cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laser Spot Size Dependence, Nonlocality And Saturation Effects In Transverse Optical Bistability

We present here a theoretical discussion of the effect of nonlocality and saturation in transverse optical bistability. It is found that the switching conditions, switching power and characteristics are considerably different from the situation where these effects are not accounted for. We also include an analytical study of the transverse self-phase modulation effect and relate the key parameters explicitly to the transverse bistability switching condition and bistability.
An efficient hardware design tool for scalable matrix multiplication

Matrix operations are required in many complex algorithms in digital, image and video processing applications. The conventional method is usually used to implement matrix multiplications for small matrices. However, with the development of VLSI technology and FPGAs, there is an increasing demand for developing a high speed, low power and low area matrix multiplication system for large matrices. The design and verification process of an area-efficient and high throughput matrix multiplication operator can be time consuming and complex. In this study, an efficient hardware design tool is developed to generate a matrix multiplication operator based on user input parameters using three different approaches (Conventional, Strassen, and Hybrid). Strassen algorithm can be used to reduce the area of the matrix multiplication system; nevertheless this method increases the memory requirements and decreases the accuracy of the results. The proposed Hybrid-Strassen matrix multiplication algorithm increases the precision of the operation while reducing the area of the overall system compared to a conventional approach. The generated design has been implemented on Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGAs but can be synthesized for VLSI implementations.
Spatial and temporal deforestation dynamics of Zagros forests (Iran) from 1972 to 2009

Abstract The emerging interest in sudden losses in vegetation and forest cover in semi-arid areas has led to a new understanding of the patterns and processes of deforestation. The Zagros oak forests in western Iran have undergone dramatic changes in cover and structure in recent decades, with negative consequences for the communities that depend upon them. This study had three objectives: (1) evaluate the nature and magnitude of these changes from 1972 to 2009 through trends in forest area and connectivity; (2) evaluate the changes in forest area and landscape connectivity across a climatic gradient; and (3) evaluate the effect of topographical variations. Landsat MSS, TM, and ETM+ images for the region were preprocessed and corrected prior to classification of 167 landscape units (LU; 400 km2 each). We developed two measures – deforestation sensitivity (DS) and connectivity sensitivity (CS) – for each LU. A considerable but relatively linear loss in forest area and connectivity was detected. Connectivity loss occurred more rapidly than forest loss due to the loss of connecting patches. More connectivity was lost in southern Zagros due to climatic differences and different forms of traditional land use. Steep slopes and high elevations experienced more forest loss and connectivity. In northern Zagros the coppice form of forest management should be supported as a method that maintains connectivity. In southern Zagros, restoration projects should focus on regeneration in forest gaps to restore connectivity between isolated forest fragments. The study provides large scale information for restoration projects across a spatial climatic gradient.
Differential Gazing and Vocal Response to Mother and Stranger of Full-Term and Preterm Infants across Age

Full-term infants at both 2 and 3 months and preterm ones at 3 months from due date vocalized more to mother than to a stranger and gazed more at a stranger than the mother. Preterm infants at 3 months from birth, but 6 weeks from due date, did not show differential responding by any mode, indicating the importance of maturational rather than environmental factors in these behaviors.
Estimating diffusion coefficients for alkylbenzenes and alkylphenones in aqueous mixtures with acetonitrile and methanol.

The accuracy of various empirical approximation methods of estimating the diffusion coefficients of alkylbenzenes and alkylphenones in acetonitrile (ACN)/water and methanol (MeOH)/water solvent systems is reported. Diffusion coefficients for these solutes have been measured over a wide range of solvent compositions and temperatures. A novel empirical modification of the Wilke−Chang method has been developed by correlating measured values with solute and solvent parameters. The correlation, along with the Wilke−Chang and Scheibel correlations, was examined by comparing the computed diffusion coefficients with the measured values. We find that the percent errors of the proposed correlations are no greater than 10% for both ACN/water and MeOH/water systems and that the accuracy of the correlation is 2−3-fold better than those of the other two correlations. We recommend the use of this correlation with the above homologous series of solutes for the evaluation of column performance in reversed-phase liquid chr...
Breast Cancer Genomics From Microarrays to Massively Parallel Sequencing: Paradigms and New Insights

Rapid advancements in massively parallel sequencing methods have enabled the analysis of breast cancer genomes at an unprecedented resolution, which have revealed the remarkable heterogeneity of the disease. As a result, we now accept that despite originating in the breast, estrogen receptor (ER)-positive and ER-negative breast cancers are completely different diseases at the molecular level. It has become apparent that there are very few highly recurrently mutated genes such as TP53, PIK3CA, and GATA3, that no two breast cancers display an identical repertoire of somatic genetic alterations at base-pair resolution and that there might not be a single highly recurrently mutated gene that defines each of the "intrinsic" subtypes of breast cancer (ie, basal-like, HER2-enriched, luminal A, and luminal B). Breast cancer heterogeneity, however, extends beyond the diversity between tumors. There is burgeoning evidence to demonstrate that at least some primary breast cancers are composed of multiple, genetically diverse clones at diagnosis and that metastatic lesions may differ in their repertoire of somatic genetic alterations when compared with their respective primary tumors. Several biological phenomena may shape the reported intratumor genetic heterogeneity observed in breast cancers, including the different mutational processes and multiple types of genomic instability. Harnessing the emerging concepts of the diversity of breast cancer genomes and the phenomenon of intratumor genetic heterogeneity will be essential for the development of optimal methods for diagnosis, disease monitoring, and the matching of patients to the drugs that would benefit them the most.
What causes the insulin resistance underlying obesity

Purpose of review The association between obesity and insulin resistance is an area of much interest and enormous public health impact, with hundreds of articles being published in the last year focused on the possible mechanisms that underlie this association. The purpose to this review is to highlight some of the key recent literature with emphasis on emerging concepts.
ECOLOGY, BIBLICAL THEOLOGY, AND METHODOLOGY: BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVES ON THE ENVIRONMENT

. Historian Lynn White, Jr.'s theory that the current ecological crisis derives from the biblical creation story still has its adherents. There is no single biblical viewpoint on ecology, nor were the biblical writers addressing twentieth–century problems. Yet the great weight of biblical tradition-including the Genesis creation narrative-represents God as caring actively for all living beings, and humanity as having not only dominion over, but also responsibility for the well–being of other creatures. The Bible gives no support to those who would exploit the earth's resources at the cost of destroying any species of life.
Discovery of functional genomic motifs in viruses with ViReMa-a Virus Recombination Mapper-for analysis of next-generation sequencing data

We developed an algorithm named ViReMa (ViralRecombination-Mapper) to provide a versatile platform for rapid, sensitive and nucleotideresolution detection of recombination junctions in viral genomes using next-generation sequencing data. Rather than mapping read segments of predefined lengths and positions, ViReMa dynamically generates moving read segments. ViReMa initially attempts to align the 5 0 end of a read to the reference genome(s) with the Bowtie seed-based alignment. A new read segment is then made by either extracting any unaligned nucleotides at the 3 0 end of the read or by trimming the first nucleotide from the read. This continues iteratively until all portions of the read are either mapped or trimmed. With multiple reference genomes, it is possible to detect virus-to-host or inter-virus recombination. ViReMa is also capable of detecting insertion and substitution events and multiple recombination junctions within a single read. By mapping the distribution of recombination events in the genome of flock house virus, we demonstrate that this information can be used to discover de novo functional motifs located in conserved regions of the viral genome.
Improved film cooling from cylindrical angled holes with triangular tabs: effect of tab orientations

Abstract The effect of discrete delta (or triangular)-shaped tabs with different orientations on the film cooling performance from a row of cylindrical holes is investigated. The holes are inclined at 35° along the streamwise direction and the tabs are located along the upstream edge of the holes. Three tab orientations are investigated: (1) tabs placed parallel to the film cooled surface covering a part of the hole; (2) tabs oriented downward at −45°; and (3) tabs oriented upwards at 45°. Measurements were carried out in a low-speed wind tunnel using the transient liquid crystal technique. The mainstream velocity and free-stream turbulence intensity in the low-speed wind tunnel are 9 m/s and 7% respectively and the mainstream Reynolds number based on hole diameter is around 7100. Three blowing ratios of 0.56, 1.13, and 1.7 are tested. Results show that the tabs oriented downwards provide the highest effectiveness at a blowing ratio of 0.56 while the tabs oriented horizontally provides the highest film effectiveness at blowing ratios of 1.13 and 1.7. The higher effectiveness with the tabs is due to the generation of secondary eddies counter-rotating with respect to the kidney pair; these eddies reduce jet penetration and thus increase film-cooling effectiveness. The horizontally oriented tabs produce higher discharge coefficients (lower pressure drop) over the entire range of blowing ratios.
Association between smoking cessation and sexual health in men.

Study Type – Prevention (case series) Level of Evidence 4 What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of disease and death, and – among other medical sequelae – is associated with elevated rates of erectile dysfunction. This is the first study that shows that quitting smoking enhances both physiological and self-reported indices of sexual health in long-term male smokers. It is hoped that these results may serve as a novel means to motivate men to quit smoking. OBJECTIVE • To provide the first empirical investigation of the association between smoking cessation and indices of physiological and subjective sexual health in men. SUBJECTS AND METHODS • Male smokers, irrespective of erectile dysfunction status, who were motivated to stop smoking (‘quitters’), were enrolled in an 8-week smoking cessation programme involving a nicotine transdermal patch treatment and adjunctive counselling. • Participants were assessed at baseline (while smoking regularly), at mid-treatment (while using a high-dose nicotine transdermal patch), and at a 4-week post-cessation follow-up. • Physiological (circumferential change via penile plethysmography) and subjective sexual arousal indices (continuous self-report), as well as self-reported sexual functioning were assessed at each visit. RESULTS • Intent-to-treat analyses indicated that, at follow-up, successful quitters (n= 20), compared with those who relapsed (n= 45), showed enhanced erectile tumescence responses, and faster onset to reach maximum subjective sexual arousal. • Although successful quitters displayed across-session enhancements in sexual function, they did not show a differential improvement compared with unsuccessful quitters. CONCLUSIONS • Smoking cessation significantly enhances both physiological and self-reported indices of sexual health in long-term male smokers, irrespective of baseline erectile impairment. • It is hoped that these results may serve as a novel means to motivate men to stop smoking.
Causes and Consequences of Oxidative Stress in Neurodegenerative Diseases

As people worldwide live to an older age, dementia, whose best-known risk factor is aging, has become a serious growing public health problem. While Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia, other progressive neurodegenerative disorders can be responsible for it. For these reasons, they are grouped as non-AD dementias. There is evidence that reactive oxygen species-mediated reactions, particularly of neuronal lipids, are present in brains affected by both types of dementing disorders. Traditional views have claimed that oxidative-mediated brain injury in these diseases is merely the result of the neurodegenerative processes. While numerous investigations have shown that oxidative stress is increased in AD, conflicting results exist for the heterogeneous group of non-AD dementias. The availability of specific and sensitive markers to monitor in vivo oxidative stress, in combination with studies performed in living patients, are helping us to elucidate these issues. This paper summarizes some of the most recent research on the relevance of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in AD and non-AD dementias. The evidence accumulated so far clearly indicates that oxidative stress is an early and specificaspect of AD pathogenesis but not of the pathogenesis of other dementias. This new concept implies that this phenomenon is not a general and common pathway of the neurodegenerative process, but it may play a more specific and important role in AD than in non-AD dementias.
Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia and Lice Infestation

Abstract Background Lice infestation is a commonly encountered disorder in emergency medicine. The louse survives from a blood meal from its host; hence, iron deficiency anemia is a theoretic possibility. A limited number of reports of severe iron deficiency anemia have appeared in the veterinary literature, but a thorough review of the medical literature did not reveal a single instance in human beings. Objective We report a small case series of patients with heavy louse infestation and profound iron deficiency anemia. Case report The index case along with two other cases discovered from an exhaustive search of 4 years of the institution’s Emergency Department records all had heavy infestation with head and body lice. Laboratory evaluation revealed serum hemoglobin levels under 6 gm/dL, low serum ferritin levels, and microcytic red blood cell indices. All patients were admitted to the hospital, received transfusions, and had evaluation of their anemia. No patient had evidence of gastrointestinal blood loss or alternative explanation for their anemia. Conclusions Although cause and effect cannot be established from this case series, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first published evidence of a provocative association of louse infestation and severe iron deficiency anemia in humans.
Current management and novel insights in acute pancreatitis

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common and potentially lethal acute inflammatory process. Approximately 10-20% of patients develop a severe course and suffer systemic inflammatory response and/or pancreatic necrosis (PNec). To date, there is no single biomarker proven to perform better than clinical judgment in predicting severe AP. The available prognostic clinical scoring systems are used primarily for research purposes. Management of AP is limited to supportive care and treatment of complications when they develop. Patients with mild AP require regular ward admission, fluid administration, bowel rest and pain management. Patients with signs of severe AP should be identified early and admitted promptly to an intensive-care unit. Nutrition support via nasojejunal feedings should be initiated. Sterile PNec is managed conservatively. Infected PNec requires minimally invasive debridement via endoscopic or surgical approaches. The lack of scientific advancements in the management of AP reflects the limited understanding of the early pathogenetic mechanisms and our moderate-to-poor ability to predict severe course at the time of admission.
Limitations of Regularization Methods for the Reconstruction of Electron Velocity Distribution Function

The extraction of electron energy distribution functions (EEDFs) from Langmuir probe data is a discrete ill-posed problem. This problem rises due to the integral relationship between electron current and the probe voltage known as the Druyvesteyn relation. There have been a number of methods for the solution of this ill-posed problem ranging from data smoothing to a priori solution conditioning. Such methods include truncated singular value decomposition, truncated generalized singular value decomposition, and various regularization techniques. When these methods are extended to solve for similar integral relationships between electron current and electron distributions, complications arise due to their slightly different integral characteristics. For example, the electron velocity distribution function (EVDF) presents a similar ill-posed integral relationship. However, the EVDF integral presents an additional complication of rank deficiency that can` make accurate solutions of the inverse problem extremely challenging. In this paper, the ill-posed and rank deficiency problems of EEDF and EVDF reconstructions, respectively, are compared to highlight these challenges.
Hybrid localization using the hierarchical atlas

This paper presents a hybrid localization scheme for a mobile robot using the hierarchical atlas. The hierarchical atlas is a map that consists of a higher level topological graph with lower level feature-based metric submaps associated with the graph edges. Our method employs both a discrete Bayes filter and a Kalman filter to localize the robot in the map. This framework accommodates localization in a map with no prior information (global localization) and localization in a map with an incorrect pose estimate (kidnapped robot). Our approach efficiently scales to large environments without sacrificing accuracy or robustness. We have verified our method with large-scale experiments in a multi-floor office environment.
CCSR: A Calculus for Communicating Shared Resources

The timing behavior of a real-time system depends not only on delays due to process synchronization, but also on the availability of shared resources. Most current real-time models capture delays due to process synchronization; however, they abstract out resource-specific details by assuming idealistic operating environments. On the other hand, scheduling and resource allocation algorithms used for real-time systems ignore the effect of process synchronization except for simple precedence relations between processes. To bridge the gap between these two disciplines, we have developed a formalism called Communicating Shared Resources, or CSR. This paper presents the priority-based process algebra called the Calculus for Communicating Shared Resources (CCSR), which provides an equational characterization of the CSR language. The computation model of CCSR is resource-based in that multiple resources execute synchronously, while processes assigned to the same resource are interleaved according to their priorities. CCSR possesses a prioritized strong equivalence for terms based on strong bisimulation. The paper also describes a producer and consumer problem whose correct timing behavior depends on priority.
Large Scale Land Acquisitions In Sub-Saharan Africa: The New Scramble?

Almost three-fourths of the world’s recent “land grabs” have occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, estimated at some 50 million hectares, which is almost equal to the size of Spain. As most of the recent land acquisitions involve farmland, and since agriculture is so vital to Africa’s ability to reduce poverty and hunger, this is a particularly important topic. These large acquisitions raise concerns about the dangers of neglecting local needs and exacerbating social tensions in already fragile states.
Specialized storage for big numeric time series

Numeric time series data has unique storage requirements and access patterns that can benefit from specialized support, given its importance in Big Data analyses. Popular frameworks and databases focus on addressing other needs, making them a suboptimal fit. This paper describes the support needed for numeric time series, suggests an architecture for efficient time series storage, and illustrates its potential for satisfying key requirements.
An ab initio study of hydrogen adsorption on the (020) surface of α-Pu

Atomic hydrogen adsorptions on the (020) surface of α-Pu and the effects of surface relaxation on adsorption properties have been studied using a relativistic extension of the full-potential augmented plane wave with local orbital basis method. The surface has been modeled by a four-layer periodic slab consisting of 32 Pu atoms with a layer by layer anti-ferromagnetic arrangement. The adsorption properties for four different adsorption sites, namely the top, hollow, short bridge and long bridge sites have been investigated in detail. All computations have been carried out at two different theoretical levels, namely the scalar relativistic level without spin–orbit interaction (SR-NSO) and the fully relativistic level with spin–orbit interaction (FR-SO). The effect of relaxation has also been studied by calculating adsorption properties both on relaxed and non-relaxed Pu surfaces. Our studies show that the short bridge is the most favorable site for hydrogen adsorption with chemisorptions energies of 2.78 and 2.75 eV, respectively, at the two levels of theory. Neither spin–orbit coupling nor surface relaxation appears to have significant effects on adsorption.
Ultrasonic measurement of crack opening load for life-extending control of mechanical structures

This paper develops and validates a technique for real-time measurement of crack tip opening load using ultrasonic sensors and its application to life-extending control of mechanical structures. To experimentally validate the proposed measurement technique, fatigue tests have been conducted in the laboratory environment on center-notched 7075-T6 aluminium alloy specimens. The energy of reflected ultrasonic waves is used to detect crack closure and opening phenomena that lead to real-time measurement of crack opening load. Experimental results are compared with the Newman's crack opening stress model under constant amplitude cyclic loading. A life-extending control scheme is proposed by taking advantage of the real-time information on fatigue damage in mechanical structures.
Testing the Link between Public Intervention and Food Price Variability: Evidence from Rice Markets in the Philippines

. A model of inter- and intra-annual food price variability is presented to study the impacts of government food-market interventions in the Philippines. A conceptually simple econometric model is described that provides a general method for testing the impact of government stock changes on prices at farmgate and retail levels. Monthly price and stock data for the period 1975–1992 are used to empirically measure the influence of Philippine government buffer-stock programs on seasonal and annual variability of producer and consumer rice prices. NFA stock changes are shown to have had no significant stabilizing influence on seasonal and annual price changes at the aggregate level.
FDG-PET and PET-CT Imaging of Head and Neck Cancers

Head and neck cancers are generally defined as cancers involving all regions of the head and neck, except for the thyroid and central nervous system. Most of these cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. The most common sites are larynx, tongue, floor of the mouth, lip, tonsils, and salivary glands, although these carcinomas can arise at almost any location in the nasopharynx, oropharynx, or hypopharynx. Thyroid cancers and tumors of the central nervous system are usually not included in head and neck cancer classification. The estimated number of new cases in the United States for 2005 is 39,000, with approximately 11,000 deaths (American Cancer Society 2005). The male:female ratio is about 2:1. Primary risk factors for virtually all head and neck cancers are alcohol and tobacco use. Early stage head and neck tumors are treated with either surgery or radiotherapy with excellent prognosis. Locally advanced tumors without distant metastasis are typically treated with surgery and postoperative radiation and hemotherapy or with definitive combination chemoradiation therapy. If chemoradiation is used as the initial treatment, salvage surgery is performed if there is evidence of residual disease. Patients with distant metastatic disease have very poor prognosis and are usually referred for palliative chemotherapy or radiation
Properties and applications of a pitch carbon microsphere composite

Some properties and applications of a pitch carbon microsphere composite are described. The small hollow microspheres are made from the pitch which is usually a wasted by-product of petroleum refining. In contrast to high density composites or syntactic foams in which microspheres are inclusions within a continuous matrix, this composite is an aggregate of microspheres bonded together by a small amount of thermosetting polymer which does not form a continuous matrix. The result is a composite with low density and thermal expansion, modest strength and rigidity, and high porosity and carbon content. Mechanical, thermal, and sorption properties have been measured. Applications of the composite include honeycomb filler for high temperature or ionizing radiation fields and a wicking absorber for solar-powered stills.
Simple Local Models for Complex Dynamical Systems

We present a novel mathematical formalism for the idea of a "local model" of an uncontrolled dynamical system, a model that makes only certain predictions in only certain situations. As a result of its restricted responsibilities, a local model may be far simpler than a complete model of the system. We then show how one might combine several local models to produce a more detailed model. We demonstrate our ability to learn a collection of local models on a large-scale example and do a preliminary empirical comparison of learning a collection of local models and some other model learning methods.
CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells are activated in vivo by recognition of self.

Naturally occurring CD4 1 CD25 1 regulatory T cells (nTR) comprise a separate lineage of T cells that are essential for maintaining immunological tolerance to self. Here we demonstrate that the level of phosphorylation of the TCR z-chain is ;1.5- to 4-fold higher in nTR as compared with CD4 1 CD25 2 T cells. The increased level of TCR z-chain phosphorylation is presumably secondary to their higher affinity for self, resulting in a stronger TCR signal as it was completely blocked by treatment with antiMHC class II. The enhanced level of TCR z-chain phosphorylation was correlated with the capacity of nTR to develop non-specific suppressor effector function following culture with IL-2 or IL-4 in the absence of TCR stimulus. Thus, a sub-population of nTR is activated by recognition of self-peptide‐ MHC class II ligands in vivo, resulting in their capacity to be induced to mediate suppressor function in vitro in the absence of TCR stimulation.
LG-ERM: An Entity-Level Ranking Mechanism for Deep Web Query

With the rapid growth of Web databases, it's necessary to extract and integrate large-scale data available in deep Web automatically. But current Web search engines conduct page-level ranking, which are becoming inadequate for entity-oriented vertical search. In this paper, we present an entity-level ranking mechanism called LG-ERM for deep Web query based on local scoring and global aggregation. Unlike traditional approaches, LG-ERM considers more rank influencing factors including the uncertainty of entity extraction, the style information of entities and the importance of Web sources, as well as the entity relationship. By combining local scoring and global aggregation in ranking, the query result can be more accurate and effective to meet users' needs. The experiments demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the key techniques of LG-ERM.
Enhanced Trapping of HIV-1 by Human Cervicovaginal Mucus Is Associated with Lactobacillus crispatus-Dominant Microbiota

ABSTRACT Cervicovaginal mucus (CVM) can provide a barrier that precludes HIV and other sexually transmitted virions from reaching target cells in the vaginal epithelium, thereby preventing or reducing infections. However, the barrier properties of CVM differ from woman to woman, and the causes of these variations are not yet well understood. Using high-resolution particle tracking of fluorescent HIV-1 pseudoviruses, we found that neither pH nor Nugent scores nor total lactic acid levels correlated significantly with virus trapping in unmodified CVM from diverse donors. Surprisingly, HIV-1 was generally trapped in CVM with relatively high concentrations of d-lactic acid and a Lactobacillus crispatus-dominant microbiota. In contrast, a substantial fraction of HIV-1 virions diffused rapidly through CVM with low concentrations of d-lactic acid that had a Lactobacillus iners-dominant microbiota or significant amounts of Gardnerella vaginalis, a bacterium associated with bacterial vaginosis. Our results demonstrate that the vaginal microbiota, including specific species of Lactobacillus, can alter the diffusional barrier properties of CVM against HIV and likely other sexually transmitted viruses and that these microbiota-associated changes may account in part for the elevated risks of HIV acquisition linked to bacterial vaginosis or intermediate vaginal microbiota. IMPORTANCE Variations in the vaginal microbiota, especially shifts away from Lactobacillus-dominant microbiota, are associated with differential risks of acquiring HIV or other sexually transmitted infections. However, emerging evidence suggests that Lactobacillus iners frequently colonizes women with recurring bacterial vaginosis, raising the possibility that L. iners may not be as protective as other Lactobacillus species. Our study was designed to improve understanding of how the cervicovaginal mucus barrier against HIV may vary between women along with the vaginal microbiota and led to the finding that the vaginal microbiota, including specific species of Lactobacillus, can directly alter the diffusional barrier properties of cervicovaginal mucus. This work advances our understanding of the complex barrier properties of mucus and highlights the differential protective ability of different species of Lactobacillus, with Lactobacillus crispatus and possibly other species playing a key role in protection against HIV and other sexually transmitted infections. These findings could lead to the development of novel strategies to protect women against HIV.
QoS-Aware Admission Control in Heterogeneous Datacenters.

Large-scale datacenters (DCs) host tens of thousands of diverse applications each day. Apart from determining where to schedule workloads, the cluster manager should also decide when to constrain application admission to prevent system oversubscription. At the same time datacenter users care not only for fast execution time but for low waiting time (fast scheduling) as well. Recent work has addressed the first challenge in the presence of unknown workloads, but not the second one. We present ARQ, a multi-class admission control protocol that leverages Paragon, a heterogeneity and interference-aware DC scheduler. ARQ divides applications in classes based on the quality of resources they need and queues them separately. This improves utilization and system throughput, while maintaining per-application QoS. To enforce timely scheduling, ARQ diverges workloads to a queue of lower resource quality, if no suitable server becomes available within the time window specified by its QoS. In an oversubscribed scenario with 8,500 applications on 1,000 EC2 servers, ARQ bounds performance degradation to less than 10% for 99% of workloads, while significantly improving utilization.
US-Pakistan Relations: The Need for a Strategic Vision

As a former Pakistani military officer and as the editor of an academic journal on Pakistan, I often interact with Pakistanis from different walks of life. During my visit to Pakistan a few months ago, I had the privilege of engaging with ordinary Pakistanis, academics, and some very powerful old friends. Our conversations always centered on the US-Pakistan relations probably because of my connection to the US as an academic. I find it worthwhile to share some of my exchanges about the US-Pakistan relations, as these views are not normally covered by the mainstream US media.
THE EFFECT OF INTRASPECIES AND INTERSPECIES COMPETITION ON THE FECUNDITY OF TWO SPECIES OF FLOUR BEETLES

The flour beetles Tribolium confusum and Tribolium ccstaneum have been used in an extensive investigation of interspecies competition (Park, 1948). A finding of this study was that when no special precautions were takento eliminate the sporozoan parasite Adelina tribolii, T. confusum, as a single species, typically maintained populations about twenty to thirty per cent larger than did T. castaneim. No known differences in temperature, humidity, light, medium, or handling existed between these two series. In mixed-species populations, that is when there was competition between the two forms, T. castaneum was usually driven out by T. confusum. In the absence of the parasite, T. castaneum usually drove out T. confusum. There is some indication that in their natural distribution the two species vary in relative abundance according to latitude (Good, 1936) and to the breeding medium, whether wheat or flour (Miller, 1944). It is hoped that studies of competition may shed some light on such problems in the population ecology of the two species as well as on the general nature of interspecies competition itself. In many ways these beetles are excellent objects for the laboratory study of such phenomena. They inhabit the same ecological habitat from which they derive their entire food supply and in which their life-history, and that of successive generations. is passed. The DoDulations. includ-
Accelerated Abscission of Cranberry Leaves Damaged by the Leafminer, Coptodisca negligens (Lepidoptera: Heliozelidae)

The effect of damage by the heliozelid leafminer, Coptodisca negligens Braun, on abscission of cranberry, Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton, leaves was studied in Connecticut during 1986. The abscission of second-year leaves was significantly greater and earlier on wild and potted vines with leafminer injury than on those without injury. The mean week of abscission was significantly earlier (about 1 wk) for leaves with two miners than for those with one miner. Wild plants in a bog dropped most of their mined leaves during June when fourth instars of C. negligens were completing their development. In the laboratory, 90% of 20 fourth instars in detached leaves survived to construct oval leaf cases for pupation.
Implementation of New Irrigation Protocols on Strawberry Transplants on the California Central Coast

For the past five growing seasons, the Cal Poly Irrigation Training and Research Center (ITRC) has conducted research on water use, salinity levels and various other factors related to strawberry transplant establishment. This report summarizes research that can be found online: www.itrc.org/projects.htm. The project’s goal was to develop an analysis of irrigation practices of the strawberry growers on the central coast of California, primarily during the establishment of transplants. From the analysis, sprinkler use reduction methods were developed. These methods conserve water, save pumping costs, and reduce the runoff that can potentially contaminate local waterways. California growers contributed control and research plots to thoroughly represent the production areas and this project was a great success due to their input. This project had a major impact on the strawberry industry and modified the methodology for irrigating a high value crop. This new methodology has been adopted by the innovative growers in California. After the developed irrigation methodology was in practice, growers reported up to a 15-percent yield increase, a 10-percent decrease in water usage and a peak production of strawberries earlier in the season. The key determinant in the transition to new irrigation management is the impact of salinity, which must be effectively managed.
Abstract 4798: Subcellular translocation of β-catenin and its relationship with EGFR activation in HPV16 positive OPSCC.

Background: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has increased in recent years. HPV-associated OPSCC follows a distinct carcinogenic pathway from HPV-negative OPSCC. The molecular basis of the disease progression due to HPV remains to be elucidated. Clinical observations have revealed frequent and early lymph node metastasis and unusual distant metastasis in HPV-associated as compared with HPV-negative OPSCC. To understand the underlying molecular mechanism, we have studied whether β-catenin, one of the major proteins in the Wnt pathway, is involved in HPV-associated OPSCC metastasis. Methods: The study samples (n = 210) were collected from formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded OPSCC tissues obtained from the Surgical Pathology files in the Department of Pathology at Emory University following the regulations of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Expression levels of p16 as a surrogate marker for HPV-associated cancer, β-catenin, and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) analyses. Membrane expression of β-catenin and total EGFR level were scored as a weight index [WI = intensity (0, 1+, 2+, and 3+) x % of positive staining]. Nuclear β-catenin and p16 were recorded as positive and negative. Expression and subcellular localization of β-catenin as well as EGFR expression and activation were also studied in both HPV-positive and -negative head and neck SCC (HNSCC) cell lines (n =7) by Western blot analysis. SiRNA against HPV E6 was used to elucidate the effect of HPV on β-catenin translocation. Results: Our results showed that membrane WI of β-catenin was inversely correlated with p16 positivity (p Citation Format: Zhongliang Hu, Ning Jiang, Susan Muller, Nabil Saba, Dongsheng Wang, Hongzheng Zhang, Dong M. Shin, Zhuo Georgia Chen. Subcellular translocation of β-catenin and its relationship with EGFR activation in HPV16 positive OPSCC. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4798. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4798
Social learning in an environmental justice context: A case study of integrated regional water management

California recently implemented a statewide effort to learn how best to outreach to and involve ‘disadvantaged communities’ in integrated regional water management (IRWM) planning. Using the case of the Kings Basin Water Authority9s Disadvantaged Community Pilot Project Study, we argue that social learning is a key mechanism through which the procedural and distributive justice goals of environmental justice are integrated into water resources planning. Using interviews, focus groups and survey results, we find that social learning has short- and medium-term effects of increasing access to information, broadening stakeholder participation and developing initial foundations for structural changes to water governance. However, long-term change in the structure of IRWM institutions is, at best, in its early phases. Social learning provides a basis for changing water governance and management outcomes in ways that promote representation of traditionally marginalized groups and the water challenges they face.
Strategies for Broadening Participation in Advanced Technological Education Programs: Practice and Perceptions

ABSTRACTExpanding and diversifying the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) workforce is a national priority. The National Science Foundation is investing efforts at post secondary education institutions to engage individuals who have been historically underrepresented in STEM. This paper investigated the use of strategies to broaden participation in STEM by grantees of NSF’s Advanced Technological Education (ATE), who are primarily located at 2-year colleges. The ATE program focuses on developing and improving technician training programs to prepare students for employment in fields that rely on advanced technologiessuch as nanotechnology, photonics, and mechatronics. A survey, conducted annually by the authors of this study, was used to collect data from ATE grantees on their use and perceptions of strategies to broaden participation in STEM. The findings showed that strategies related to motivation and access to enhance recruitment are more widely used then strategies that improve r...
A Time-Interleaved Multimode $\Delta\Sigma$ RF-DAC for Direct Digital-to-RF Synthesis

A multimode delta-sigma ( $\Delta\Sigma$ ) RF digital-to-analog converter (RF-DAC) is proposed for direct digital-to-RF synthesis. The proposed circuit uses a single clock frequency ( $f_{s}$ ) and provides a $\Delta\Sigma$ modulator (DSM) that operates in bandpass (BP) and highpass (HP) modes to synthesize signals around $f_{s}/4$ , $f_{s}/2$ , or $3f_{s}/4$ . The on-chip 14 bit second-order DSM implements an array of 1 bit pipelined subtract functions to generate 3 bit $f_{s}$ rate RF-DAC input data. Analog interleaving via a second 3 bit DAC is used to reject the first DAC image, simultaneously doubling the usable bandwidth of the HP DSM and increasing the SNR. Calibration circuits are added to the DAC to compensate for amplitude and timing variations. The proposed RF-DAC is implemented in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS with an area of $0.563\ \text{mm}^{2}$ . Measurements at $f_{s}= 2\ \text{GHz}$ yield an output power of $-0.6\ \text{dBm}$ with 76.2 dB signal-to-image-rejection ratio (SIRR), 76.2 dB SFDR over a 100 MHz bandwidth, $-80\ \text{dBc}$ IM3, $-67.2\;\text{dB}$ WCDMA ACLR, and $-\text{66.4}\ \text{dBc}$ LTE ACLR. Changing $f_{s}$ to 3 GHz allows frequencies of 2.25 GHz to be generated with output power of $-16.6\ \text{dBm}$ , 65.2 dB SFDR, $-62\ \text{dBc\ IM}3$ , $-59.3\ \text{dB}$ WCDMA ACLR, and $-59.2\ \text{dBc}$ LTE ACLR.
Magnetic resonance imaging of primary pediatric liver tumors

Although primary hepatic neoplasms are less common than other intra-abdominal tumors in children, these neoplasms are a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the pediatric population. MRI is increasingly relied upon in the diagnostic evaluation of these lesions, both before and after treatment, and familiarity with the MRI findings associated with these neoplasms is a must for pediatric radiologists. Advances in MRI technology, particularly the advent of hepatocyte-specific gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, have allowed for accurate characterization of several types of hepatic neoplasms on the basis of imaging appearance. In this review, we provide an overview of the approach to imaging hepatic neoplasms in children using MRI, including a sample imaging protocol. We also discuss the relevant clinical features and MRI findings of the most clinically relevant entities, including their appearance on post-contrast imaging using hepatocyte-specific gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents.
Towards Programmable Plant Genetic Circuits

Summary Synthetic biology enables the construction of genetic circuits with predictable gene functions in plants. Detailed quantitative descriptions of the transfer function or input–output function for genetic parts (promoters, 5′ and 3′ untranslated regions, etc.) are collected. These data are then used in computational simulations to determine their robustness and desired properties, thereby enabling the best components to be selected for experimental testing in plants. In addition, the process forms an iterative workflow which allows vast improvement to validated elements with sub-optimal function. These processes enable computational functions such as digital logic in living plants and follow the pathway of technological advances which took us from vacuum tubes to cell phones.
Participation in cooperative prey capture and the benefits gained from it are associated with individual personality.

In animal societies, individuals’ behavioral idiosyncrasies often guide which tasks they perform. Such personality-specific task participation can increase individual task efficiency, thereby improving group performance. While several recent studies have documented group-level benefits of within-group behavioural (i.e., personality) diversity, how these benefits are realized at the individual level is unclear. Here we probe the individual-level benefits of personality-driven task participation in the social spider Stegodyphus dumicola . In S. dumicola the presence of at least one highly bold individual catalyzes foraging behaviour in shy colony members, and all group constituents heavily compete for prey. We assessed boldness by examining how quickly spiders resumed normal movement after a simulated predator attack. We test here whether 1) participants in collective foraging gain more mass from prey items and 2) whether bold individuals are less resistant to starvation than shy spiders, which would motivate the bold individuals to forage more. Next, we assembled colonies of shy spiders with and without a bold individual, added one prey item, and then tracked the mass gain of each individual spider after this single feeding event. We found that spiders that participated in prey capture (whether bold or shy) gained more mass than non-participators, and colonies containing a single bold spider gained more total mass than purely shy colonies. We also found that bold spiders participated in more collective foraging events and were more susceptible to starvation than shy spiders, suggesting that the aggressive foraging of bold individuals may represent a strategy to offset starvation risk. These findings add to the body of evidence that animal personality can shape social organization, individual performance, and group success.
Effectiveness of using picture-based health education for people with low health literacy: An integrative review

Background: Level of health literacy affects health status. The purpose of this study was to examine and evaluate studies related to picture-based health education materials for people with low hea...
Beschreibung des Forschungsansatzes und der -methoden

Die in diesem Buch beschriebenen Ergebnisse basieren auf einem Forschungsprojekt, das aus drei Reihen von Primarerhebungen bei siebzehn Managementnachfolgen besteht. Dieser Anhang beschreibt den Forschungsansatz und die -methoden, die bei den drei Fallstudien angewandt wurden, aber auch die Entwicklung der Forschungsstrategie sowie Entscheidungen uber das Vorgehen in kritischen Projektsituationen.