cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Case for Secure Virtual Append-Only Storage for Virtual Machines

Traditional operating systems and applications use logs extensively to monitor system activity and perform intrusion detection. Consequently, logs have also become prime targets for intruders. When a malware or intruder obtains root privileges in a system, one of its first actions is to hide its footprint by deleting or modifying system logs, especially the log entry recording the intrusion activity (such as unauthorized root login). A key weakness of most current logging mechanisms is that logs are stored on a storage device over which the system being logged has complete control, including the ability to delete/modify the logs arbitrarily. Once the root privileges of such a system are compromised, so are the logs. Virtualization offers a unique opportunity to eliminate this point of weakness. In this paper, we propose a new virtual storage abstraction for virtual machines (VMs) called Virtual Append-only Storage (VAS) that secures and preserves all system and/or application logs in a VM and can prevent an intruder from deleting/modifying past logs even after the root privileges of a VM are compromised. Our VAS-based logging complements existing intrusion detection techniques which mainly monitor the in-memory execution state and data, but do not protect the storage device on which logs are stored. Since logs can become voluminous over time, VAS also provides administrators the ability to secure either system-wide or application-specific logs, rather than blindly logging all system activity.
Production of narrative and procedural discourse in aphasia

Abstract The study described the abilities of a group of 10 aphasics and 10 normals to produce narrative and procedural discourse. The experimental tasks included telling stories, producing summaries, giving morals to the stories, and producing procedures. The variables examined in the investigation included features of sentential grammars, such as amount of embedding, and features of discourse grammars, such as occurrence of elements of superstructure in narrative. Additionally, raters assessed the content and clarity of the discourses. The results showed that aphasics produced well-structured narrative and procedural discourse. Aphasics' discourse errors differed only in degree, not qualitatively, from those of normals. The language of the aphasics' discourses was reduced in both complexity and amount. It was found that the aphasics had difficulties in producing summaries and giving morals for the stories when compared with the normals. Both the content and clarity of the discourses produced by the aphasics were rated lower than those produced by the normals.
ASYMPTOTIC PROPERTIES OF A LEADER ELECTION ALGORITHM

We consider a serialized coin-tossing leader election algorithm that proceeds in rounds until a winner is chosen, or all contestants are eliminated. The analysis allows for either biased or fair coins. We find the exact distribution for the duration of any fixed contestant; asymptotically, it turns out to be a geometric distribution. Rice’s method (an analytic technique) shows that the moments of the duration contain oscillations, which we give explicitly for the mean and variance. We also use convergence in the Wasserstein metric space to show that the distribution of the total number of coin flips (among all participants), suitably normalized, approaches a normal limiting random variable.
π − Scattering and Dispersion Relations

Work is reported which weakens the evidence for disagreement between the experimental and theoretical values of the pi /sup -/-p dispersion relations. The elastic differential cross sections at 150, 170, and 220 Mev were reexamined to determine the effect of a d-wave fit of the form A+ B cos THETA + C cos/sup 2/ THETA + D cos/sup 3/ THETA (W.D.W.)
When the Endogenous Hallucinogenic Trace Amine N,N-Dimethyltryptamine Meets the Sigma-1 Receptor

N,N -dimethyltryptamine (DMT) is a hallucinogen found endogenously in human brain that is commonly recognized to target the 5-hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor or the trace amine–associated receptor to exert its psychedelic effect. DMT has been recently shown to bind sigma-1 receptors, which are ligand-regulated molecular chaperones whose function includes inhibiting various voltage-sensitive ion channels. Thus, it is possible that the psychedelic action of DMT might be mediated in part through sigma-1 receptors. Here, we present a hypothetical signaling scheme that might be triggered by the binding of DMT to sigma-1 receptors.
The role of self-efficacy in HIV treatment adherence: validation of the HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (HIV-ASES).

Adherence to HIV treatment, including adherence to antiretroviral (ART) medication regimens, is paramount in the management of HIV. Self-efficacy for treatment adherence has been identified as an important correlate of medication adherence in the treatment of HIV and other medical conditions. This paper describes the validation of the HIV Treatment Adherence Self-Efficacy Scale (HIV-ASES) with two samples of HIV+ adults on ART. Factor analyses support subscales measuring Adherence Integration (eigenvalue = 6.12) and Adherence Perseverance (eigenvalue = 1.16), accounting for 61% of the variance in scale items. The HIV-ASES demonstrates robust internal consistency (ρs > .90) and 3-month (rs > .70) and 15-month (rs > .40) test–retest reliability. Concurrent validity analyses revealed relationships with psychosocial measures, ART adherence, clinical status, and healthcare utilization. Findings support the use of the HIV-ASES and provide guidance for further investigation of adherence self-efficacy in the context of treatment for HIV and other diseases.
Impact of trauma symptomatology on personal networks among substance using women

Background Interpersonal trauma poses challenges and complications to the development and maintenance of personal networks of substance using women. Few studies have examined its effects on personal network support availability and quality of relationships, limiting our understanding of the social context in which substance using women with a history of trauma are embedded.
First trimester prenatal evaluation for I‐cell disease by N‐acetyl‐glucosamine 1‐phosphotransferase assay

First trimester prenatal diagnosis was offered to a couple at risk for having a child with I-cell disease (mucolipidosis II). The prenatal evaluation was based for the first time on examination of N-acetylglucosamine 1-phosphotransferase activity, deficiency of which is the primary biochemical defect in both I-cell disease and pseudo-Hurler polydystrophy (mucolipidosis III). Heterozygote levels of this enzyme activity were determined in chorionic villi obtained at 9 weeks of gestation, as well as in cultured trophoblasts derived from this specimen, and led to the diagnosis of an unaffected fetus. This procedure has advantages over that based on detection of abnormal intracellular-extracellular distribution of lysosomal enzyme activities, which is expressed only in homozygotes and fully expressed only in cell culture specimens.
SU‐FF‐I‐26: Tissue Equivalent Phantoms for the Evaluation of Tube Current Modulated CT Dose and Image Quality

Purpose: To develop and test new, flexible, tissue‐equivalent phantoms for the evaluation of tube current modulation dose reduction and image quality in CT. The developed phantom material also has applications for mammographic and 4‐D time varying phantoms. Method and Materials: A compressible, flexible, urethane‐based tissue equivalent phantom material was developed and utilized in the production of ellipsoid shaped phantoms for CTimaging. Multiple phantoms were created, each with different major (26–40 cm) and minor (18–28 cm) axes, in order to model patients of varying dimensions and thicknesses. All phantoms were made to be integrated with a Catphan CTimage quality phantom as well as CTDI dose assessment phantoms. Image evaluation software was utilized in order to evaluate several image quality parameters in CTimages taken using the phantoms in order to quantify the effects of tube current modulation in CT scanners for varying techniques. Ion chamber and gated fiber optically coupled dosimeters were also used with the phantoms in order to evaluate the effects of tube current modulation on dose to patients of varying dimensions. Results: It was found that the use of ellipsoid shaped phantoms allowed for more accurate observation of dose and image quality effects of tube current modulation in CT scanners over traditional circular acrylic phantoms. Patient doses were found the be less for studies in which tube current modulation was in use as compared to standard CT techniques, however the degree of dose reduction was found to be largely influenced by the major and minor axes of the ellipse. Conclusion: This work shows potential of ellipsoid phantoms to aid in dose reduction in CT scanning through tube current modulation by allowing more accurate modeling of actual patient dimensions.
Improving client outcomes: the Kansas technical assistance consultation project.

A central problem in the design and implementation of mental health services is how to transfer relevant information to the active practitioner. Traditional methods of knowledge transfer, such as professional journals and workshops. appear to have uneven results at best. Outreach consultation services, here described as technical assistance, holds promise as an effective and efficient vehicle for transferring relevant knowledge necessary to improve professional practice.
Spermatophores of the salamander Ambystoma texanum.

Abstract Living spermatozoa were observed in freshly deposited spermatophores and in fluid from vasa deferentia. In the distal, but not proximal, vas deferens spermatozoa moved together in whorls with heads and tails in alignment. Around the entire periphery of the spermatophore cap, similar slowly undulating groups of spermatozoa had their heads aligned and directed outward. Over time, some individual spermatozoa left the cap of the spermatophore and moved into the surrounding water (cap deterioration). Microscopical observations were made on spermatophore squashes and paraffin sections of spermatophores and vasa deferentia. Spermatozoa around the periphery of the cap were underlain by a PAS-positive membrane-like material. Cytoplasmic droplets, which were attached to spermatozoan necks in the vas deferens, were accumulated in the center of the spermatophore cap deep to the PAS-positive membrane. Spermatophore stalks were strongly PAS and Alcian blue positive and showed positive reaction for RNA. Tests for lipids and proteins were negative in the whole spermatophore. Electron microscopic observations showed the stalk of the spermatophore to be composed of rounded ‘balls’ of fibrous material. At the juncture of the stalk and cap a less dense fibrous material impacted the stalk enclosing many sperm tails and some heads and, although no attachment devices were visualized, the sperm were closely apposed to this material as was the spermatophore stalk. This finely filamentous material encircled the cap and was more prominent in some regions than others. The PAS-positive material detected with the light microscope was also observed with the electron microscope. It was circumferentially oriented and was composed of 200 A packed filamentous densities. Sperm heads and tails were found lying external to the membrane, whereas only tails and cytoplasmic droplets occupied the core of the spermatophore. Cytoplasmic droplets were usually free of the sperm tail and contained membranous sacs and two types of nuage material.
The continuum theory of nucleation in multicomponent systems

Abstract The Cahn-Hilliard continuum theory of nucleation is extended to multicomponent solutions. A system of nonlinear differential equations is derived whose solutions yield the concentration profiles of a critical nucleus and across a flat interface. It is demonstrated that considerable simplifications arise under the assumption of a regular solution. Particular attention is paid to the case of one ideal component in a ternary system. Computations of the work of formation of a critical nucleus indicate that even small additions of a third element to a binary solution can have a significant effect on the nucleation reaction.
2000-W-GHz complementary TRAPATT diodes

This paper will present recent experimental results on series-operated complementary diodes in the 2-GHz frequency range. Peak power output of 1.2 kW at 1.9 GHz with 24% efficiency from five series-connected diodes has been obtained. The power-frequency product for TRAPATT devices has surpassed 2000 W-GHz. Experiments have been performed with 0.5 to 1 ps pulses at a repetition rate up to 1 kHz.
Weakest Invariant Generation for Automated Addition of Fault-Tolerance

One of the important tasks in evolving a fault-intolerant program into a fault-tolerant one is to identify the legitimate states (its invariant) from where the original program satisfies its specification. This allows us to ensure that the fault-tolerant program recovers to these legitimate states from where it satisfies its specification. It is desired that the invariant be the weakest possible so as to provide maximal options to the algorithm for adding fault-tolerance. Requiring the designer to specify such weak invariant increases the burden on the designer. In this paper, we present a novel approach for automating the generation of the weakest invariant from the program actions and specifications. Our algorithm is efficient and manages the state explosion problem with the use of BDDs. We demonstrate our approach through two case studies and we show that generating such invariants is extremely fast. For example, for a mutual exclusion program with a state space of size 10^8^4 states, it took 0.9 of a second.
Sums of products of terms from linear recurrence sequences

Given a set of sequences defined by linear recurrence relations 1 method is described for finding the indefinite (and definite) sums of problems of terms from the sequences: for example, @S"1"~"k"~"nF"k^3=F"nF"n"+"1 when {F"k} is the sequence of Fibonacci numbers. The method is applicable when the subscripts of the factors in the product are linear functions of k (the summation variable). The sums found are expressed as a linear combination of terms, where each term is a product of factors, and each factor is a term from one of the original sequences. The results generalize many summations found in the literature and provide a vehicle for mechanically determining solutions in other cases.
In Memoriam: Cuihua Zhang (1962–2011)

Cuihua Zhang, Associate Professor in the Departments of Internal Medicine, Pharmacology and Physiology, and Nutrition at the University of Missouri, died on October 1, 2011, after a battle with gastric cancer. Dr Zhang is survived by her husband, Marvin, and her son, Zhen. She was a devoted scientist who remained active to her last day. She received an MD degree from Jin Zhou Medical College in Liaoning, China, and her PhD degree from …
Reply to comments by Corbett and Cable on our paper, "Seepage meters and Bernoulli's revenge

We thank Corbett and Cable (2003) for questioning our results and for pointing out the great number of studies that have employed various forms of seepage meters. It was the ever-increasing use of seepage meters and the spurious results we obtained that led us to warn the seepage meter community of possible defects in the method. Apparently our choice of an eye-catching title served its purpose. It was never our intent to perform the kind of engineering style quantitative tests that we hope this exchange will stimulate. We purposely used larger collection bags, because preliminary experiments with smaller bags showed they filled to capacity in less than 24 hr. For reasons of efficiency and the large spatial nature of our meter distribution, it was not practical to sample on hourly or multi-hour schedules. Our purpose therefore was to obtain 24-hr measurements that would average about four tidal intervals. Because our monitoring wells vividly showed tidal pumping and water transport are limited to the porous and permeable Pleistocene limestone, we chose to permanently seal our meters directly to the rock. Lee-type meters, on the other hand, must be placed in the sedimentary veneer that caps about 25% of the limestone in eastern Florida Bay (Prager and Halley 1999). Unlike most other areas where meters have been used, ground water entering the Lee-type meters in the Florida Keys ultimately comes from and is driven by tidal pumping and leakage from the underlying limestone. We are nevertheless surprised and pleased that the Lee-type meters of Corbett and Cable produced seepage rates paralleling those we obtained directly from the rock. Clearly, their meters were placed either in permeable shelly or marine grass-covered shell and lime mud sediments where permeabilities are greater than on bare lime mud substrates. Such areas are riddled with
Chronic glomerulonephritis in returning fall chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), from the Rogue River, Oregon

Epizootic mortalities of returning adult Rogue River fall chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha (Walbaum), were first observed in 1978. These mortalities reached approximately 76% in 1979 and declined to 30--50% in 1980 and less than 10% in 1981 and 1982. Histopathological examination of kidneys from moribund returns in 1981 and 1982 showed a diffuse chronic glomerulonephritis (GN) in 83% and 30% of the fish examined, respectively. In most cases glomerular damage was severe enough to cause morbidity from osmoregulatory failure. The lesion was markedly similar to immune complex-mediated glomerular disease in higher vertebrates, but tissues for further ultrastructural examination and diagnosis were not processed. Giemsa-stained sections also revealed unidentified sporozoan-like vegetative stages encysted within the extracellular mesangial matrix of glomeruli in both GN and normal kidneys. Although probably incidental to the glomerular lesion, the causal relationship of the organism to GN remains unknown until further investigation. Glomeruli of outmigrating Rogue River fall chinook salmon smolts collected in 1983 were normal and free of the organism.
Spatial effect of tumbling frequencies for motile bacteria on cell balance equations

We performed dimensional reduction of Alt’s three-dimensional cell balance equations to one-dimensional Segel’s equations for an axisymmetrical case. The tumbling frequency of motile bacteria was assumed to switch between two di⁄erent phases according to the sign of the perceived chemical gradients. Chemotactic bacteria responded to positive attractant gradients by suppressing the tumbling frequency, but appeared to be insensitive to negative attractant gradients. When both temporal and spatial attractant gradients were considered, this tumbling scenario constituted a limited swimming angle range. It was only within this angle range that the bacterial tumbling frequency was regulated according to the perceived attractant gradients. This angle range, characterized by the angle h 0 , plays a major role in determining the e⁄ective chemotactic responses. The bacterial density distribution in the velocity space was derived via a first-order perturbation analysis, and then applied to studies of two bacterial population transport parameters (the random motility coeƒcient and the chemotactic velocity). Two approaches di⁄erent in dimensionality were presented. While the one-dimensional approach asymptotically yielded the expected, but incorrect, one-dimensional random motility coeƒcient as h 0 approached zero, the three-dimensional approach always yielded the correct result. As to the chemotactic velocity, both approaches yielded the same expression. To validate our analyses and to explore possible limitations due to certain simplifying assumptions in the derivations, we further examined three numerical examples in which Galerkin finite element solutions of the Alt’s three-dimensional equation were compared with analytical solutions. The agreement between the perturbation solutions and numerical solutions for all data over the entire range of h 0 suggested that our perturbation analysis is valid under the condition of small constant attractant gradients. For chemical gradients of arbitrary magnitudes with temporal and spatial variations, our solutions were also found eƒcient and robust in comparison to numerical solutions. ( 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
A Field-Tested Thermoregulation Model for Two Diurnal Namib Desert Tenebrionid Beetles

The thermoregulatory strategies of two Namib Desert tenebrionid beetles were studied to determine the methods used to attain relatively high and constant body temperatures for several hours each day. In the field thermoregulatory behavior observations were made simultaneously with microclimate data collection and measurement of body temperatures in free—ranging beetles. A thermal model was developed using beetle heat exchange parameters and combined with microclimate data to predict the range of body temperatures available to the insects in their different environments. The accuracy of the model was validated against measurements of body temperature in the population of free—ranging beetles. Observations of thermoregulatory behavior, when coupled with the effect of such behavior on modeled body temperatures, make it possible to evaluate quantitatively the efficacy of various thermal strategies and the degree of habitat selection practiced by the insects to maintain preferred temperatures. Thermoregulation...
Bose-Einstein condensate in a rapidly rotating nonsymmetric trap

A rapidly rotating Bose-Einstein condensate in a symmetric two-dimensional harmonic trap can be described with the lowest Landau-level set of single-particle states. The condensate wave function {psi}(x,y) is a Gaussian {proportional_to}exp(-r{sup 2}/2), multiplied by an analytic function f(z) of the complex variable z=x+iy. The criterion for a quantum phase transition to a non-superfluid correlated many-body state is usually expressed in terms of the ratio of the number of particles to the number of vortices. Here a similar description applies to a rapidly rotating nonsymmetric two-dimensional trap with arbitrary quadratic anisotropy ({omega}{sub x}{sup 2}<{omega}{sub y}{sup 2}). The corresponding condensate wave function {psi}(x,y) is a complex anisotropic Gaussian with a phase proportional to xy, multiplied by an analytic function f(z), where z=x+i{beta}{sub -}y is a stretched complex variable and 0{<=}{beta}{sub -{<=}}1 is a real parameter that depends on the trap anisotropy and the rotation frequency. Both in the mean-field Thomas-Fermi approximation and in the mean-field lowest Landau level approximation with many visible vortices, an anisotropic parabolic density profile minimizes the energy. An elongated condensate grows along the soft trap direction yet ultimately shrinks along the tight trap direction. The criterion for the quantum phase transition to a correlated state is generalized (1)more » in terms of N/L{sub z}, which suggests that a nonsymmetric trap should make it easier to observe this transition, or (2) in terms of a 'fragmented' correlated state, which suggests that a nonsymmetric trap should make it harder to observe this transition. An alternative scenario involves a crossover to a quasi one-dimensional condensate without visible vortices, as suggested by Aftalion et al., Phys. Rev. A 79, 011603(R) (2009).« less
The Roles of Information and Experience in Improving Teachers' Knowledge and Attitudes about Mainstreaming.

Research on mainstreaming suggests that teachers are often ill prepared, both in terms of knowledge and attitude, to teach handicapped children. The present research investigated whether information about and experience with the handicapped would improve prospective regular education teachers' attitudes toward and knowledge about mainstreaming. In addition, data were gathered and reported on the relationship between teachers' attitudes and knowledge and certain characteristics, including term standing, areas of specialization, and grade-point averages. The results indicated that the teachers did not increase their general knowledge about mainstreaming as a result of only information about or only experience with the handicapped. However, attitudes toward mainstreaming significantly improved as a result of a combination of information about and experience with the handicapped and as a result of only information about the handicapped. The results also indicated that prospective teachers' attitudes toward an...
Expression profile of the tumorigenic factors associated with tumor size and sex steroid hormone status in uterine leiomyomata.

Objective To use tissue microarray in combination with dendrogram cluster analysis to characterize some potential tumorigenic factors in association with tumor size and sex steroid hormone status in uterine leiomyomata. Design Expression analysis of 21 selected potential tumorigenic factors in 60 patients with uterine leiomyomata. Setting University clinical research laboratory. Patient(s) Hysterectomy specimens from 60 patients with uterine leiomyomata of different ages and tumor sizes. Intervention(s) Tissue cores from normal myometrium and leiomyomata were examined by immunohistochemistry. Main Outcome Measure(s) Semiquantitative immunointensity was scored and analyzed by net gain and loss between normal myometrium and leiomyomata and integrated into dendrogram cluster tree view. Result(s) We found that upregulation of estrogen and progesterone receptors was reverse associated with tumor size. Upregulation of some factors (HMGA2, sex steroid receptor cofactors, proteins in insulin pathway, and CD24) were identified in a group of patients in their later forties, were associated with large fibroids, and were weakly affected by the SSH status (illustrated by endometrial phases and menopause). Downregulation of tuberin and glucocorticoid receptor was mostly isolated in a second group of women at their late reproductive age. Conclusion(s) Analyses of the sex steroid hormone receptors and the nonsex steroid hormone factors in leiomyomata and the matched myometrium showed different expression patterns in different tumor sizes and patients' ages. A group of patients in their late forties with the larger leiomyomata contributes largely by upregulation of nonsex steroid hormone factors. Adenomyosis is a protective factor preventing large leiomyomata.
On-Demand Separation of Oil-Water Mixtures

In this work, the first-ever membrane-based single unit operation that enables gravity driven, on-demand separation of various oil-water mixtures is developed. Using this methodology, the on-demand separation of free oil and water, oil-in-water emulsions, and water-in-oil emulsions is demonstrated, with ≥99.9% separation efficiency. A scaled-up apparatus to separate larger quantities (several liters) of oil-water emulsions is also developed.
Automatic translation from an expert system to a neural network representation

The expert system is first translated into an intermediate, parallel, symbolic representation. That representation is then translated into a real-valued or binary neural network. These translation strategies were implemented in an automatic translation prototype, which was successfully applied to a number of expert system applications. A large majority of each expert system was translated; the untranslatable portions were nonetheless parallelized. The translator produced a highly parallel network, effectively examining all objects and most rules in parallel, and capable of running up to five orders of magnitude faster on existing neural hardware than on a 386 machine. The benefit of the translation process is that it most effectively combines the benefits of neural networks and expert systems, producing systems that are easy to design and understand because of their expert system origin and that are adaptable, fault tolerant, and parallel because of their neural network implementation. >
On the usefulness of outer-loop power control with successive interference cancellation

In this paper we investigate FER-based outer-loop power control for successive interference cancellation. Specifically, we show that for unlimited mobile power, FER-based outer-loop power control will drive the received power to the power profile required to achieve equal performance. Further, when we consider power limits for specific mobiles, we find that individual mobile limits will not affect the performance of other signals and based on limited simulation results, the system appears to be stable in the presence of such limits.
Test Accommodations for Students With Disabilities: An Analysis of the Interaction Hypothesis

Test accommodations are often given to students with disabilities as one means of removing construct-irrelevant barriers to proper measurement of their knowledge, skills, and abilities. However, the practice is controversial. This article reviews numerous studies that focused on the effects of accommodations on test performance. Consistent conclusions were not found across studies because of the wide variety of accommodations, the various ways in which they were implemented, and the heterogeneity of students to whom they were given. But two consistent findings emerged: Extended time tended to improve the performance of all students, although students with disabilities tended to exhibit relatively greater score gains; and oral accommodations on math tests were associated with increased test performance for some students with disabilities.
Calcemic response to parathyroid hormone in renal failure: Role of calcitriol and the effect of parathyroidectomy

Calcemic response to parathyroid hormone in renal failure: Role of calcitriol and the effect of parathyroidectomy. Hyperparathyroidism due to renal failure begins in the early stages of renal insufficiency and is in part secondary to skeletal resistance to the calcemic action of parathyroid hormone (PTH). Factors which have been reported to reduce the calcemic response to PTH include: decreased calcitriol levels, hyperphosphatemia and down regulation of PTH receptors in bone. While hyperphosphatemia may directly decrease the calcemic response to PTH, it may also act indirectly by a suppression of calcitriol synthesis. In this study, the effect of calcitriol on the calcemic response to PTH was evaluated in normal rats and in rats with moderate and advanced renal failure. To determine the combined effect of calcitriol and phosphorus on the calcemic response to PTH, rats receiving calcitriol were fed either a high (1.0%) or low (0.2%) phosphorus diet during a 48-hour PTH infusion. In advanced renal failure, calcitriol administration increased the calcemic response to PTH independent of the dietary phosphorus intake. During ingestion of a low phosphorus diet, a 48 hour PTH infusion resulted in a serum calcium level of 13.7 ± 0.5 and 12.1 ± 0.2 mg/dl(P
Automatic Optimization of Segmentation Algorithms Through Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation (STAPLE)

The performance of automatic segmentation algorithms often depends critically upon a number of parameters intrinsic to the algorithm. Appropriate setting of these parameters is a pre-requisite for successful segmentation, and yet may be difficult for users to achieve. We propose here a novel algorithm for the automatic selection of optimal parameters for medical image segmentation. Our algorithm makes use of STAPLE (Simultaneous Truth and Performance Level Estimation), a previously described and validated algorithm for automatically identifying a reference standard by which to assess segmentation generators. We execute a set of independent automated segmentation algorithms with initial parameter settings, on a set of images from any clinical application under consideration, estimate a reference standard from the segmentation results using STAPLE, and then identify the parameter settings for each algorithm that maximizes the quality of the segmentation generator result with respect to the reference standard. The process of estimating a reference standard and estimating the optimal parameter settings is iterated to convergence.
Environmentally Responsive Cationic Liposome-DNA Complexes for Cell Delivery

Cationic lipids continue to attract attention as synthetic nucleic acid (NA) vectors, and are broadly used for gene transfection (with plasmid DNA) and silencing (with siRNA) including applications in clinical trials. This study elucidates the superior behavior of environmentally responsive multivalent cationic lipids containing degradable disulfide bond (labeled CMVLs). Remarkably, characterization of the complexes prepared with CMVLs containing degradable disulfide bond (compared to the non-degradable analogs) reveals the significant effects of stability control. The characterization of CMVL-NA complexes was assessed using varied CMVL/NA charge ratios in combination with different ratios of CMVLs to neutral lipids DOPC and Cholesterol. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to probe the initial formation of the lamellar structure of (Lαc) CMVL-DNA complexes and their instability in different reducing environments. The X-ray scattering demonstrates the disassembly of CMVLs-NA complexes in a reducing environment that mimics the cytoplasmic milieu. SAXS under reducing conditions reveals DNA bundle formation by the cleaved headgroup of CMVLs with highly charged headgroups (CMVL5, n=5+) but not for smaller headgroup charge (CMVL2, n=2+). In comparison to non-degradable analogs, CMVL-NA complexes exhibit an unexpectedly large reduction in cytotoxicity while retaining high transfection efficiency (Shirazi et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta - Biomembranes 2011, 1808, 2156–2166). The current results clearly demonstrate CMVLs as suitable building blocks to form stable assemblies in non-reducing environment with triggered disassembly induced by a switch to reducing environments. Funded by NIH GM-59288, DOE BES DE-FG-02-06ER46314, and NSF-DMR 1101900, C. Leal was partially funded by the Swedish Research Council(VR).
Patterns of cytokeratin expression in impression cytology specimens from normal human conjunctival epithelium.

The cytokeratins are a category of intermediate filaments characteristically found in epithelial cells. Approximately 20 cytokeratins have thus far been described and their normal pattern of expression appears to be dependent on cell-type and differentiation state. Moreover, in each epithelial cell type, a distinct subset of cytokeratin polypeptides will be present. Patterns of cytokeratin expression have been shown to change secondary to altered microenvironmental conditions (e.g. disease states) and these changes have become useful in diagnostic pathology. To this end, cytokeratin expression patterns in the various human epithelia, both normal and diseased, have been extensively examined. However, similar studies in the conjunctival epithelium are sparse and generally have examined non-human, cultured or limbal conjunctival epithelium and/or have used a limited panel of cytokeratin markers.
PBIS May Not Qualify as Classical Applied Behavior Analysis. So What

Some disagreement exists over whether Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) embodies the features of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) as described in a classic 1968 paper by Baer, Wolf, and Risley. When it comes to disseminating interventions at a societal level, a more compelling issue is whether ABA should become more like PBIS.
Negative Androgen-Response Elements in Androgen Target Genes

Genes that are positively regulated by androgen receptor (AR) contain the positive androgen-response element (pARE) in their proximal or/and distal promoter regions. Similarly, genes that are negatively regulated by AR contain the negative androgen-response element (nARE). In this chapter, we review our work on identification and characterization of nARE. We identified seven nAREs in the negative androgen-response region in the TGF-β1 promoter. Each nARE is composed of 15 nucleotides and mediates androgen-dependent inhibition of transcription. The 5′ portions of nAREs are highly conserved and resemble core half-sites in pAREs. The nAREs interacted weakly with AR DNA-binding domain (AR DBD) in gel shift assays. Mutations on the conserved nucleotides in the nARE abolished its interaction with the AR DBD and abolished its inhibition of androgen-driven transcription, suggesting that nARE/AR interaction is essential for nARE-mediated inhibition of transcription. Taken together, these findings indicate that the AR negatively regulates the expression of its target genes via a negative androgen-response region composed of multiple nAREs.
ECMO: Incidence and Outcomes of Patients Undergoing the Hybrid Procedure.

Objective To document the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) incidence and outcome in patients undergoing the hybrid procedure at an institution that routinely performs this procedure. Design A retrospective chart review on all patients with single ventricle physiology that underwent the hybrid procedure between 7/2002 and 12/2014. Patients were excluded if they underwent the hybrid procedure after 60 days of birth or subsequently underwent a biventricular repair. Setting A single center, tertiary pediatric hospital. Patients One hundred eighty-one patients with single ventricle physiology that underwent the hybrid procedure between 7/2002 and 12/2014. Interventions None. Measurements and Main Results We studied a total of 181 patients (105 males: 76 females). Gestational age was 37.8 ± 2.0 weeks and birth weight was 3.0 ± 0.7 kg. Underlying diagnosis was hypoplastic left heart syndrome in 149 patients and other in 32 patients. Age at surgery was 7.8 ± 6.8 days and weight at surgery was 3.1 ± 0.6 kg. Two patients underwent ECMO support after the hybrid procedure. One patient had aortic atresia/mitral atresia and weighed 2.3 kg and the other patient had aortic atresia/mitral stenosis and weighed 2.1 kg at time of surgery. Both patients died. Incidence of ECMO support after hybrid procedure was 1.3% (2/149) for the hypoplastic left heart syndrome patients and 1.1% (2/181) for the entire cohort. Conclusion Mortality in patients who underwent ECMO after the hybrid procedure was higher than reported for the Norwood procedure, however, the incidence of ECMO after hybrid procedure was also significantly lower than reported for the Norwood procedure. Future studies are needed to determine how to improve outcomes in this complex patient population.
State-dependent behavioral theory and the evolution of play

We show how state-dependent behavioral theory, as implemented by stochastic dynamic programming can enhance our understanding of play, assuming that play is an evolutionary adaptation rather than a non-functional consequence of other processes. We first explain in generic terms the components of a state-dependent behavioral model. We then develop a state-dependent life history model on the assumption that social play is adaptive and thus focus on play's contribution toward the development of skill and how such development affects an individual's future lifetime expected reproductive success i.e. fitness that accounts for both survival and reproduction. Although our model is not intended to capture a specific situation, a number of commonly observed phenomena emerge from the model, including that most social play is dyadic and that animals select partners that are of similar age or skill. We discuss ways of increasing the fidelity of the model by allowing injury due to play, the role of energetic reserves, handicapping, and polyadic play.
Optimization of Denitrification Process

A denitrification system composed of a completely stirred tank reactor (CSTR) followed in series with a plug flow reactor (PFR) was tested in order to minimize the disadvantages of each process when used separately. High efficiency of NO 3 -N removal and good process control can be achieved with the series treatment system using 25% of the volume required with a single CSTR reactor. Most influent NO 3 -N concentrations were greater than 1000 mg/l, and these usually result in effluent concentrations less than 50 mg/l. The effluent NO 3 -N concentration was reduced to less than 0.5 mg/l with a total hydraulic detention time of 1.7 hr when the influent NO 3 -N concentration was 80 mg/l. Design conditions which would minimize treatment volume requirements would include microbial mass loadings (g NO 3 -N g VSS/ day in the CSTR and PFR of 2.0 day - ¹, and 0.2 day - ¹, respectively, resulting in a 40% removal efficiency in the CSTR reactor and greater than 95% NO 3 -N removal efficiency in the total system. The microbial yield averaged 0.11 g VSS synthesized per g of COD removed.
The Axiom of Choice: Proofs by Transfinite Induction

This chapter presents several statements, which are called “principles” because they are well-formed formulae but not propositions, in the sense that neither of them nor their negations are theorems, in the Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory. The first sections show how Zorn’s Maximal-Element Principle implies Zermelo’s Well-Ordering Principle, which in turn implies the Choice Principle. Thus any extension of the Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory that includes Zorn’s Maximal-Element Principle as an axiom also includes the other two principles as theorems. From the Choice Principle, subsequent sections demonstrate the converse implications, known as Zorn’s Lemma and Zermelo’s Theorem, so that all three principles are logically equivalent within the Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory. Hence all three principles are theorems in the Zermelo-Fraenkel-Choice set theory, which includes the Choice Principle as the Axiom of Choice. The material also introduces yet other principles that are logically equivalent to the Axiom of Choice, for example, the principle of the distributivity of intersections over unions of families of sets. Any theory that requires any such equivalent principle thus also requires the Axiom of Choice. Other consequences of the Axiom of Choice include the existence of extrema for continuous functions on closed and bounded sets in Euclidean spaces.
New Mechanism for H2 Formation in Water

The formation of H2 in the radiolysis of liquid water is more closely associated with the nonhydrated electron or precursor to the hydrated electron than with the hydrated electron. Experiments with 5 MeV helium ions suggest that the principle mechanism for hydrogen formation is dissociative recombination of the water cation and the nonhydrated electron. The nonhydrated electron undergoing recombination does not appear to be in the lowest energy p-like state, but it probably has an excess energy of several eV. The second-order recombination processes is very sensitive to the type of ionizing radiation leading to the observed variation in hydrogen yields. Furthermore, the relative mobility of the reactants through heterogeneous interfaces may result in a substantial yield of molecular hydrogen in practical situations involving adsorbed water.
Studies on database access method of J2EE applications

Web application systems based on J2EE architecture mostly need be supported with the database,and its performance is affected by the method of database access.In view of the J2EE database access environment,some factors with respect to the performance of the database system are researched and analyzed in practical process.The different ways of database access are also presented,meantime some conclusions and suggestions are derived.
Altered sodium current response to intracellular fatty acids in halothane-hypersensitive skeletal muscle

Biopsies of human skeletal muscle were analyzed by an in vitro contracture test (IVCT) for responsiveness to a halothane challenge: noncontracting (nonresponsive; IVCT-) and contracting (IVCT+). A muscle biopsy that is IVCT+ indicates potential malignant hyperthermia (MH) susceptibility. Primary cultures were grown from portions of the skeletal muscle biopsies, and voltage-activated currents were measured by whole cell recording in the presence or absence of 2-5 microM intracellular arachidonic or oleic acids. In untreated IVCT- cells, Na+ currents were predominantly tetrodotoxin (TTX) insensitive, indicating that most of the current was carried through the embryonic SkM2 isoform of the Na+ channel. Inclusion of fatty acids in the recording pipette of IVCT- cells produced an increase in voltage-activated Na+ currents during 20 min of recording. Approximately 70% of currents in fatty acid-treated cells were TTX sensitive, indicating activation of the adult SkM1 isoform of the Na+ channel. In contrast to IVCT- cells, IVCT+ cells expressed Na+ currents that were predominantly TTX sensitive even in the absence of added fatty acid, thus showing a relatively large baseline functional expression of SkM1 channels. Addition of fatty acids to the recording pipette produced little further change in the magnitude or TTX sensitivity of the whole cell currents in IVCT+ cells, suggesting altered functional regulation of Na+ channels in MH muscle.
Controlling for Population Density Using Clustering and Data Weighting Techniques When Examining Social Health and Welfare Problems

Clustering techniques partition the unit of analysis or study subjects into similar groups by a certain variable, thus permitting a model to run on cases with related attributes as a control for sociodemographic differences. Though large-scale national surveys often provide a raw weight variable, when applied without transformation, yields no change in statistical results, thus leading to spurious conclusions about relationships between predictors and outcomes. For example, most research studies using various components of the National Longitudinal Survey on Youth (NLSY) data sets to test hypotheses do not employ a weighting technique or post-stratification procedure to normalize the sample against the population from which it is drawn. Therefore, this chapter will illustrate how an algebraic weight formula introduced by Oh and Scheuren (Weighting adjustment for unit non-response. In: Incomplete Data in Sample Surveys, Chap. 3. Academic Press, New York, 1983), can be used in path analysis to elucidate the relationship between underlying psychosocial mechanisms and health risk behaviors among adolescents in the 1998 NLSY Young Adult cohort. Using the NLSY sample originally surveyed from US population, the association between self-assessed risk perception or risk proneness and how that perception affects the likelihood of an adolescent to engage in substance use and sexual behavior is investigated, separated into clusters by mother’s race/ethnicity and educational attainment. To control for oversampling of under represented racial/ethnic groups, mathematically adjusted design weights are then implemented in the calculation of the covariance matrices for each cluster group by race and educational attainment, comparing non-normalized vs. normalized path analysis results. The impact of ignoring weights leading to serious bias in parameter estimates, with the underestimation of standards errors will be presented illustrating the distinction between weighted and non-weighted data. As an innovative statistical approach, this application uses a weighted case approach by testing the model on discrete cluster samples of youth by race/ethnicity and mother’s educational attainment. Determining public health policy initiatives and objectives requires that the data be representative of the population, ensured by transforming and applying the weight formula to the sample.