cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparison of a complex rupture model with the precursor asperities of the 1975 Hawaii M s -7.2 earthquake

A simplified multiple source model was constructed for the 1975 HawaiiM s=7.2 earthquake by matching synthetic signals with three component accelerograms at two stations located approximately 45 km from the epicenter. Six major subevents were identified and located approximately. The signals of these are larger by factors of 1.4 to 3.2 than that of theM L=5.9 foreshock which occurred 70 minutes before the main rupture and also triggered the SAM-1 recorders at the two stations. Dividing the rupture length (40 km) by the duration of strong ground shaking (∼ 50 sec) an, average rupture velocity of 0.8 km/sec (about 25% of S-velocity) is obtained. Thus it is likely that the rupture stopped between subevents. The approximate epicenters of the 6 major subevents, and of the foreshock, support the hypothesis that they were located in high stress asperities which rupture during the main shock, except for the last events which is interpreted as a stopping phase generated at a barrier. These asperities have been previously defined on the basis of differences in the precursor pattern before the mainshock. Thus, it appears that both the details of the precursors and of the main rupture depended critically on the heterogeneous tress distribution in the source volume. This suggests that main rupture initiation points and locations of high rupture accelerations may be identified before the mainshock occurs, based on precursor anomaly patterns. A satisfactory match of synthetic signals with the observations could be obtained only if the aximuth of the fault plane of subevents was rotated from N60°E to N90°E and back to N30°E. These orientations are approximately parallel to the nearest Kilauea rift segments. Hence the slip directions and greatest principal stresses were oriented perpendicular to the rifts everywhere. From this analysis and other work, it is concluded that this fault surface consisted of three types of segments with different strength: hard asperities (radius ≈ 5 km), soft but ‘brittle’ segments between the asperities (radius ≈ 5 km), and a ‘viscous’ half (10×40 km) which slipped during the mainshock, but where microearthquakes and aftershocks are not common.
Observations of simultaneous upward lightning leaders from multiple tall structures

Abstract We present high-speed camera observations (up to 7200 images per second) and correlated electric field measurements of upward lightning leaders initiated simultaneously from multiple tall towers. Four towers spanning a horizontal distance of 2.9 km and ranging in height from 121 to 191 m, developed upward leaders following a nearby positive cloud-to-ground (+ CG) flash on 7/16/09 UT in Rapid City, South Dakota, USA during the summer thunderstorm season. The optical and electric field observations suggest that all four upward propagating leaders were positive polarity (i.e., upward negative lightning) and initiated simultaneously approximately 2 ms following the + CG return stroke. There was significant intracloud flash activity prior to the return stroke, and upward leader initiation coincided with the passage of horizontally extensive in-cloud negative breakdown following the + CG return stroke. This observation supports the idea that downward positive cloud-to-ground lightning can trigger upward negative lightning from multiple tall objects. Specifically, the triggering component is an area of horizontally propagating negative breakdown following the + CG return stroke that influences a broad area resulting in simultaneous or near-simultaneous, positive polarity upward leader initiation from multiple tall objects.
On a Modal λ-Calculus for S4

Abstract We present λ→□, a concise formulation of a proof term calculus for the intuitionistic modal logic S4 that is well-suited for practical applications. We show that, with respect to provability, it is equivalent to other formulations in the literature, sketch a simple type checking algorithm, and prove subject reduction and the existence of canonical forms for well-typed terms. Applications include a new formulation of natural deduction for intuitionistic linear logic, modal logical frameworks, and a logical analysis of staged computation and binding-time analysis for functional languages [6].
AMINO-TERMINAL DOMAINS OF THE BOVINE PAPILLOMAVIRUS TYPE 1 E1 AND E2 PROTEINS PARTICIPATE IN COMPLEX FORMATION

Interaction between the E1 and E2 papillomavirus proteins appear to play an important role in viral DNA replication, although the exact domains of each protein involved in this interaction have not been identified. Using bovine papillomavirus type 1 (BPV-1) as a model for examining interactions between E1 and E2, we have used the two-hybrid and glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion systems to map domains of BPV-1 E1 and E2 that interact in vivo and in vitro. In the two-hybrid system experiments, portions of BPV-1 E2 were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae as LexA fusion proteins, which were tested for interaction with various domains of BPV-1 E1. These assays indicated that domains sufficient for E1-E2 interaction are present within the amino-terminal 250 amino acids of E1 and within the first 91 amino acids of E2. Interestingly, a LexA fusion protein that included amino acid residues 53 to 161 of BPV E2 demonstrated transcriptional activation in this system. In vitro binding assays using combinations of BPV-1 E1-GST fusion proteins and BPV-1 E2 expressed by in vitro translation confirmed the observations from the yeast system; a GST fusion protein containing the first 222 amino acids of BPV-1 E1 bound specifically to full-length BPV-1 E2 in vitro. Furthermore, E1(1-222)-GST bound to forms of E2 deleted of the carboxy-terminal DNA binding-dimerization domain, suggesting that E2 dimerization is not required for this interaction. Finally, in vitro interaction between E1-GST and E2 was observed at 22 degrees C but not at 4 degrees C.
Head-to-tail regulation is critical for the in vivo function of myosin V

Cell organization requires regulated cargo transport along cytoskeletal elements. Myosin V motors are among the most conserved organelle motors and have been well characterized in both yeast and mammalian systems. Biochemical data for mammalian myosin V suggest that a head-to-tail autoinhibitory interaction is a primary means of regulation, but the in vivo significance of this interaction has not been studied. Here we generated and characterized mutations in the yeast myosin V Myo2p to reveal that it is regulated by a head-to-tail interaction and that loss of regulation renders the myosin V constitutively active. We show that an unregulated motor is very deleterious for growth, resulting in severe defects in Myo2-mediated transport processes, including secretory vesicle transport, mitochondrial inheritance, and nuclear orientation. All of the defects associated with motor misregulation could be rescued by artificially restoring regulation. Thus, spatial and temporal regulation of myosin V in vivo by a head-to-tail interaction is critical for the normal delivery functions of the motor.
A Theory of Cerebellar Function

Abstract A comprehensive theory of cerebellar function is presented, which ties together the known anatomy and physiology of the cerebellum into a pattern-recognition data processing system. The cerebellum is postulated to be functionally and structurally equivalent to a modification of the classical Perceptron pattern-classification device. It is suggested that the mossy fiber → granule cell → Golgi cell input network performs an expansion recoding that enhances the pattern-discrimination capacity and learning speed of the cerebellar Purkinje response cells. Parallel fiber synapses of the dendritic spines of Purkinje cells, basket cells, and stellate cells are all postulated to be specifically variable in response to climbing fiber activity. It is argued that this variability is the mechanism of pattern storage. It is demonstrated that, in order for the learning process to be stable, pattern storage must be accomplished principally by weakening synaptic weights rather than by strengthening them.
Feasibility study of optically transparent microstrip patch antenna

The paper presents a feasibility study on optically transparent patch antennas with microstrip line and probe feeds. The two antennas operate at 2.3 GHz and 19.5 GHz respectively. They are constructed from a thin sheet of clear polyester with an AgHT-8 optically transparent conductive coating. The experimental results show good radiation patterns and input impedance match. The antennas have potential applications in mobile wireless communications.
Damage development in a sidegrooved CT specimen based on a 3-D endochronic damage model

This paper presents a three-dimensional crack initiation analysis in a sidegrooved CT specimen. This is achieved with an endochronic damage model proposed recently by Chow and Chen ( 1,2) and discretized for finite element analysis. The damage model enables the quantification of the progressive damage evolution which would not be otherwise possible using the conventional fracture mechanics analysis. By employing two separate damage failure criteria, the crack is predicted to initiate at a small distance from the sidegroove and the prediction agrees well with the experimental observation. A more uniform crack initiation across the crack-tip line is observed both experimentally and theoretically relative to the CT specimen without sidegrooving.
Analyzing an adaptive reputation metric for anonymity systems

Low-latency anonymity systems such as Tor rely on intermediate relays to forward user traffic; these relays, however, are often unreliable, resulting in a degraded user experience. Worse yet, malicious relays may introduce deliberate failures in a strategic manner in order to increase their chance of compromising anonymity. In this paper we propose using a reputation metric that can profile the reliability of relays in an anonymity system based on users' past experience. The two main challenges in building a reputation-based system for an anonymity system are: first, malicious participants can strategically oscillate between good and malicious nature to evade detection, and second, an observed failure in an anonymous communication cannot be uniquely attributed to a single relay. Our proposed framework addresses the former challenge by using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller-based reputation metric that ensures malicious relays adopting time-varying strategic behavior obtain low reputation scores over time, and the latter by introducing a filtering scheme based on the evaluated reputation score to effectively discard relays mounting attacks. We collect data from the live Tor network and perform simulations to validate the proposed reputation-based filtering scheme. We show that an attacker does not gain any significant benefit by performing deliberate failures in the presence of the proposed reputation framework.
Delivering education in the next millennium

After centuries of delivering education in synchronous modes (face to face, in real time), universities are confronting the challenges of distance learning. Interactive learning, delivered asynchronously on demand, represents a paradigm shift we are only dimly recognizing. Because of their unique strengths, technical communicators can play a pivotal role within academe and industry in delivering education and training using technology. To do so, we must redefine ourselves as true technical communicators, not just as technical writers. Technical communicators will add value to technology-enhanced delivery of education and training in many of the same ways they are now adding value to text products. The challenge to the profession and to universities is to prepare for this new millenium.
Summer Treatment Programs for Youth with ADHD

Children with ADHD require intensive treatments to remediate functional impairments and promote the development of adaptive skills. The summer treatment program (STP) is an exemplar of intensive treatment for ADHD. In the STP, evidence-based interventions are embedded into academic and recreational activities, and the treatment program occurs throughout the summer months. STP intervention components include a reward and response cost point system, time out, use of antecedent control (i.e., clear commands, establishment of rules and routines), and liberal praise and rewards for appropriate behavior. Parents also participate in parent management training programming to learn how to implement similar treatment procedures within the home setting. There have been a number of studies of the STP and its component parts. There is a strong evidence base in support of the efficacy of the STP as an intervention for ADHD.
Antiretroviral Medication Errors among Hospitalized Patients with HIV Infection

Background. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has improved survival for persons living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. However, effective therapy requires high levels of adherence over extended periods of time. Previous studies suggest that patients receiving long-term medication are at risk for unintended medication discrepancies at the time of hospital admission. Methods. We retrospectively identified every HIV-infected patient admitted to our hospital over a 1-year period who received an antiretroviral agent. We collected information on medications and renal function from the hospital computerized provider order entry system. We reviewed the medical records for those admissions for which a potential error was identified. We defined errors using Department of Health and Human Services guidelines and included only those errors that were not corrected within 24 h after initial entry. Results. There were a total of 209 admissions during a 1-year period in which an HIV-infected patient received antiretroviral therapy. After review of the medical records for 77 admissions with a potential error, 61 uncorrected errors from 54 admissions were identified (percentage of total admissions, 25.8%; 95% confidence interval, 20.1%-32.3%). The most common type of error was an error with respect to the amount or frequency of dosage, which occurred in 34 (16.3%) of the admissions; 18 of these errors were attributable to failure to appropriately adjust dosage for renal insufficiency. The next most common error was combining antiretroviral drugs with a contraindicated medication; this occurred in 12 (5.2%) of the admissions. Patients erroneously received ≤2 antiretroviral agents in 8 (3.8%) of the admissions and had an unexplained delay in continuing HAART in 7 (3.3%). Conclusions. HIV-infected patients receiving HAART are at substantial risk for antiretroviral medication errors at the time of hospitalization. More needs to be done to ensure that these patients receive appropriate therapy during their inpatient stay.
Combined Effects of Auxin Transport Inhibitors and Cytokinin: Alterations of Organ Development in Tobacco

We have examined the effects of the auxin transport inhibitors 1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA) and 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) on leaf morphogenesis of transgenic Nicotiana tabacum (cv. Xanthi) plants expressing the Agrobacterium tumefaciens cytokinin biosynthetic gene, ipt. We have observed the formation of saucer-shaped leaflike organs at the shoot apex and at lateral buds. The formation of apical saucer-shaped leaf-like organs can be duplicated by the application of exogenous NPA and cytokinin to wild-type tobacco seedlings. We have also observed adventitious leaf-like organs with altered petiole and blade morphology in the transgenic plants treated with auxin transport inhibitors. These results suggest that the combination of diminished auxin transport and elevated cytokinin can lead to alterations in leaf development in tobacco.
A Histogram Modification Framework and Its Application for Image Contrast Enhancement

A general framework based on histogram equalization for image contrast enhancement is presented. In this framework, contrast enhancement is posed as an optimization problem that minimizes a cost function. Histogram equalization is an effective technique for contrast enhancement. However, a conventional histogram equalization (HE) usually results in excessive contrast enhancement, which in turn gives the processed image an unnatural look and creates visual artifacts. By introducing specifically designed penalty terms, the level of contrast enhancement can be adjusted; noise robustness, white/black stretching and mean-brightness preservation may easily be incorporated into the optimization. Analytic solutions for some of the important criteria are presented. Finally, a low-complexity algorithm for contrast enhancement is presented, and its performance is demonstrated against a recently proposed method.
Optical Frequency Stability Measurement Using an Etalon-Based Optoelectronic Oscillator

A novel method of measuring the optical frequency stability of a continuous-wave (CW) laser by using an etalon-based optoelectronic oscillator is demonstrated. A 1000 finesse Fabry-Perot etalon is used as a reference which eliminates the need of using an independent optical source as a frequency reference. Using this technique, the optical frequency stability of a CW laser is measured with ~3.5-kHz optical frequency resolution at update rates of 90 Hz.
Should physicians participate in affirming the best approach to atrial fibrillation management

While all patients with atrial fibrillation should receive anticoagulation and control of ventricular response, it is not clear whether conversion to sinus rhythm is associated with a good long-term outcome. Data are presented detailing current physician practices regarding conversion to sinus rhythm (preferred by 90%) and why participation in the new National Institute of Health trial of atrial fibrillation is desirable.
Tracking fast inverted trajectories of the underactuated Acrobot

The Acrobot is a simple underactuated system consisting of a double pendulum with an actuator at the second joint only. We derive a set of exact trajectories of the nonlinear equations of motion, which involve inverted periodic motions. The trajectories can be made arbitrarily fast by an appropriate choice of the Acrobot mass and length parameters. Next, we present a nonlinear control law and show how it can be applied to the Acrobot to track these trajectories. In simulations we compare tracking results for our controller and one based on pseudo-linearization. The pseudo-linearizing controller produces significant error for a 1 Hz trajectory, while ours produces none. Finally, we present experimental results which demonstrate that the assumptions of the theory were not overly restrictive. In particular, peak-to-peak oscillations of joints as large as 850 were obtained, despite real-world effects, such as joint friction, inexact parameter values, and noisy and delayed joint velocity data.
A prognostic model based on readily available clinical data enriched a pre-emptive pharmacogenetic testing program.

Abstract Objectives We describe the development, implementation, and evaluation of a model to pre-emptively select patients for genotyping based on medication exposure risk. Study Design and Setting Using deidentified electronic health records, we derived a prognostic model for the prescription of statins, warfarin, or clopidogrel. The model was implemented into a clinical decision support (CDS) tool to recommend pre-emptive genotyping for patients exceeding a prescription risk threshold. We evaluated the rule on an independent validation cohort and on an implementation cohort, representing the population in which the CDS tool was deployed. Results The model exhibited moderate discrimination with area under the receiver operator characteristic curves ranging from 0.68 to 0.75 at 1 and 2 years after index dates. Risk estimates tended to underestimate true risk. The cumulative incidences of medication prescriptions at 1 and 2 years were 0.35 and 0.48, respectively, among 1,673 patients flagged by the model. The cumulative incidences in the same number of randomly sampled subjects were 0.12 and 0.19, and in patients over 50 years with the highest body mass indices, they were 0.22 and 0.34. Conclusion We demonstrate that prognostic algorithms can guide pre-emptive pharmacogenetic testing toward those likely to benefit from it.
Biological Monitoring of Aluminum

It is only 100 years since a practical procedure for the large scale production of aluminum was developed. Since that time, aluminum has found applications in construction, electrical equipment, furnishings, transportation, containers, pharmaceuticals, and many other items encountered in daily life. Exposure to aluminum is unavoidable since it is the third most common element in the Earth’s crust, and industrial use is in the tens of millions of tons per year.
Abstract 316: Arm Exercise Heart Rate, Stress Test Findings and Outcome

Attainment of 85% age-predicted peak heart rate (APPHR) during leg exercise is widely accepted and emphasized in clinical textbooks as a condition for adequate diagnostic stress test sensitivity. However, there is little direct evidence for this belief and relationships among peak heart rate, diagnostic sensitivity, coronary revascularization and mortality are poorly characterized. In addition, the prognostic significance of chronotropic incompetence as a predictor of mortality is underappreciated and there is almost no data relating arm exercise heart rate responses to abnormal stress test results and mortality. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate relationships among arm exercise heart rate responses, abnormal stress tests findings, coronary revascularization and mortality in patients who could not perform leg exercise. From 1997 to 2002, we conducted arm cycle ergometer stress tests on 446 veterans aged 64±11 years, of whom 253 underwent myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI). We evaluated associations of quartiles of %APPHR and heart rate reserve (%HRR) with an abnormal electrocardiographic (ECG ST depression ≥ 1 mm) or MPI stress test, coronary revascularization and all-cause mortality during follow-up ≥ 10 yrs. An abnormal arm exercise ECG occurred in 62/427 (14.5%) of patients with an interpretable ECG. MPI was abnormal in 157/253 (62.1%). Over 12.0±1.3 yrs. follow-up, there were 256 deaths (57.4%) and 105 patients (23.5%) underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). An abnormal arm exercise ECG was directly associated with quartile of %APPHR (p = 0.009) and %HRR (p = 0.02) but an abnormal arm exercise MPI exhibited an inverse trend (p = 0.10 and 0.12, respectively). There was a sharp upward inflexion point for increased percent of abnormal arm exercise ECG tests at 69%APPHR. Results for abnormal ECG and MPI tests were similar for patients taking beta blockers. Both %APPHR and %HRR were inversely related to all-cause mortality (p = 0.02 and p = 0.004, respectively) after adjustment for significant demographic and clinical variables. CABG and PCI were each predicted by an abnormal arm exercise ECG (p < 0.04) and PCI alone by abnormal MPI (p= 0.02) with no interaction of %APPHR or %HRR. We conclude that higher %APPHR and %HRR are associated with greater likelihood of an abnormal arm exercise ECG, particularly above 69%APPHR, but borderline reduced likelihood of abnormal arm exercise MPI in patients unable to perform leg exercise. An abnormal arm exercise ECG predicts CABG and PCI and MPI predicts PCI with no apparent influence of %APPHR or %HRR. Higher arm exercise %APPHR and %HRR are related to lower all-cause mortality.
Health Care Demand and Impact of Policies in a Congested Public System

Increasing health care costs and long waiting times for public care are growing sources of concern for governments in industrialized countries. In this paper, we investigate the impact of waiting times on the demand for care, ask whether allowing congestion to increase in order to contain ever growing health care costs is socially desirable, and predict the expected outcome of policies aiming at the reduction of congestion and costs of care. We develop a macroeconomic model in which agents who differ in terms of age, health capital and wealth choose whether or not to use a public health care system funded through income taxes. Calibrating our model with Quebec data, we find that the aggregate demand for care is quite inelastic with respect to health care congestion. Waiting times for care thus constitute a weak rationing device and should not be used by welfare-maximizing governments to contain costs. On the brighter side, policy simulations reveal that a 50% permanent reduction in Quebec waiting times can be achieved through a variety of fiscal measures that only moderately increase health care costs. While the choice of reform has important repercussions on the equilibrium, all such policies result in major welfare gains, with agents willing to sacrifice over 5% of their post-policy consumption to leave the existing status quo.
Case Study Validation of the Continuous Value Enhancement Process

Abstract Sustainable building projects have levels of complexity over conventional building projects that challenge current project management tools at efficiently managing the rigors of sustainable projects. The Continuous Value Enhancement Process (CVEP) is a recently developed tool designed specifically for sustainable building projects. This project management tool enables project teams to systematically generate and evaluate project alternatives for meeting sustainable goals. The goal of this tool is to identify high performance solutions that increase levels of sustainability and improve project performance. CVEP was experimentally implemented and tested on four case study projects to evaluate its ability to support project management decision making in ways that elevate sustainability and project performance. Reported in this paper, the results show CVEP produced first cost and life cycle cost savings. In particular, the study confirms that CVEP has the capability to: 1.) Provide a systematic evalu...
Alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and pulmonary disease.

The early development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in individuals with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency may be potentially preventable. A general screening for alpha-1-antitrypsin in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and their family members seems advisable because these families have a high incidence of alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. After a comparison study of electrophoresis, trypsin inhibitory capacity, phenotyping, and radial immunodiffusion technics, the authors recommend radial immunodiffusion as a screening test for alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. It is simple, correlates well with trypsin inhibitory capacity and phenotyping, and provides quantitative information for preliminary classification. A parallel determination of stimulated and non-stimulated alpha-1-antitrypsin levels is suggested.
Effect of Salmonella enteritidis Endotoxin Preparations and Lipid A on Dermal Reactivity in Rabbits to Epinephrine.

SummaryMinute amounts of aqueousether extracted S. enteritidis endotoxin, upon intravenous injection into rabbits, alter dermal reactivity to intradermally injected epinephrine. The lipid A component is only approximately 1/2000 as active as the endotoxin when potent endotoxins are tested. Phenol-water treatment of aqueous-ether extracted endotoxin reduces this activity.
Statistical evidence for common ancestry: Application to primates

Since Darwin, biologists have come to recognize that the theory of descent from common ancestry (CA) is very well supported by diverse lines of evidence. However, while the qualitative evidence is overwhelming, we also need formal methods for quantifying the evidential support for CA over the alternative hypothesis of separate ancestry (SA). In this article, we explore a diversity of statistical methods using data from the primates. We focus on two alternatives to CA, species SA (the separate origin of each named species) and family SA (the separate origin of each family). We implemented statistical tests based on morphological, molecular, and biogeographic data and developed two new methods: one that tests for phylogenetic autocorrelation while correcting for variation due to confounding ecological traits and a method for examining whether fossil taxa have fewer derived differences than living taxa. We overwhelmingly rejected both species and family SA with infinitesimal P values. We compare these results with those from two companion papers, which also found tremendously strong support for the CA of all primates, and discuss future directions and general philosophical issues that pertain to statistical testing of historical hypotheses such as CA.
MODELING THE PHASE TRANSFORMATION FROM AUSTENITE TO FERRITE OF LOW CARBON STEELS BY CELLULAR AUTOMATON

A two-dimension cellular automaton modeling was developed to simulate the processes of the γ -α phase transformation and microstructure evolution under compression and continuous cooling for low carbon steels. The model considered the influence of physical processes involved in the γ-αphase transformation, such as the nucleation of α phase on a γ grain boundary, the growth of a grains, the diffusion of C solute and temperature field in a phase and -y phase, and they were incorporated into a nucleation or growth function which was utilized by the automaton in a probabilistic fashion. The modeling provided an efficient way to understand how those physical processes dynamically progress and affect nucleation and growth of ferrite. The effect of cooling rate and deformation on the γ-α transformation was discussed.
Feline Calcium Oxalate Urolithiasis: Risk factors and rational treatment approaches

Practical relevance:Uroliths occur commonly in the bladder and/or urethra of cats and can be lifethreatening if urethral obstruction occurs. Calcium oxalate accounts for 40–50% of urocystoliths and these stones are not amenable to medical dissolution; therefore, removal by surgery or minimally invasive techniques is required if uroliths must be treated. Medical protocols for prevention involve decreasing urine saturation for minerals that form uroliths.Etiopathogenesis:Formation of uroliths is not a disease, but rather a complication of several disorders. Some disorders can be identified and corrected (such as infection-induced struvite urolith formation); others can be identified but not corrected (such as idiopathic hypercalcemia). In most cats with calcium oxalate urolith formation the underlying etiopathogenesis is not known. A common denominator of all these disorders is that they can from time to time create oversaturation of urine with one or more crystal precursors, resulting in formation of cryst...
Scatter-Gather Live Migration of Virtual Machines

We introduce a new metric for live migration of virtual machines (VM) called eviction time defined as the time to evict the state of one or more VMs from the source host. Eviction time determines how quickly the source can be taken offline or its resources repurposed for other VMs. In traditional live migration, such as pre-copy and post-copy, eviction time equals the total migration time because the source is tied up until the destination receives the entire VM. We present Scatter-Gather live migration which decouples the source and destination during migration to reduce eviction time when the destination is slow. The source scatters the memory of VMs to multiple nodes, including the destination and one or more intermediaries. Concurrently, the destination gathers the VMs’ memory from the intermediaries and the source. Thus eviction from the source is no longer bottlenecked by the reception speed of the destination. We support simultaneous live eviction of multiple VMs and exploit deduplication to reduce network overhead. Our Scatter-Gather implementation in the KVM/QEMU platform reduces the eviction time by up to a factor of 6 against traditional pre-copy and post-copy while maintaining comparable total migration time when the destination is slower than the source.
The world modelers project: objectives and simulator architecture

Machine learning has long sought to construct complete, autonomous learning systems that start with general inference rules and learning techniques, and gradually acquire complex skills and knowledge through continuous interaction with an information-rich external environment [59]. The World Modelers project provides a simplified artificial environment — a continuous three-dimensional physical model of the world — to facilitate the design, implementation and testing of integrated learning systems. Thus, the world simulator can be viewed as a tool that enables researchers to investigate significant intermediate steps between the single-function learning systems of today (systems largely incapable of multi-task learning, attention focusing, experiment formulation, etc.) and the real-world autonomous learning robot of tomorrow.
DRAQ5 and Eosin (`D&E') as an Analog to Hematoxylin and Eosin for Rapid Fluorescence Histology of Fresh Tissues

Real-time on-site histopathology review of biopsy tissues at the point-of-procedure has great potential for significant clinical value and improved patient care. For instance, on-site review can aid in rapid screening of diagnostic biopsies to reduce false-negative results, or in quantitative assessment of biospecimen quality to increase the efficacy of downstream laboratory and histopathology analysis. However, the only currently available rapid pathology method, frozen section analysis (FSA), is too time- and labor-intensive for use in screening large quantities of biopsy tissues and is too destructive for maximum tissue conservation in multiple small needle core biopsies. In this work we demonstrate the spectrally-compatible combination of the nuclear stain DRAQ5 and the anionic counterstain eosin as a dual-component fluorescent staining analog to hematoxylin and eosin intended for use on fresh, unsectioned tissues. Combined with optical sectioning fluorescence microscopy and pseudo-coloring algorithms, DRAQ5 and eosin (“D&E”) enables very fast, non-destructive psuedohistological imaging of tissues at the point-of-acquisition with minimal tissue handling and processing. D&E was validated against H&E on a one-to-one basis on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded and frozen section tissues of various human organs using standard epi-fluorescence microscopy, demonstrating high fidelity of the staining mechanism as an H&E analog. The method was then applied to fresh, whole 18G renal needle core biopsies and large needle core prostate biospecimen biopsies using fluorescence structured illumination optical sectioning microscopy. We demonstrate the ability to obtain high-resolution histology-like images of unsectioned, fresh tissues similar to subsequent H&E staining of the tissue. The application of D&E does not interfere with subsequent standard-of-care H&E staining and imaging, preserving the integrity of the tissue for thorough downstream analysis. These results indicate that this dual-stain pseudocoloring method could provide a real-time histology-like image at the time of acquisition and valuable objective tissue analysis for the clinician at the time of service.
Method for uterine contraction monitoring with passive RFID tags

Pregnant women in labor, or at risk of premature delivery, are currently connected to cumbersome electronic uterine contraction monitors to assess their contractions. Existing monitors are not only uncomfortable but also prevent the pregnant woman's mobility. In this paper, a method to monitor uterine contractions using passive RFID tags is proposed. Simulations have been completed using experimental data as a starting point to provide proof of concept for implementing a wireless and battery free uterine contraction monitor. Such a monitor can be easily integrated into wearable garments for comfortable continuous monitoring.
Intraoperative and biomechanical studies of human vastus lateralis and vastus medialis sarcomere length operating range

The vast majority of musculoskeletal models are not validated against primary experimental data. Conversely, most human experimental measurements are not explained theoretically using models to provide a mechanistic understanding of experimental results. Here we present a study with both primary human data and primary modeling data. Intraoperative sarcomere length was measured on the human vastus lateralis (VL) and vastus medialis (VM) muscles (n = 8) by laser diffraction. These data were compared to a biomechanical model based on muscle architecture and moment arms obtained independently from cadaveric specimens (n = 9). Measured VL sarcomere length ranged from about 3.2 µm with the knee flexed to 45° to 3.8 µm with the knee flexed to 90°. These values were remarkably close to theoretical predictions. Measured VM sarcomere length ranged from 3.6 µm with the knee flexed to 45° to 4.1 µm with the knee flexed to 90°. These values were dramatically longer than theoretical predictions. Our measured sarcomere length values suggest that human vasti may have differing functions with regard to knee extension and patellar stabilization. This report underscores the importance of validating experimental data to theoretical models and vice versa.
Outcomes after endoscopic mucosal resection or esophagectomy for submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma.

Abstract Objectives Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is a diagnostic and potentially therapeutic option for patients with submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma. However, there are significant concerns regarding the risk of lymph node metastasis. Our purpose was to construct a comparative effectiveness analysis comparing recurrence patterns after therapeutic EMR or esophagectomy. Methods Patients who underwent therapeutic EMR or esophagectomy from 2007 to 2015 with pathologically staged submucosal adenocarcinoma were identified from a departmental database. Cancer-related outcomes were compared among an unmatched as well as a propensity matched cohort. Risk stratification was also used to compare results among those with a low, medium, or high risk of nodal metastasis. Results Seventy-two patients met criteria for analysis, among whom 23 underwent therapeutic EMR with esophageal preservation and 49 underwent esophagectomy. Median follow-up was 43 months. Patients who underwent esophagectomy had larger, deeper tumors. Esophageal preservation was associated with an increased risk of local recurrence ( P = .01), but not distant recurrence ( P = .44). After propensity matching, there continued to be no difference in distant recurrence rate ( P = .66). In a risk-stratified analysis, low-risk patients showed no recurrences or cancer-related deaths, however, high-risk patients showed a trend toward increased distant recurrence after therapeutic EMR. Conclusions Esophageal preservation after therapeutic EMR was associated with an increased risk of local recurrence. Among low-risk patients, either strategy resulted in excellent cancer control. However, among high-risk patients, esophageal preservation showed a trend toward increased distant failure. These findings should prompt further investigation to determine optimal treatment for patients with submucosal esophageal adenocarcinoma.
Improving older adults’ comprehension and use of patient portal-based health information

Abstract Within the next 40 years the number of older adults (over 65 years of age) in the world is expected to exceed the number of younger adults for the first time in history and in the United States they are the fastest growing segment of the population and the most frequent consumers of health information. Not surprisingly, the occurrence of chronic illnesses increases with age. Older adults constitute the most vulnerable demographic group, and while they are more likely to need to self-manage chronic illness, they are more disproportionally affected by inadequate health literacy and lower numeracy skills essential to self-care. Patient portal-based systems (e.g., Electronic Health Record) can improve patient care by providing more access to health information, however they are still underutilized by older adults, in part because they are hard to use and the information is often hard to understand. Because portals function more as repositories than collaborative tools, they do not engage patients and may not facilitate self-care. Our project is intended to improve use of portal information by older adults with diverse numeracy and literacy abilities, so that portals can better support patient-centered care. We describe the importance of theory, cognitive science of teaching and learning principles, and research methods in designing technology for older adults in the domain of health care. To exemplify this central argument, we adopt our framework to design and use EHR portal-based information, reducing the demands of comprehension and decision-making on health literacy and numeracy skills, and cognitive abilities more broadly.
Identification of recombinant coxsackievirus A6 variants in hand, foot and mouth disease in Nanjing, China, 2013.

Purpose. Enteroviruses (EV) 71 and coxsackievirus A (CVA) 16 are the most prevalent EV serotypes responsible for hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD). Nevertheless, CVA6 was found to be the leading cause of HFMD in the Nanjing area, of China in 2013. This study aims to provide insights into the occurrence of the emergent recombinant CVA6 through examination of the evolutionary history and the involved recombination events. Methodology. The viral protein1 (VP1) and non-structural (NS) 2C and 3D of 28 Nanjing CVA6 strains were aligned, among which the full-length sequences of eight strains were further characterized. Results. We revealed the co-existence of two recombinant forms (RFs), RF-A and RF-J, in the local area. RF-J is a novel RF group, comprising a proportion of local and Shanghai CVA6 strains from 2013. The appearance of RF-J CVA6 strains was most likely the result of two recombination events, with the co-circulating CVA4 and CVA8 providing the regions beyond positions 4001~4045 and 4866~4873, respectively. Evolutionary history analysis showed that the VP1 sequences of RF-J derived from RF-A, which was also probably the ancestor of several other RF groups. The 3D region of RF-J was closely related to CVA8. The point in time of emergence of the most recent common ancestor (tMRCA) of RF-J in China was estimated to be around 2011 in both terms of VP1 and 3D region. Conclusion. The emerging recombinant CVA6 variants belong to a novel RF-J group which was most likely formed by at least two recombination events. Continued monitoring on the geographical distribution of various CVA6 RFs is essential.
The medium is the message: imaging a complex microboring (Pyrodendrina cupra igen. n., isp. n.) from the early Paleozoic of Anticosti Island, Canada

Three complementary imaging techniques were used to describe a complex rosette-shaped microboring that penetrates the shells of brachiopods from the Ordovician - Silurian shallow marine limestones of Anticosti Island, Canada. Pyrodendrina cupra igen. and isp. n. is among the oldest dendrinid microborings and consists of shallow and deep penetrating canals that radiate from a central polyhedral chamber. The affinity of the tracemaker is unknown, but a foraminiferal origin, as proposed for some dendrinid borings, is rejected. Combining micro- CT with traditional stereomicroscopy and SEM helped distinguish and quantify fine morphological features while maintaining contextual information of the microboring within the shell substrate. Different imaging techniques inherently bias the description of microborings. These biases must be accounted for as new methods in ichnotaxonomy are integrated with past research based on different methods.
Authentic Voices, Authentic Encounters: Cripping the University Through American Sign Language

Discussions on disability justice within the university have centered disabled students but leaves us with questions about disability justice for the disabled scholar and disabled communities affiliated with universities through the lens of signed language instruction and deaf people. Universities use American Sign Language (ASL) programs to exploit the labors of deaf people without providing a return to disabled communities or disabled academics. ASL courses offers valuable avenues for cripping the university. Through the framework of cripping , we argue universities that offer ASL classes and profit from them have an obligation to ensure that disabled students and disabled academics are able to navigate and succeed in their systems. Disabled students, communities, and academics should capitalize upon the popularity of ASL to expand accessibility and the place of disability in higher education.
The mint julep consensus: An analysis of late 19th century Southern and Northern textbooks and their Impact on the history curriculum

Abstract In the decades after the Civil War, Southerners wrote and published their own history textbooks for secondary schools. These “mint julep textbooks,” as the Southern all-white editions were called by the 1960s, reinforced a Lost Cause narrative of the war for Southern audiences while competing with Northern versions of events. In this study, we employ both historical narrative and content analysis of six textbooks’ portrayals of John Brown, John Wilkes Booth, and Nathan Bedford Forrest. The textbooks that are compared– three Southern and three Northern – were written from the 1870s through the 1910s. While subtle but important differences emerge between the Northern and Southern depiction of these three figures, an even more important trend developed when analyzing change over time. In this article we conclude that, as time progressed, Southern versions of events increasingly impacted Northern textbooks. By the 1930s, the mint julep version of these three figures became the national consensus, as reflected in the work of historian David Saville Muzzey. This consensus around events like the raid at Harpers Ferry, the assassination of Lincoln, and the massacre at Fort Pillow lasted for much of the 20th century. By the early 20th century, Northerners appeased Southern interests in the writing of history textbooks.
Partisan selective exposure in online news consumption: evidence from the 2016 presidential campaign

Where do partisans get their election news in the contemporary media environment? We track the online news consumption of a national sample during the 2016 presidential campaign. We find levels of partisan isolation in news exposure are two to three times greater than in prior studies, although the absolute level of isolation remains modest. The partisan divide for election-related news exceeds the divide for non-political news. This tendency of partisans to follow like-minded news providers occurs despite the relatively small differences in the partisan slant of the content offered by the majority of sources they visited. Finally, we find that partisans who gravitated to congenial news providers did not shift their evaluations of the presidential candidates during the campaign.
Voices of Refugee Women: Adaptation and Identification

Refugees and other displaced people have been the object of much research related to how people are adapting. Few have focused specifically on women even though women and children are by far the ma...
Total ankle arthroplasty in Brazil. Current aspects and future prospects

Total ankle arthroplasty as a surgical treatment option for end-stage ankle osteoarthrosis has gained increasing prominence, especially in countries such as Brazil, where the technique is not yet widely disseminated due to various factors. Level of Evidence V; Therapeutic Study; Expert Opinion.
Controllability Gramian as Control Design Objective in Aircraft Structural Design Optimization

Because of their higher aerodynamic efficiency and lighter structural weight, thin composite wings with large aspect ratios are increasingly being used for civil transport aircraft wing design. How...