cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Prolonged treatment with transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) modulates neuro-gastric motility and plasma levels of vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), motilin and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in systemic sclerosis.

PURPOSE We assessed the effects of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on neurogastric functioning in scleroderma patients. METHODS Seventeen SSc patients underwent 30 min TENS treatment >10Hz at GI acupuncture points PC6 and ST36, once (acute TENS) and then after two weeks of TENS sessions for 30 min twice daily (prolonged TENS). Data collected at Visits 1 and 2 included gastric myoelectrical activity (GMA) by surface electrogastrography (EGG), heart rate variability (HRV) by surface electrocardiography (EKG), GI specific symptoms and health related SF-36 questionnaires. Plasma VIP, motilin and IL-6 levels were determined. Statistical analyses were performed by Student's t-test, Spearman Rank and p-values <0.05 were considered significant. RESULTS 1. Only after prolonged TENS, the percentages of normal slow waves and average slow wave coupling (especially channels 1, 2 reflecting gastric pacemaker and corpus regions) were significantly increased; 2. the percentage of normal slow waves was significantly correlated to sympathovagal balance; 3. Mean plasma VIP and motilin levels were significantly decreased after acute TENS, (vs. baseline), generally maintained in the prolonged TENS intervals. Compared to baseline, mean plasma IL-6 levels were significantly increased after acute TENS, but significantly decreased after prolonged TENS. 4. After prolonged TENS, the frequency of awakening due to abdominal pain and abdominal bloating were significantly and modestly decreased, respectively. CONCLUSIONS In SSc patients, two weeks of daily TENS improved patient GMA scores, lowered plasma VIP, motilin and IL-6 levels and improved association between GMA and sympathovagal balance. This supports the therapeutic potential of prolonged TENS to enhance gastric myoelectrical functioning in SSc.
Early palliative care for children with cancer: A multi-institutional survey study of pediatric oncology patients and parents.

10582Background: Based on strong recent evidence, clinical consensus is growing that early Palliative care (PC) integration for cancer patients is the optimal care model; however, PC remains underu...
Data quality and quantity for invasive species: A case study of the lionfishes

Predicting invasion risk involves inherent uncertainty when data on biological and ecological characteristics are lacking. To combat data gaps, assessors are required to use information from secondary sources, further reducing predictive accuracy. Lionfish in the subfamily Pteroinae have invasion history in the Western Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea, raising concern that other species of globally traded lionfish may pose risks similar to the invasive complex comprised of the red lionfish (Pterois volitans, Scorpaenidae) and devil firefish (Pterois miles, Scorpaenidae). We conducted a standardized literature review of 18 species in the genera Pterois, Dendrochirus, and Parapterois to (a) characterize the volume and composition of literature addressing the invasive complex pre‐establishment and pre‐spread, and compare it to the body of literature that has been generated post‐spread and impact, (b) compare the volume and composition of literature addressing other members of Pteroinae to the invasive complex, and (c) evaluate data quality addressing the Pteroinae by characterizing literature used to generate biological profile reports during a risk screening protocol. Little data were available for the invasive complex prior to introduction and focused primarily on the composition or effects of venom. Following introduction, there was a considerable time lag in research effort. Post‐spread, research effort increased rapidly. We identify similar data deficiencies for other species of lionfish that have not been reported outside of their native ranges. While proactive management is gaining support as an effective framework, it is important to understand data limitations and their resulting uncertainties, which leads to more informed proactive management.
Application of Physical, Chemical, and Metabolic Factors to the Management of Urolithiasis

It is not my purpose to review in depth all forms of therapy available today for the prevention of recurrent urolithiasis. It is sufficient to say that, for all disorders associated with stone formation within the urinary tract, potentially effective forms of therapy are available. The preceding presentations have provided an excellent review of the extent and limitations of our knowledge of the physical chemistry, metabolism, and physiology that may be disordered and allow a stone to be formed and to grow within the urinary tract. With this background, it would seem timely to attempt to apply this knowledge to the problem at hand, namely the patient who is actively forming stones.
Toward Upcycled and Sustainable Robotics: Developing an Accessible, Flexible, and Environmentally Friendly Robotics Platform

The development of an environmentally aware and accessible robotic platform that has the flexibility to be used in multiple applications is described. The robot utilizes upcycled components and serves as an economical robotic platform whose sensor loadout can easily be tailored for mission-specific needs. The robot can serve as an intelligent system applied to education, safety, environmental remediation, stewardship, physical rehabilitative services, service, or active sanitation applications. A sample of undergraduate student projects using this platform is discussed. These can lead to increased access to robotics, societal aid, and reduced waste.
Pressure or Prudence? Tales of Market Pressure and Fiscal Adjustment

Abstract We study whether multiyear fiscal adjustment plans in 17 OECD countries during 1980–2011 have been associated with market pressure. We find that only a fraction of the consolidations occurred under market pressure, suggesting that market pressure is important but not the main element associated with consolidation plans. Many adjustments under market pressure were also clustered around external shocks, and entailed larger median fiscal adjustments than other multiyear consolidations. In contrast, we find that virtually all multiyear consolidations aimed at reducing budget deficits occurred with initially weak macro-fiscal fundamentals.
Effect of tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ on the growth of human prostate cancer cell lines

Human recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α (rTNF-α, 10-12–10-8 M) inhibited the proliferation of androgen-dependent LNCaP cells by 32–56%. In contrast, proliferation of androgen-independent PC-3 and JCA-1 cells was only slightly inhibited, or not inhibited at all, respectively. Human recombinant interferon-γ (rIFN-γ, 500 U/ml) decreased proliferation of PC-3 and JCA-1 cells by 35% and 53%, respectively, but had no effect on LNCaP cells. Interestingly, the combination of rIFN-γ and TNF-α had greater antiproliferative effects on JCA-1 cells than treatment with either cytokine alone. However, the antiproliferative effects of this combination were similar to those observed for PC-3 or LNCaP cells treated with rIFN-γ or TNF-α alone, respectively. These data suggest that some forms of androgen-independent prostate cancer may benefit from a combination therapy of IFN-γ and TNF-α, while the use of IFN-γ alone may be more efficacious in others.
Walking the Sustainability Talk: If Not Us, Who? If Not Now, When?

This essay centers on the personal sustainability behaviors of faculty as related to research, teaching, and service, as well as those behaviors that go far beyond these typical faculty responsibil...
Understanding the Institutional Landscape of Cyber Security

The decentralized architecture of the Internet, which has been key to its development and worldwide deployment, is making it challenging to secure Internet user experience. Many organizations claim to be playing a role in improving Internet security. If anything, the space of security-related institutions seems on ﬁrst inspection to be over-populated, yet poor security persists. This work proposes a framework to understand the role diﬀerent institutions play in cyber security. The analysis gives insights into the broad institutional ecosystem of public, private and international actors, and the varied nature of these institutions, their interests, incentives, and contributions to cyber security from hardware, software, protocols, standards and regulation. Based on natural language clustering algorithms, this framework classiﬁes institutions along ﬁve dimensions: the aspect of cyber security the institution covers, the industry and activity sector of the institution, whether it is part of a speciﬁc jurisdiction, speciﬁc institution’s characteristics such as its working mode or primary focus, and the institution governance type. This work is based on a dataset that was developed including approximately 120 institutions playing a role in cyber security. Using this framework, it is possible to better understand the nature of the large number of organizations currently shaping cyber security, the relationship between them, areas of competing and overlapping institutional interest, and the overall structure of institutional responses to cyber security.
Loiasis and diurnal microfilaremia: Searching at the right moment.

A healthy young woman from Cameroon was addressed to the tropical medicine consultation of the University Hospitals of Geneva to investigate an asymptomatic eosinophilia of 1.22 G/l and a history of "eye worms"during childhood. Direct microscopic observation found viable microfilariae and the stained blood smear confirmed Loa loa species.
Biophysics : a physiological approach

Specifically tailored to life science students, this textbook explains quantitative aspects of human biophysics with examples drawn from contemporary physiology, genetics and nanobiology. It outlines important physical ideas, equations and examples at the heart of contemporary physiology, along with the organization necessary to understand that knowledge. The wide range of biophysical topics covered include energetics, bond formation and dissociation, diffusion and directed transport, muscle and connective tissue physics, fluid flow, membrane structure, electrical properties and transport, pharmacokinetics and system dynamics and stability. Enabling students to understand the uses of quantitation in modern biology, equations are presented in the context of their application, rather than derivation. They are each directed toward the understanding of a biological principle, with a particular emphasis on human biology. Supplementary resources, including a range of test questions, are available at www.cambridge.org/9781107001442.
"Both" means more than "two": localizing and counting in patients with visuospatial neglect

We report that in patients with hemispatial neglect after parietal damage, visual awareness critically depends on different attentional demands for enumeration or localization. Neglect patients usually fail to attend to stimuli in the hemifield contralateral to the lesion (contralesional) and 'extinguish' them when simultaneously presented with competing stimuli ipsilateral to the lesion (ipsilesional), even though primary visual pathways are intact, and a contralesional stimulus presented alone is detected. Here we show that contralesional extinction differed when patients enumerated or located stimuli in space. Enumerating only a few ( 4) visual elements may exploit 'subitizing' mechanisms independent from spatial attention (unlike 'counting' of more elements), as is the case in normal people.
Event-based decompositions for reasoning about external change in planners

An increasing number of planners can handle uncertainty in the domain or in action outcomes. However, less work has addressed building plans when the planner's world can change independently of the planning agent in an uncertain manner. In this paper, I model this change with external events that concisely represent some aspects of structure in the planner's domain. This event model is given a formal semantics in terms of a Markov chain, but probabilistic computations from this chain would be intractable in real-world domains. I describe a technique, based on a reachability analysis of a graph built from the events, that allows abstractions of the Markov chain to be built to answer specific queries efficiently. I prove that the technique is correct. I have implemented a planner that uses this technique, and I show an example from a large planning domain.
Challenges and Opportunities for Water of the Rio Grande

The Rio Grande has headwaters in Colorado, flows through New Mexico, and serves as the United States.–Mexico border in Texas, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Snow melt in Colorado and northern New Mexico constitutes the water river supply for New Mexico and the El Paso region, whereas summer monsoonal flow from the Rio Conchos in Mexico and tributaries, including the Pecos River, provides the Rio Grande flow for southern Texas. The region is mostly semiarid with frequent long-term drought periods but is also characterized by a substantial irrigated agriculture sector and a rapidly growing population. International treaties and interstate compacts provide the rules for allocation of Rio Grandewaters between the United States and Mexico and among Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. Water rights in Texas have been adjudicated, but the adjudication process was based on a wet period; hence, contemporary Rio Grande water rights are overallocated. Issues related to the waters of the Rio Grande include: frequent drought, increased municipal demand caused by a rapidly increasing population, supply variability, underdeliveries from Mexico, increasing salinity, inefficient delivery systems, health issues of the population, no economic/financial incentives for farmers to conserve, and water is not typically priced for efficiency. Stakeholders are interested in identifying solutions to limited water supplies while there is increasing demand. There are several activities in place addressing Rio Grande-related water needs, including enhancing delivery distribution efficiency of raw water, conversion of rights from agriculture to urban, improving both agricultural irrigation field distribution and urban use efficiency, developments in desalination, and litigation. None of the solutions are easy or inexpensive, but there are encouraging cooperative attitudes between stakeholders.
Teaching fundamentals for web programming and e-commerce in a liberal arts computer science curriculum

Web programming and e-commerce are popular topics, but it is not clear how they should be supported in an undergraduate computer science curriculum. This paper presents experience with a course that used Java and Perl/CGI to provide some fundamentals for web programming, and plans for a related upcoming course that should cover material more efficiently and provide fundamentals for e-commerce. Topics covered in the course are compared to skills required for e-commerce as described by Ge and Sun [Ge and Sun 2000].
Semantic features of an enterprise interface terminology for SNOMED RT.

Objective To evaluate the utility of SNOMED RT in support of a natural language interface for encoding of clinical assessments. Method Using a random sample of clinical terms from the UNMC Lexicon, I mapped the terminology into canonical data entries using SNOMED RT. Working from the source term language, I evaluated lexical mapping to the SNOMED term set, and the function of the SNOMED RT semantic network in support of a language-based clinical coding interface. Results Ambiguity in the source terms was low at 0.3%. Lexical (language-based) mapping could account for only 48.8% of meaning from the source terms. The RT semantic network accounted for 39.5% of meaning, and supplementing the lexical map this led to 80.2% capture of source content. Error rates in the segment of RT which I reviewed were low at 0.6%. 97.6% of source content could be accurately captured in SNOMED RT. Conclusion SNOMED RT supported an accurate and reliable representation of clinical assessment data in this sample. The semantic network of RT substantially enhanced the encoding of concepts relative to lexical mapping. However these data suggest that natural language encoding with SNOMED RT in an enterprise environment is unlikely at this time.
Perceived affordability of health insurance and medical financial burdens five years in to Massachusetts health reform

Under the Massachusetts health reform, low income residents (those with incomes below 150 % of the Federal Poverty Level [FPL]) were eligible for Medicaid and health insurance exchange-based plans with minimal cost-sharing and no premiums. Those with slightly higher incomes (150 %-300 % FPL) were eligible for exchange-based plans that required cost-sharing and premium payments. We conducted face to face surveys in four languages with a convenience sample of 976 patients seeking care at three hospital emergency departments five years after Massachusetts reform. We compared perceived affordability of insurance, financial burden, and satisfaction among low cost sharing plan recipients (recipients of Medicaid and insurance exchange-based plans with minimal cost-sharing and no premiums), high cost sharing plan recipients (recipients of exchange-based plans that required cost-sharing and premium payments) and the commercially insured. We found that despite having higher incomes, higher cost-sharing plan recipients were less satisfied with their insurance plans and perceived more difficulty affording their insurance than those with low cost-sharing plans. Higher cost-sharing plan recipients also reported more difficulty affording medical and non-medical health care as well as insurance premiums than those with commercial insurance. In contrast, patients with low cost-sharing public plans reported higher plan satisfaction and less financial concern than the commercially insured. Policy makers with responsibility for the benefit design of public insurance available under health care reforms in the U.S. should calibrate cost-sharing to income level so as to minimize difficulty affording care and financial burdens.
Predictors of Depression Diagnoses and Symptoms in Veterans: Results From a National Survey

Military suicide has become a public health crisis. To explore diagnosed depression and symptoms that indicate the presence of undiagnosed depression in veteran respondents, researchers analyzed data from the 2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS). Independent variables were analyzed to explore associations between depressive conditions and key demographic and behavioral predictors. Results indicated increased likelihood of having a diagnosed condition in veterans of Gulf War I, women, veterans without a domestic partnership, physically inactive veterans, and smokers. Results indicated increased likelihood of undiagnosed depressive conditions in recent Iraq/Afghanistan veterans, women, Hispanic veterans, binge drinkers, and smokers. This inquiry was intended to offer insights that may guide the planning and implementation of targeted resilience programming for the veteran community.
Hand and eye preference and their association with task approach by preschoolers

Hand preference, eye preference, and the concordance of hand-eye preference were assessed in 99 healthy preschool-age children (46 boys: Mage= 55.4 mo., SD= 10.5 and 53 girls: Mage=53.6 mo., SD= 11.8). Children were also administered neuropsychological measures requiring attention and reaching to both sides of midline including the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test, Third Edition, Multiple Boxes Test, Developmental Neuropsychological Assessment Visual Attention, and Imitating Hand Positions. All groups performed in the average range using standard administration and scoring of the neuropsychological tests, and no significant differences were found in performance between those with left- versus right-hand preference, left-versus right-eye preference, or concordant versus discordant hand/eye preference. In contrast, significant differences were noted in task approach to neuropsychological measures depending on hand preference. Rate of left-hand preference in this sample was consistent with that seen for adults; and rate of left-eye preference, and hand/eye concordance remained stable across age groups 3 to 6 years. While the presence of left-hand or -eye preference or discordance in the preschool years appears to be a benign characteristic in relation to standardized test performance, some aspects of test-taking efficiency may be affected.
The Use of Alternative Therapies in the Support of Breastfeeding

Surveys show that a significant percentage of Americans are using alternative therapies. Women are more likely than men to seek alternative health care and often use alternative therapies for childbirth-related concerns. Despite abundant anecdotal evidence supporting the efficacy of alternative practice for the enhancement of breastfeeding, surprisingly little corroborating empirical evidence exists in the medical literature. This article reviews the studies pertaining to the use of several alternative techniques for breastfeeding women including herbalism, acupuncture, imagery, massage, diet, and the application of cabbage leaves. Speculation is made regarding the psychological value of women's use of alternative treatments during breastfeeding.
MEASUREMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHIC QUALITY AND INDIVIDUAL DISTINCTIVENESS FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF HUMPBACK WHALES, MEGAPTERA NOVAEANGLIAE

Accurate identification of humpback whales from photographic identification data depends on the quality of the photographs and the distinctiveness of the flukes. Criteria for evaluating photographic quality and individual distinctiveness were developed involving judgments about overall quality or distinctiveness and about specific aspects of each. These criteria were tested for the level of agreement among judges. The distinctiveness scheme was tested for the independence of distinctiveness judgments and photographic quality. Our results show that judges could agree when evaluating specific and overall aspects of photographic quality and individual distinctiveness. The level of agreement varied for different pairs of judges, and less adept judges were identified. Ability to agree on evaluations of photographic quality was independent of the experience of the judges. Overall photographic quality and overall distinctiveness were successfully predicted from more specific variables, but the agreement between judges for these was not significantly greater than the agreement for the overall measures judged directly. There was no correlation between individual distinctiveness and photographic quality for four of the five judges, but the power of this rest may be low. Analyses of photographic identification data frequently require evaluations of photographic quality and individual distinctiveness. To obtain reliable results from such analyses, evaluation schemes and judges should be tested to ensure reliable and consistent evaluations.
How Can the Waveforms of a Clinical Electrocardiogram Be Measured Automatically by a Computer

A clinical electrocardiographic interpretation depends on use of classifications tailored by the physician to suit his own clinical practice. These classifications are built up from the correlations of multiple combinations of electrocardiographic parameters and their measurements to clinical entities. If the clinical electrocardiogram or any other clinically used "electro-medical" signal is to be examined by a computer it is the specialist of the subject matter who must develop a step by step organization and detailed logic of the material so that the "computer specialist" can follow it. With this available, the "computer specialist" is able to properly detail the procedures that the computer will follow to perform the desired service for the practicing physician.
Parasitoid Complex of Eucallipterus tiliae (Homoptera: Drepanosiphidae) in Northern California

Trioxys curcicaudus Mackauer was imported into northern California in 1970 for control of the linden aphid, Eucallipterus tiliae (L.). In 1991, it was found no farther than 40 km from the release sites, but in this area it is the dominant primary parasitoid attacking the aphid. This limited distribution is attributed mainly to the scarcity of favored hosts ; climatic conditions play a contributory role. In 1992, T curvicaudus was introduced and established in San Rafael, partially displacing the previously dominant T pallidus (Haliday) ; however, it did not provide satisfactory control of the aphid. Five other primary parasitoids were reared from the linden aphid : T tenuicaudus Stary, Aphelinus subflavescens (Westwood), A. sp. nr. perpallidus Gahan, A. automatus Girault, and an undescribed Trioxys species (the latter three are new host records). Ten hyperparasitoid species were recovered, with new host records for Pachyneuron calfornicum Girault and Coruna clavata Walker on Trioxys, Alloxysta xanthopsis (Ashmead) on Aphelinus, and a species from the Alloxysta megourae (Ashmead) complex on Trioxys and the subgenus Aphelinus (Mesidia). Hyperparasitoid species ranged from patchy to well distributed. Syrphophagus aphidivorus (Mayr) was reared at a significantly higher rate from Aphelinus hosts than Trioxys hosts.
The Role of Writing Apprehension in Writing Performance and Competence

AbstractThe role of apprehension in the writing competency and writing performance of 110 undergraduates was investigated. The hypotheses were that high apprehensives would perform differently than low apprehensives on standardized tests of writing-related skills (competency) and on two essays of different types (performance). The hypothesis for writing competency was confirmed. However, the hypothesis for writing performance was confirmed for only one of the two essay types. Differences in indices measuring syntactic development and in judgments of writing quality were observed in the narrative/descriptive essays, but not in the argumentative essays.
Large-stroke self-aligned vertical comb drive actuators for adaptive optics applications

A high-stroke micro-actuator array was designed, modeled, fabricated and tested. Each pixel in the 4x4 array consists of a self-aligned vertical comb drive actuator. This micro-actuator array was designed to become the foundation of a micro-mirror array that will be used as a deformable mirror for adaptive optics applications. Analytical models combined with CoventorWare{reg_sign} simulations were used to design actuators that would move up to 10{micro}m in piston motion with 100V applied. Devices were fabricated according to this design and testing of these devices demonstrated an actuator displacement of 1.4{micro}m with 200V applied. Further investigation revealed that fabrication process inaccuracy led to significantly stiffer mechanical springs in the fabricated devices. The increased stiffness of the springs was shown to account for the reduced displacement of the actuators relative to the design.
Relocation and Alienation of the Elderly: Support for Stokols' Model

Fifty residents of senior citizen housing were interviewed to assess the applicability of Stokols' model of alienation to their relocation experiences. In this model three conditions are necessary' for the development of alienation: feeling thwarted or frustrated by some group, holding negative attitudes toward it, and subsequently being forced to maintain association with this group. When applied to relocation experiences, these conditions translate into the elderly feeling forced to relocate from their neighborhood, holding negative attitudes toward their old neighborhood yet maintaining associations with salient others whom they knew before relocating. The three-way interaction of these variables specified by Stokols' model provided a significant increment in the prediction of alienation in two of three multiple regression analyses. Implications of these results for Stokols' model and the related social psychological constructs 'of reactance, comparison level, and frustration-aggression theories are di...
The effect of water loading on albumin excretion in Type I diabetes mellitus

Abstract An increased albumin excretion rate is recognized as an important early marker for incipient kidney disease in patients with diabetes mellitus. Many different techniques have been used, and a single void technique has been proposed as the simplest method for screening for increased albumin excretion. We evaluated a previous observation that single void samples during water diuresis yield increased albumin excretion rates. Timed day, night, and 24 hour albumin excretion rates (AER) were obtained in 35 patients with Type I diabetes mellitus. This was followed by examination of 8 consecutive half-hour specimens obtained during continued water diuresis. We compared 26 patients with low AER ( 20 and
Termination of Inspiration Through Graded Inhibition of Inspiratory Activity

While the central neural mechanisms responsible for the transition from inspiration to expiration (I-E switching) remain speculative, our understanding has progressed considerably. To a large extent, our improved understanding stems from the detailed and systematic study of the effect of controlled and selective perturbations of inputs that modulate breathing pattern.
Coadsorption of cyanogen and potassium on Pt(111)

Abstract The coadsorption of potassium and cyanogen on Pt(111) has been studied by thermal desorption spectroscopy. A new feature in the cyanogen desorption is identified at 363 K, 30 K above the desorption temperature for the molecular state of cyanogen on clean Pt(111). The potassium/cyanogen interaction which leads to the new desorption feature has a reasonably well defined 1 : 1 stoichiometry.
An investigation of polymer dope and heating effects on hollow fiber membranes

AbstractHollow fiber membranes were made from two different dope solutions by using a dry-jet wet spinning process. One dope solution contains cellulose acetate (CA)/N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) with a mass ratio of 20/80 and the other contains polysulfone (PS)/NMP with a mass ratio of 15/85. The hollow fiber membranes were heated in a water bath to investigate the effect of heat treatment. It was found that for the CA membranes, the pore size shrank due to the heat treatment as there was a decrease in permeation and an increase in protein rejection. The most dramatic change for the CA membranes occurred after being heated to 95°C, which resulted in an increase in bovine serum albumin (BSA) rejection to 99% while the permeation decreased to 39 L h−1 m−2 bar−1. This is due to heating above the glass transition temperature (67–68°C) for CA. For the PS membranes, the pore size remained unchanged throughout the two heat treatments as the glass transition temperature is 185°C. The PS membranes did however have...
THE ROLE OF OXYGEN IN TISSUE MAINTENANCE: MATHEMATICAL MODELING AND QUALITATIVE ANALYSIS

The cells in a tissue occupying a region Ωt are divided according to their cycling phase. The density pi of cells in phase i depends on the spatial variable x, the time t, and the time si since the cells entered in phase i. The pi(x, t, si) and the oxygen concentration w(x, t) satisfy a system of PDEs in Ωt, and the boundary of Ωt is a free boundary. We denote by the oxygen concentration on the free boundary and consider the radially symmetric case, so that Ωt = {r 0 for all t. Finally, we prove the existence and uniqueness of a stationary solution in a special case.
GreenDroid: An architecture for the Dark Silicon Age

The Dark Silicon Age kicked off with the transition to multicore and will be characterized by a wild chase for seemingly ever-more insane architectural designs. At the heart of this transformation is the Utilization Wall, which states that, with each new process generation, the percentage of transistors that a chip can switch at full frequency is dropping exponentially due to power constraints. This has led to increasingly larger and larger fractions of a chip's silicon area that must remain passive, or dark. Since Dark Silicon is an exponentially-worsening phenomenon, getting worse at the same rate that Moore's Law is ostensibly making process technology better, we need to seek out fundamentally new approaches to designing processors for the Dark Silicon Age. Simply tweaking existing designs is not enough. Our research attacks the Dark Silicon problem directly through a set of energy-saving accelerators, called Conservation Cores, or c-cores. C-cores are a post-multicore approach that constructively uses dark silicon to reduce the energy consumption of an application by 10× or more. To examine the utility of c-cores, we are developing GreenDroid, a multicore chip that targets the Android mobile software stack. Our mobile application processor prototype targets a 32-nm process and is comprised of hundreds of automatically generated, specialized, patchable c-cores. These cores target specific Android hotspots, including the kernel. Our preliminary results suggest that we can attain up to 11× improvement in energy efficiency using a modest amount of silicon.
Delayed neurotoxicity of O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate: Toxic effects of a single oral dose on the nervous system of hens

Delayed neurotoxicity was produced in hens, following the administration of a single oral dose of technical (85%) EPN (O-ethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phenylphosphonothioate) in a gelatin capsule. Doses ranged from 25 to 500 mg/kg (2.5–50 times the LD50). These hens also received multiple doses of atropine sulfate to protect them against acute toxicity. Hens given the smaller doses of EPN showed only ataxia, while a few of those treated with the larger doses progressed to paralysis and death. Histologic examination showed marked axon and myelin degeneration in the sciatic nerve and spinal cord of some hens. The lesions in the peripheral nerves were generally observed earlier than those in the spinal cord. Hens given only 10 mg/kg of EPN (LD50 value) and small doses of atropine sulfate did not show neurologic signs of delayed neurotoxicity nor histological changes. Controls consisted of four groups of hens given a single dose of 500 mg/kg of tri-o-cresyl phosphate (TOCP), 10 mg/kg of parathion (O,O-diethyl O-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate), 300 mg/kg of atropine sulfate, or an empty gelatin capsule. TOCP-Treated hens developed delayed neurotoxicity while those given parathion showed initially leg weakness but subsequently recovered without developing delayed neurotoxicity. Controls receiving atropine sulfate and gelatin capsule remained normal. Plasma cholinesterase activity was significantly reduced in all surviving hens 90 days after the administration of a single dose of TOCP or EPN, except in birds given 10 mg/kg of EPN. This enzyme was not affected in atropine sulfate or parathion control hens.
The complexity of cover inequality separation11This research was supported by US Army Research Office DAAH04-94-G-0017 and NSF Grant No. DMI-9700285.

Crowder et al. (Oper. Res. 31 (1983) 803-834) conjectured that the separation problem for cover inequalities for binary integer programs is polynomially solvable. We show that the general problem is NP-hard but a special case is solvable in linear time.
Effect of genotype and environment on flavonoid concentration and profile of black sorghum grains

In recent years, colored sorghum genotypes high in flavonoids have been developed. Flavonoid levels of eight black sorghum genotypes grown in four locations in Texas were evaluated to assess the relative genotype, environment and genotype × environment effects. Levels of total 3-deoxyanthocyanidins ranged from 292 μg/g to 499 μg/g and 251 μg/g to 804 μg/g across environments and genotypes, respectively. Total 3-deoxyanthocyanidins in sorghums from Halfway were low (178–694 μg/g) due to the reduction of their non-methoxylated forms. This reduction is likely due to significant grain weathering which was observed only at Halfway. In addition, flavanone and flavone levels were the lowest at Halfway with levels of 12 μg/g and 78 μg/g, respectively. For all flavonoids there was a genotype by environment interaction (p < 0.01) which suggests that environment had a different effect on flavonoid levels depending on the genotype. Color values L*, a* and b* did not correlate with flavonoid content. Due to genotype, environment and their interactions, sorghum breeders must evaluate these traits in multiple environments to identify genotypes with high and stable production of flavonoid compounds.
The conversion of glucose and fructose to fatty acids in the human liver

Abstract The capacity of the human liver for the glycolysis of fructose is greater than that for glucose as indicated by the greater activity of fructose glycolytic enzymes. In human liver slices [14C6] fructose was metabolized to fatty acids, CO2, and glyceride-glycerol at a greater rate than [14C6] glucose. The conversion of [14C6] glucose to fatty acids was dependent on the medium glucose concentration. These results, in the human liver, are similar to those in the rat. The rate of fatty acid synthesis in human liver is related directly to the rate of glycolysis. This dependence of fatty acid synthesis on the glycolytic rate seems to result from the fact that hepatic fatty acid synthesis is limited by the availability of substrate. The increased lipogenic potential associated with fructose as compared to glucose or with very high glucose concentrations could explain, in part, the differential effects of different carbohydrates on the plasma triglyceride concentration in man.
The solar mass ejection imager

Abstract We have designed an imager capable of observing the Thomson scattering signal from transient, diffuse features in the heliosphere from a spacecraft situated near 1 AU. The imager is expected to trace these features, which include coronal mass ejections, co-rotating structures and shock waves, to elongations greater than 90° from the Sun. The instrumentation ultimately may be regarded as a successor to the heliospheric imaging cabability shown possible by the zodiacal-light photometers of the HELIOS spacecraft. The second-generation instrument we have designed, would make far more effective use of in-situ solar wind data from spacecraft in the vicinity of the imager by extending these observations to the structures surrounding it. In addition, an imager at Earth could allow up to three days warning of the arrival of a mass ejection from the Sun.
Comparison of hemolysis in blood samples collected using an automatic incision device and a manual lance.

Objective To evaluate the magnitude of hemolysis in blood specimens collected from the heels of newborns using an automated blood collection device that uses a spring-loaded lance with blood collected using a manual lance. Design A randomized controlled trial involving 134 newborns assigned to have blood collected using either an automated blood collection device or a manual lance. A single experienced individual performed all blood collections. Serum hemoglobin concentrations were measured in all samples to gauge the extent of hemolysis. Setting A neonatology unit in a 740-bed tertiary care teaching hospital. Patients Healthy newborns with gestational ages ranging from 33 weeks to 41 weeks. Blood samples were collected from study participants at between 7 and 126 hours postpartum. Group 1 consisted of 66 individuals who had blood collected using the manual lance. Group 2 contained 68 individuals with blood collected using a spring-loaded automatic lance. Main Outcome Measure Plasma hemoglobin content as an indicator of the extent of hemolysis. Results There were no significant differences between newborns in groups 1 and 2 with respect to gestational age, birth weight, or time interval between birth and time of blood collection. We found a highly significant difference with respect to plasma hemoglobin concentrations in specimens collected with an automated lance (hemoglobin, 2.35 g/L) vs that collected using the hand-held lance (hemoglobin, 4.85 g/L). Conclusion Use of an automated spring-loaded lance allows for the collection of blood specimens with smaller levels of plasma hemoglobin.
Incidence of Acute Renal Failure Associated with Milrinone

Background:Milrinone is a phosphodiesterase type III inhibitor with positive inotropic and vasodilatory effects used in patients with severe congestive heart failure (CHF).Objectives:To determine the incidence rate of acute renal failure (ARF) associated with milrinone therapy.Methods:Medical records of 116 patients with cardiomyopathy/severe CHF who received milrinone were reviewed from January 1993 to January 1996. Twenty-nine patients were excluded, resulting in 87 patients, 4 of whom received milrinone twice.Results:During a 3-year period, 11 of 91 milrinone therapies became complicated with ARF (incidence 12%). The patients' age (mean ± SD) was 52.3 ± 13.6 years, baseline serum creatinine (SCr) was 1.6 ± 1.0 mg/dL, milrinone dose was 0.47 ± 0.16 μg/kg/min, and mean duration of therapy was 6.5 ± 10.6 days. Fourteen treatments were <24 hours, 2 (14%) of which were complicated with ARF; of the remaining 77 treatments (≥24 h), 9 (11.7%) were complicated with ARF. Their peak SCr was 3.2 ± 1.5 mg/dL and ti...
Justice and modern moral philosophy

Analyzing theories of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Kant, Marx, Gewirth, Nozick, Rawls and others, Reiman offers a new theory of justice. He argues that to find true principles of justice, we must identify the conditions under which people are not subjugated by others.
Optically Detected Electron Spin Echoes and Free Precession in Molecular Excited States

Electron free precession and electron spin echoes have been detected for molecules in their excited triplet states in zero field by monitoring the microwave-induced modulation of the phosphorescence. The technique is capable of measuring as few as ${10}^{4}$ excited-state spins and should be applicable to a wide variety of problems.
One-carbon metabolism in plants: characterization of a plastid serine hydroxymethyltransferase.

SHMT (serine hydroxymethyltransferase; EC 2.1.2.1) catalyses reversible hydroxymethyl group transfer from serine to H4PteGlun (tetrahydrofolate), yielding glycine and 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate. In plastids, SHMTs are thought to catalytically direct the hydroxymethyl moiety of serine into the metabolic network of H4PteGlun-bound one-carbon units. Genes encoding putative plastid SHMTs were found in the genomes of various plant species. SHMT activity was detected in chloroplasts in pea (Pisum sativum) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), suggesting that plastid SHMTs exist in all flowering plants. The Arabidopsis thaliana genome encodes one putative plastid SHMT (AtSHMT3). Its cDNA was cloned by reverse transcription–PCR and the encoded recombinant protein was produced in Escherichia coli. Evidence that AtSHMT3 is targeted to plastids was found by confocal microscopy of A. thaliana protoplasts transformed with proteins fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein. Characterization of recombinant AtSHMT3 revealed that substrate affinity for and the catalytic efficiency of H4PteGlu1-8 increase with n, and that H4PteGlu1-8 inhibit AtSHMT3. 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate and 5-formyltetrahydrofolate with one and five glutamate residues inhibited AtSHMT3-catalysed hydroxymethyl group transfer from serine to H4PteGlu6, with the pentaglutamylated inhibitors being more effective. Calculations revealed inhibition with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate or 5-formyltetrahydrofolate resulting in little reduction in AtSHMT3 activity under folate concentrations estimated for plastids.
Joint turbo decoding and estimation of hidden Markov sources

We describe a joint source-channel scheme for modifying a turbo decoder in order to exploit the statistical characteristics of hidden Markov sources. The basic idea is to treat the trellis describing the hidden Markov source as another constituent decoder which exchanges information with the other constituent decoder blocks. The source block uses as extrinsic information the probability of the input bits that is provided by the constituent decoder blocks. On the other hand, it produces a new estimation of such a probability which will be used as extrinsic information by the constituent turbo decoders. The proposed joint source-channel decoding technique leads to significantly improved performance relative to systems in which source statistics are not exploited and avoids the need to perform any explicit source coding prior to transmission. Lack of a priori knowledge of the source parameters does not degrade the performance of the system, since these parameters can be jointly estimated with turbo decoding.
Convection driven by internal heating

Abstract Two-dimensional direct numerical simulations are conducted for convection sustained by uniform internal heating in a horizontal fluid layer. Top and bottom boundary temperatures are fixed and equal. Prandtl numbers range from 0.01 to 100, and Rayleigh numbers ( R ) are up to 5 ⋅ 10 5 times the critical R at the onset of convection. The asymmetry between upward and downward heat fluxes is non-monotonic in R . In a broad high- R regime, dimensionless mean temperature scales as R − 1 / 5 . We discuss the scaling of mean temperature and heat-flux-asymmetry, which we argue are better diagnostic quantities than the conventionally used top and bottom Nusselt numbers.
The Evolution of Music Education Philosophy from Utilitarian to Aesthetic

Throughout Western history, various philosophies of music education have been articulated by intellectual, political, and religious leaders. A common factor in the various philosophies is the relationship between music education and society. Since the middle of the 20th century, writers on music education philosophy have been mostly music educators, rather than societal leaders. They have, for the most part, abandoned the many historical justifications of the profession in favor of aesthetic philosophy. The utilitarian values of music education that have formed its historical philosophical basis have been rejected during the last 30 years because they have little to do with music. Music is now taught for the sake of music, and the link that has historically connected aesthetics with societal needs has been broken.
A density functional theory study on the effect of shape and size on the ionization potential and electron affinity of different carbon nanostructures

Abstract Theoretical investigations were performed to study the structures and properties of different carbon nanoclusters. The computed properties were compared with those of the fullerene. The studied systems included carbon nano capsule, carbon nano bowl (one side closed tube), carbon nano disk and fullerene. The geometries of all species were optimized at the B3LYP level of theory using the 6-31G(d) basis set. Geometry of the silicon analog of fullerene (Si 60 ) was also optimized at the same level of the theory. The HOMO–LUMO energy gap, ionization potential and electron affinity of studied clusters are reported and compared with those of the fullerene. It was found that the computed electronic properties are significantly influenced by the shape and size of different carbon nanoclusters.
Research revisited: Gunnar Rølla's contribution to oral health.

Gunnar Rolla's contributions to oral science cover an enormous range. They include research into the basic understanding of pellicle and plaque formation, to mechanisms for the prevention of oral diseases. Rolla has collaborated with over 100 persons from many different countries and thus his influence on dental research has been global.
Mine subsidence damage from room and pillar mining in Illinois

Data is presented on case histories of subsidence damage occurring over abandoned room and pillar mines in Illinois. The major modes of behaviour and damage in houses from sag-subsidence are described and summarized. The houses rested on crawl-space and basement foundations built from concrete and masonry. The prevalent mode of failure of bearing walls was inward bending. Failure is analysed and conventional design procedures are used to evaluate foundation failure.