐Cyclopentadienyl)Cobalt with Bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne. A One‐Step Synthesis of Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)butatriene

Reaction of the two title compounds in a nitrogen-flushed boiling medium over several days produced a series of cyclobutadiene and trinuclear biscarbyne complexes in addition to the only organic substance, tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)butatriene, formed formally by catalytic dimerization of bis(trimethylsilyl)ethyne. Mechanistic pathways are discussed which might provide the connection between starting materials and products.
An Energy-Efficient Heterogeneous System for Embedded Learning and Classification

Embedded learning applications in automobiles, surveillance, robotics, and defense are computationally intensive, and process large amounts of real-time data. Systems for such workloads have to balance stringent performance constraints within limited power budgets. High performance computer processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs) cannot be used in an embedded platform due to power issues. In this letter, we propose a low power heterogeneous system consisting of an Atom processor supported by multiple accelerators that target these workloads, and seek to find if such a system can satisfy performance requirements in an energy-efficient manner. We build our low-power system using an Atom processor, an ION, a GPU, and a field-programmable gate array (FPGA)-based custom accelerator, and study its performance and power characteristics using four representative workloads. With such a system, we show an energy improvement of 42-85% over a server comprising a 2.27 GHz quadcore Xeon coupled to a 1.3 GHz 240 core Tesla GPU.
Small Sample Comparison of Some Tests for Equality of Two Proportions

Powers of some tests of equality of two proportions are compared for small samples and approximate level .05. Numerical results indicate that the asymptotic results hold also for small and moderate sample sizes.
Approximation algorithms for data distribution with load balancing of web servers

Given the increasing traffic on the World Wide Web (Web), it is difficult for a single popular Web server to handle the demand from its many clients. By clustering a group of Web servers, it is possible to reduce the origin Web server's load significantly and reduce user's response time when accessing a Web document. A fundamental question is how to allocate Web documents among these servers in order to achieve load balancing? In this paper, we are given a collection of documents to be stored on a cluster of Web servers. Each of the servers is associated with resource limits in its memory and its number of HTTP connections. Each document has an associated size and access cost. The problem is to allocate the documents among the servers so that no server's memory size is exceeded, and the load is balanced as equally as possible. In this paper, we show that most simple formulations of this problem are NP-hard, we establish lower bounds on the value of the optimal load, and we show that if there are no memory constraints for all the servers, then there is an allocation algorithm, that is within a factor 2 of the optimal solution. We show that if all servers have the same number of HTTP connections and the same memory size, then a feasible allocation is achieved within a factor 4 of the optimal solution using at most 4 times the optimal memory size. We also provide improved approximation results for the case where documents are relatively small.
Demand Elasticities from a Discrete Choice Model: The Natural Christmas Tree Market

A procedure is demonstrated for estimating market-level demand elasticities from household data suffering from sample selectivity problems. The procedure uses McFadden's nested multinomial logit model and is applied to the natural Christmas tree market. Results indicate that the own-price elasticity of natural Christmas trees is −0.674 and the cross price elasticity of natural Christmas trees with respect to artificial Christmas trees is 0.188. These are the first known demand elasticity estimates for the natural Christmas tree market.
The use of the StarClose device for obtaining femoral artery hemostasis.

Background: Following percutaneous intervention, obtaining femoral artery hemostasis quickly and reliably with few complications is of considerable importance. While the StarClose device has been studied in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization, its use in patients undergoing treatment for peripheral vascular disease has rarely been reported. It is the purpose of this report to determine whether the Starclose is able to deliver safe and effective femoral artery closure in this group of patients. Methods: The records of all patients undergoing StarClose closure of the femoral artery by or under the supervision of a single vascular surgeon were reviewed. Indication, type of intervention, and size of the vascular sheath employed were noted. Times to mobilization and discharge were tabulated. Complications including hemorrhage, pseudoaneurysm, infection, and vessel occlusion were recorded. Results: Between February 2006 and September 2009, 603 StarClose nitinol clip closure devices were deployed in 478 ...
Eutrophication and Fisheries: Separating the Effects of Nitrogen Loads and Hypoxia on the Pelagic-to-Demersal Ratio and Other Measures of Landings Composition

Abstract Building on previous analyses suggesting that the composition of fishery landings reflects the effects of eutrophication on mobile fish and benthos, we examined landings composition in relation to nitrogen loading and the spatial extent of hypoxia in a cross-system comparison of 22 ecosystems. We hypothesized that explicit consideration of both N and hypoxia is important because nutrient enrichment has been shown to have contrasting direct and indirect effects on fisheries. Consistent with this premise, patterns in landings composition differed with respect to N load and the spatial extent of hypoxia. For example, the ratios of pelagic to benthic and demersal biomass in fishery landings (P/D) exhibited a decreasing trend across ecosystems with progressively higher N but were significantly and positively correlated with the spatial extent of hypoxia. The P/D ratios were particularly high in systems with extensive and persistent hypoxia and particularly low in several estuaries where purse seining ...
Isotopic composition of the anomalous xenon in the Murchison Meteorite

The calculated isotopic composition of the anomalous new xenon component enriched in 128Xe, 130Xe, and 132Xe discovered by Srinivasan and Anders [1978] in Murchison depends strongly on the technique used to partition the measured spectra among the different components present in the sample. With little a priori justification, Srinivasan and Anders initially assume 134Xe and 136Xe are absent from the new component to derive a composition that matches calculated spectra of xenon produced by s-process nucleosynthesis. The reported data when plotted on xenon three-isotope diagrams fall on mixing lines that may be extrapolated to define an allowed range of end point compositions for the new component. This approach to the data yields a well-defined family of unusual xenon spectra, none of which is the same as the composition obtained by Srinivasan and Anders, and none of which is directly compatible with a component of pure s-process nucleosynthesis.
A potassium crown ether complex with dichloroaurate(I)

The title compound, (1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxa­cyclo­octane)­potassium di­chloro­aurate(I), [K(C12H24O6)][AuCl2], consists of potassium ion encapsulated by the 18-membered crown ether 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxa­cyclo­octane and a linear di­chloro­aurate(I) monoanion. The potassium occupies a crystallographic center of symmetry with a ring coordination number of six, and two chlorides in axial sites at a distance of 3.2306 (5) A. The linear anionic species sits on another crystallographic center of symmetry.
Multidisciplinary Simulation in Pediatric Critical Care: The Death of a Child

Health care providers are trained to care for the living. They may complete their education and enter the workforce without ever experiencing the death of a patient. Inexperience with the different roles of the multidisciplinary health care team is common. Moreover, the death of a child has a profound effect on parents and staff. In such situations, the expertise of the multidisciplinary team can make a difference. A multidisciplinary education project that uses high-fidelity simulation based on pediatric death and dying was developed to provide an experience during which health care practitioners could practice communicating with families about the death of their child and dealing with different grief reactions.
When Potentially Lifesaving Drugs are Both Experimental and in Very Short Supply: A Clinician's Story from the Front Lines of the Battle Against Ebola

On the night of July 31, 2014, Kent Brantly, a physician working with Samaritan’s Purse (Monrovia, Liberia), received a dose of ZMapp (Mapp Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA), an experimental cocktail of three Ebola virus glycoproteinspecific monoclonal antibodies, thus becoming the first patient in the west African Ebola virus disease (EVD) outbreak to receive an experimental therapy. He contracted EVD while working in Liberia and became a patient under the direct care of his SIM (Monrovia, Liberia) and Samaritan’s Purse colleagues. Nancy Writebol, a missionary who was also Ebola virus-infected and worked with Brantly at the Eternal Love Winning Africa (ELWA, Monrovia, Liberia) Ebola Treatment Center, was designated to be the sole recipient of ZMapp that night. Brantly had graciously offered to give Writebol the only course of treatment (a full course of treatment is administered in three doses). As one of the physicians overseeing the clinical care of these two patients in Liberia, I examined Brantly and noted his persistent fever, tachypnea, tachycardia, worsening rash, and headache. He was already receiving supportive care including intravenous fluids, antimalarial prophylaxis, and antibiotics per Medecins Sans Frontieres, Geneva, Switzerland, guidelines. Despite these efforts, over several hours, before the scheduled administration of ZMapp to Writebol, Brantly’s condition continued to deteriorate. He was critically ill, and worsening. My colleagues and I had read the original research articles in which ZMapp conferred a survival benefit in animal models when administered early the course of EVD. 1 However, administering an experimental drug whose safety had not been tested in a human clinical trial was daunting and potentially dangerous. As a vial of ZMapp thawed under Writebol’s arm, Lance Plyler, the medical director of the Samaritan’s Purse Disaster Response Unit, who was responsible for obtaining ZMapp from Mapp Pharmaceuticals, was preparing to administer the drug to Writebol. We discussed Brantly’s condition and, given his rapid deterioration, decided to administer a dose of ZMapp. I drew up a dose of dexamethasone to be used in the event he developed an allergic reaction and set it at his bedside. Informed consent was given, and I started the ZMapp infusion. I anxiously waited with physician assistant Allison Rolston, watching for an adverse reaction. Rolston had worked tirelessly for days providing care to dozens of EVD patients. I had been wearing heavy personal protective equipment (PPE) for almost 3 hours, and had to step outside. Tim Mosher, a nurse practitioner, donned PPE and moved to the
Dual buffer gases for ion manipulation in a miniature ion trap mass spectrometer with a discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface

The discontinuous atmospheric pressure interface (DAPI) has been developed to allow a direct transfer of ions from atmosphere into an ion trap mass spectrometer with minimum pumping capability. Air is introduced into the trap with ions and used as a buffer gas for the ion trap operation. In this study, a method of introducing helium as a second buffer gas was developed for a miniature mass spectrometer using a dual DAPI configuration. The buffer gas effects on the performance of a linear ion trap (LIT) with hyperbolic electrodes were characterized for ion isolation, fragmentation and a mass-selective instability scan. Significant improvement was obtained with helium for resolutions of mass analysis and ion isolation, while moderate advantage was gained with air for collision-induced dissociation. The buffer gas can be switched between air and helium for different steps within a single scan, which allows further optimization of the instrument performance for tandem mass spectrometry. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Electronic books as teaching supplements

The next wave of the computer revolution in Engineering education is the implementation of the electronic book as an important supplement to course materials. It can contain everything that a printed text contains, but it can also incorporate self-pasting problem statements, live worksheets, and multimedia elements. The electronic book is an editable document, allowing each student to incorporate his/her own notes from classroom discussion or self-study. Problem solutions can be provided at the click of a mouse, and these are also editable. Distribution can be as simple as a file drag and drop into a public server directory. Commercially available tools now make the creation of electronic documents as easy as using a word processor. The example that forms the basis of this presentation is a Mathcad electronic book that has been used for two years by students in a Freshman/Sophomore course on Material and Energy Balances. The document is described briefly, but the focus is on an instructor's investment in time and resources required to produce such items for classroom use.
School socioeconomic composition and adolescent sexual initiation in Malawi.

Numerous studies have documented the determinants of sexual behavior among adolescents in less-developed countries, yet relatively little is known about the influence of social contexts such as school and neighborhood. Using two waves of data from a school-based longitudinal survey conducted in Malawi from 2011-13, this study advances our understanding of the relationship between school-level socioeconomic contexts and adolescents' sexual activity. The results from two-level multinomial logistic regression models suggest that high socioeconomic composition of the student body in school decreases the odds of initiation of sexual activity, independent of other important features of schools and individual-level characteristics. This study also finds that the association between school socioeconomic composition and sexual activity is statistically significant among male adolescents but not female adolescents, suggesting that schools' socioeconomic contexts may be more relevant to male adolescents' initiation of sexual activity.
Transverse beam asymmetries measured from 4He and hydrogen targets

The HAPPEX Collaboration at Jefferson Lab has measured the transverse beam spin asymmetries (A T ) for elastic electron scattering from proton and 4He targets. The experiment was conducted using a vertically polarized electron beam of energy ∼ 3 GeV, at a Q 2 ∼ 0.1 GeV2 and a scattering angle θ lab ≈ 6°. The preliminary results are reported here. The 4He measurement is the first measurement of A T from a nucleus. A T for 4He is non-negligible; therefore, it will be necessary to make measurements of A T for future parity-violating experiments using nuclear targets.
Comparison of multiple proxy records of Holocene environments in the midwestern United States

We compare four emerging approaches to reconstructing Holocene vegetation and climate from south of the glacial border in northeastern Iowa, United States. Pollen, plant macrofossils, carbon isotopic (δ 13 C) values from alluvial organic matter, and carbon isotopic values in stalagmites from a nearby cave all show similar paleovegetational and paleoclimatic trends during the Holocene. Pollen and plant macrofossils show a rapid change from forest to prairie about 6000 cal. yr B.P., followed by a return of oaks to a presumably savanna-like community about 3500 cal. yr B.P. The δ 13 C values in alluvial organic matter and the percentage of C 4 plants both increase ca. 6300 cal. yr B.P., and then decrease in the last 3500 years. In the cave, δ 13 C values rise beginning at 6000 cal. yr B.P. to a broad peak ca. 4500 to 3000 cal. yr B.P., and decrease thereafter. Pollen and plant macrofossils record the composition of the vegetation that produced the isotopic signals, and verify C 3 -C 4 interpretations based on the isotopic records. We demonstrate that these methods are complementary, but that any single method will provide an accurate reconstruction of past environments.
Toxic and Behavioral Effects to Carabidae of Seed Treatments Used on Cry3Bb1- and Cry1Ab/c-Protected Corn

Abstract Most transgenic corn seed is now treated with systemic neonicotinoid insecticides. To address potential direct nontarget effects of these combined technologies, 16 Carabidae species from 10 genera (Agonum, Amara, Anisodactylus, Bembidion, Chlaenius, Harpalus, Patrobus, Poecilus, Pterostichus, and Scarites) field-collected from corn were directly exposed to Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) Cry toxin-laden pollens and seed treatments in feeding and defined-dose bioassays. All adults readily fed on field or sweet corn pollens that expressed coleopteran-specific Cry3Bb1 or lepidopteran-targeting Cry1Ab/c, and no significant toxicity was observed. Adult survivorship ranged from 47 d for the predator Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) to a year for the more omnivorous Scarites quadriceps Chaudoir, feeding solely on pollen containing 30–90 μg Cry3Bb1/g and water. In contrast, commercial doses of neonicotinoid seed treatments (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, or clothianidin) elicited nearly complete mortality for ...
B-cell receptor pathway modulators in NHL

With the recent success of the Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, ibrutinib, and the phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, idelalisib, in the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a number of new agents targeting the B-cell receptor (BCR) pathway are in clinical development. In addition, multiple trials combining these agents with conventional cytotoxic chemotherapy, immunomodulatory agents, monoclonal antibodies, or other kinase inhibitors are underway. This review will summarize the current data with the use of single agent and combination therapy with BCR inhibitors in NHL. In addition, commonly encountered as well as serious toxicities and hypothesized resistance mechanisms will be discussed. Lastly, this review will examine the future of these agents and opportunities to maneuver them into the front-line setting in selected NHL subtypes.
Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine Study of Several Shale and Coal-Derived Fuels

Essais sur un moteur diesel monocylindre de differents carburants derives du charbon et du schiste