cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Faults and damage zones in fast‐spread crust exposed on the north wall of the Hess Deep Rift: Conduits and seals in seafloor hydrothermal systems

The northern escarpments of the Hess Deep Rift provide cross-sectional views of in situ, ∼1-Ma-old, upper oceanic crust that underwent extensive, spreading-related brittle deformation. Most of the deformation and associated alteration occurred within the locus of magmatic construction of the East Pacific Rise, in the presence of high-temperature hydrothermal fluids. Passing laterally from undeformed host rocks, brittle deformation zones are classified as (1) damage zones where densely spaced fractures overprint the primary structure of dikes and lavas, (2) cataclastic zones where interconnected fractures, comminuted grains, and matrix minerals define deformational fabrics, and (3) very fine-grained, gouge-filled fault cores. Relative to the host rock, damage and cataclastic zones are rich in veins of chlorite and/or actinolite, and lesser amounts of titanite, epidote, and quartz. These phases mark relict hydrothermal fluid pathways. Trace and major element compositions of representative samples also indicate fault-localized hydrothermal alteration, including an increase in MgO by several weight percent within cataclastic and damage zones. In contrast, the fault cores are composed of very finely comminuted basaltic material and have MgO concentrations similar to the damage zones. Integrated compositional, textural, and outcrop-scale structural data inform an evolutionary model for fault growth from the early, widespread dilational phases of damage-zone development to more restricted noncoaxial strain in the cataclastic zones. With continued fault development, gouge develops and seals the fault cores. While the fault cores are sealed by gouge, surrounding zones remain conduits to hydrothermal fluid flow, except where sealed by secondary minerals. Sealed faults can later be reactivated as conduits with additional increments of fault slip. The dual behavior of faults as conduits and seals inevitably leads to compartmentalization of the flow regime in subaxial and ridge-flank areas.
Solid / solution interaction: The effect of carbonate alkalinity on adsorbed thorium

Abstract Elevated activities of dissolved Th have been found in Soap Lake, an alkaline lake in Eastern Washington. Dissolved 232Th ranges from less than 0.001 to 4.9 dpm/L compared to about 1.3 × 10−5 dpm/ L in sea water. The enhanced activity in the lake coincides with an increase in carbonate alkalinity. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of pH, ionic strength and carbonate alkalinity on Th adsorption on goethite. Thorium (10−13 M total) in the presence of 5.22 mg/L α-FeOOH and 0.1 M NaNO3 has an adsorption edge from pH 2–5. At pH 9.0 ± 0.6 the percent Th absorbed on the solid began to decrease from 100% at 100 meq/L carbonate alkalinity and exhibited no adsorption above 300 meq/L. The experimental data were modeled to obtain the intrinsic adsorption equilibrium constants for Th hydrolysis species. These adsorption constants were incorporated in the model to interpret the observed effect of carbonate alkalinity on Th adsorption. There are two main effects of the alkalinity. To a significant degree the decrease in Th adsorption is due to competition of HCO−3 and CO2−3 ions for surface sites. Dissolved Th carbonate complexes also contribute to the increase of Th in solution.
Elevation of the Head of Bed to Treat Supraesophageal Reflux: Controlling the Trigger and Reducing the “Drip”

Management of reflux of gastric contents into the esophagus, larynx, and upper airway is a topic that is of growing importance. For the general public, there has been an explosion of attention toward the diagnosis of reflux, from the pages of the New York Times to the White House, where in 2014 President Barack Obama was diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It can credibly be argued that the president of the United States has good reason for heartburn, but statistics show that gastric reflux and its cousins supraesophageal reflux disease (SERD) and eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) are far more widespread than affecting just the current occupant of the Oval Office, who presented with a chronic sore throat, a common complaint in allergy practices. Reflecting on the public’s view of this topic, Koufman wrote (with appropriate hyperlinks to the medical literature online) in the Washington Post, “President Obama reportedly had a mysterious sore throat for weeks, but now the diagnosis is in: acid reflux into the throat, also called airway reflux or LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux). This puts the president in good company. Since 1975, the occurrence of reflux has increased 400 percent (almost one in five Americans now suffers from airway reflux), and reflux-related esophageal cancer has increased more than 500 percent to become the most rapidly increasing cancer in the United States.” To referring primary care practitioners, gastroenterologists, and patients alike, reflux is heartburn, but factors other than acid may be at work with the development of laryngeal symptoms, such as President Obama exhibited. The varied presentation of GERD is reflected clinically in who gets referred where or who brings himself or herself to the gastroenterologist or the otolaryngologist, and who finds himself or herself sitting with an allergist. Anyone who has had some fluid go down the “wrong pipe” knows that the duration and volume of liquid in the wrong place required to provoke a cough is not much. But it takes more than a sip of hot soup to get the “burn.” It seems likely that the phenotypes vary among patients with GERD and how they present with acid reflux. And we are only beginning to understand nonacid reflux of gastric enzymes such as pepsin as a cause of symptoms.
Abstract P347: Risk of Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events in Men Compared to Women by Menopause Type and Race

Introduction: Men have greater risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) compared to women. It is unclear whether type of menopause affects this sex difference and if the impact is similar in blacks and whites. Moreover, women and their physicians may consider CHD risk when considering whether elective hysterectomy and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) are performed. Hypotheses: Women who undergo natural menopause, menopause due to BSO, and menopause due to hysterectomy alone have different risks of non-fatal CHD and acute CHD death compared to men. Methods: Participants in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) cohort between 2003 and 2007 without CHD at baseline (n=23,086), with follow-up through December 2011. Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the hazard of incident CHD events in men vs. women by menopause type, stratified by black vs. white race. The main outcome measure was adjudicated incident CHD events, defined as nonfatal CHD (definite or proba...
Simultaneous cloning of multiple nuclear genes by pooling PCR products of variable size: a cost‐effective method of improving efficiency in large‐scale genetic analyses

I present a simple approach to overcome the high cost and low efficiency of cloning polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products for individuals in wide-scale population genetic analyses. The methodology reduces the number of cloning reactions per individual by engineering a suite of genetic markers that differ in size and pooling these PCR products prior to cloning. Alleles from each gene are then recovered by screening transformed bacterial colonies and identifying the inserts corresponding to each gene based on size. I demonstrate the utility of this technique by presenting the results I obtained from cloning four nuclear genes in 118 individuals from three species of sea urchins (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, S. droebachiensis and S. pallidus). Of the 472 different PCR products I cloned, I recovered at least one allele for 432 of them (91.5%) by screening between 16 and 32 bacterial colonies for each individual. There existed a bias with respect to recovery efficiency: the two largest fragments (1130–800 bp) were recovered 100% of the time, while the two smaller fragments (580–650 bp) were recovered in 85.6% and 81.4% of the experiments, respectively. I discuss the promise of this application for wide-scale genetic analyses.
Some Observations about SOX 404(b) Control Process Audits

In the decade since the July, 2002 passage of the quickly-legislated Sarbanes-Oxley Act, audit production in the U.S. has been substantially augmented by implementation of mandated internal control process audits. Audit production changes are important as the control audit mandate is unique and imposes substantial costs on U.S.-traded firms, yet little is known about the conduct of control process audits or the efficacy of substantially lower cost alternative mechanisms to provide auditor scrutiny and reporting on internal control quality. This paper reflects our collective experiences and observation of a consistent message across the decade from analyses of extensive public and limited non-public archival data, analytical studies, and numerous personal experiences of audit practitioners. Our primary observation is that, absent knowledge of any financial misstatements, auditors find it difficult to identify material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting. Conversely, with knowledge of misstatements, auditors can and do identify, at low incremental cost, most entities that have ineffective internal controls as identified by control audits. Financial misstatement detection is, of course, the primary tangible output of a financial statement audit. Thus, it appears possible to exploit this observation to obtain for investors information about companies with weak controls without incurring the cost of a full internal control process audit. We believe that U.S. markets could benefit from more transparency about the current U.S. audit production process and from informed debate about the best mechanism design for balancing the needs of all parties interested in internal control quality disclosure.
Reconstruction of protein and nucleic acid sequences. IV. The algebra of free monoids and the fragmentation stratagem.

The problem of determining the sequence of a biopolymer from its fragments is stated in mathematical terms. Using concrete properties of a free monoid, certain general classes of biopolymers are shown to be insolvable from fragment data produced by complete digestion where enzymes specific for any possible combination of chemical bonds are employed.
Terrestrial applications of bone and muscle research in microgravity.

Major applications to people on Earth are possible from NASA-sponsored research on bone and muscle which is conducted either in microgravity or on Earth using models mimicking microgravity. In microgravity bone and muscle mass are lost. Humans experience a similar loss under certain conditions on Earth. Bone and muscle loss exist on Earth as humans age from adulthood to senescence, during limb immobilization for healing of orthopedic injuries, during wheelchair confinement because of certain diseases, and during chronic bed rest prescribed for curing of diseases. NASA-sponsored research is dedicated to learning both what cause bone and muscle loss as well as finding out how to prevent this loss. The health ramifications of these discoveries will have major impact. Objective 1.6 of Healthy People 2000, a report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, states that the performance of physical activities that improve muscular strength, muscular endurance, and flexibility is particularly important to maintaining functional independence and social integration in older adults /1/. This objective further states that these types of physical activities are important because they may protect against disability, an event which costs the U.S. economy hugh sums of money. Thus NASA research related to bone and muscle loss has potential major impact on the quality of life in the U.S. Relative to its potential health benefits, NASA and Congressional support of bone and muscle research is funded is a very low level.
PRDM1/Blimp-1 is expressed in human B-lymphocytes committed to the plasma cell lineage

PRDM1/Blimp-1 (in human and mouse, respectively) has a central role in determining and shaping the secretory arm of mature B-cell differentiation. In this study, a mouse monoclonal antibody that recognizes PRDM1 was used to detail its distribution in normal human lymphoid tissue and in lymphoid neoplasms that correspond to different stages of B-cell differentiation. PRDM1 was expressed in germinal centre blasts that co-express Pax5, CD19, CD20, and CD10, but not BCL6 or MTA-3. Pax5 was downregulated and full plasma cell morphology and phenotype were acquired by PRDM1+, nuclear cREL-, pre-plasma cells upon exit from the germinal centre. Activated extrafollicular B-cells (CD30+, Pax5+) were largely PRDM1-. PRDM1 was also absent in tissue histiocytes and the majority of resting T-cells and S-100+ antigen-presenting cells. PRDM1 and CD138 were expressed simultaneously in human lymphomas with plasma cell differentiation, but not in marginal zone lymphomas or chronic lymphocytic leukaemias. A minority of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas expressed PRDM1 and Hodgkin lymphomas were largely PRDM1-. Infiltrating T-cells in PRDM1- B-cell lymphomas expressed PRDM1. In conclusion, PRDM1 staining is a reliable and informative assay to define plasma cell commitment and differentiation in human normal and neoplastic B-cell lineages.
The role of emotional intelligence and negative affect in bulimic symptomatology

Emotions, particularly emotion dysregulation, play an important role in the development and maintenance of eating disorders as evidenced by the emphasis given to addressing emotions in a number of psychotherapeutic approaches that have been adapted for the treatment of women with disordered eating. The purpose of this study was to assess the role of emotional intelligence and other emotion regulation variables in the relationship between negative affect and bulimic symptomatology. One hundred fifty undergraduate females were assessed via a packet of self-report questionnaires that included measures of emotion regulation, including emotional intelligence (BarOn Emotional Quotient Inventory -- Short Form), alexithymia (Twenty-Item Toronto Alexithymia Scale), and coping (Brief COPE Inventory), negative affect (Positive and Negative Affect Schedule -- Expanded Form and Affect Intensity Measure), and bulimic symptomatology (Bulimia Test -- Revised). Results of multiple regression analyses indicated that each conceptual area of interest contributed to the prediction of bulimic symptomatology. In addition, the measures of emotion regulation accounted for significant variance in bulimic symptomatology even after controlling for negative affect. Emotional intelligence and other emotion regulation variables did not moderate the relationship between negative affect and bulimic symptomatology. However, results highlight the role of emotion in disordered eating behaviors and support the negative affect and emotion dysregulation theories of eating disorders.
Revisiting Beal's Confidence Intervals for the Difference of Two Binomial Proportions

Confidence interval construction for the difference of two independent binomial proportions is a well-known problem with a full panoply of proposed solutions. In this paper, we focus largely on the family of intervals proposed by Beal (1987). This family, which includes the Haldane and Jeffreys–Perks intervals as special cases, assumes a symmetric prior distribution for the population proportions p 1 and p 2. We propose new methods that allow the currently observed data to set the prior distribution by taking a parametric empirical-Bayes approach; in addition, we also provide an investigation of the new interval' behaviors in small-sample situations. Unlike other solutions, our intervals can be used adaptively for experiments conducted in multiple stages over time. We illustrate this notion using data from an Argentinean study involving the Mal Rio Cuarto virus and its transmission to susceptible maize crops.
Advances in fused-silica column technology for the analysis of underivatized drugs.

Abstract The chemical durability of a cross-linked 5 % phenyl methylsilicone stationary phase is investigated for the analysis of underivatized drugs. Column performance is tested with respect to quantitative reproducibility, solvent extractability, selectivity for various drug families, and capacity for the polar solute. Data are presented showing the effects of a polar solvent and a serum extract on column lifetime with splitless and cool on-column injection. Examples of a human drug screen and the forensic analysis of street heroin are provided.
Generalized scalar measures for diffusion MRI using trace, variance, and entropy

This paper details the derivation of rotationally invariant scalar measures from higher-rank diffusion tensors (DTs) and functions defined on a unit sphere. This was accomplished with the use of an expression that generalizes the evaluation of the trace operator to tensors of arbitrary rank, and even to functions whose domains are the unit sphere. It is shown that the mean diffusivity is invariant to the selection of tensor rank for the model used. However, this rank invariance does not apply to the anisotropy measures. Therefore, a variance-based, general anisotropy measure is proposed. Also an information theoretical parametrization of anisotropy is introduced that is frequently more consistent with the meaning attributed to anisotropy. We accomplished this by associating anisotropy with the amount of orientational information present in the data, regardless of the imaging technique used. Using a simplified model of fibrous tissue, we simulated anisotropy values with varying orientational complexity and tensor models. Simulations suggested that a lower-rank tensor model may produce artificially low anisotropy values in voxels with complex structure. This was confirmed with a spin-echo experiment performed on an excised rat brain.
A Study of Language Arts Curriculum Effectiveness with Gifted Learners

This study of language arts curriculum effectiveness presents data that lend support to the utilization of the Integrated Curriculum Model (ICM) with high-ability learners in various grouping conte...
Using successful models of care to guide the teaching of psychiatry in primary care

The focus of efforts to improve primary care physicians' recognition and treatment of psychiatric conditions has been on enhancing the content of their education, with little attention paid to the choice of models through which the content is delivered. The authors believe that existing models of primary care delivery are analogous to Strain's six basic models of teaching psychiatry to primary care physicians. Each model is especially suited to a particular segment of the primary care physician's education; for example, the consultation model has relevance for teaching about better management of identified patients and the bridge model for enhancing recognition of unrecognized disorders. All six models have a place in both education and practice.
Comparison of outcomes after hand-sewn versus stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis in 3,109 patients

Background The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after primary hand-sewn versus stapled ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA). Methods Patients undergoing a primary IPAA (1983–2007) were identified from a prospective pelvic pouch database. Differences between group A (hand-sewn) and group B (stapled) for pre-operative and peri-operative factors, complications, functional outcomes, and quality of life (QOL) were investigated. Results Of 3,382 patients with a primary IPAA, 3,109 were included. Median follow-up was 7.1 years (0.1–24). Mean age was 37.9 ± 13.2 years. Overall, 1,741 patients (56%) were male. Group A ( n = 474) and group B ( n = 2635) had similar age ( P = .28), sex ( P = .8), albumin level ( P = .74), prior colectomy ( P = .98), and use of steroids ( P = .1). Group A had a greater use of ileostomy ( P = .001) and a longer duration of stay ( P P P ≤ .001). Wound infection ( P = .42) and pouchitis ( P = .59) were similar. Anastomotic stricture ( P = .002), septic complications ( P = .019), bowel obstruction ( P = .027), and pouch failure ( P P = .74) and rate of urgency were similar ( P = .71). A greater proportion of patients in group A described incontinence ( P P P P P P = .025). The Cleveland Global QOL score ( P = .018) was greater in group B. Conclusion Patients undergoing a stapled IPAA had better outcomes and QOL than those undergoing a hand-sewn IPAA.
Neurochemical analysis of primary motor cortex in chronic low back pain.

The involvement of the primary motor cortex (M1) in chronic low back pain (LBP) is a relatively new concept. Decreased M1 excitability and an analgesic effect after M1 stimulation have been recently reported. However, the neurochemical changes underlying these functional M1 changes are unknown. The current study investigated whether neurochemicals specific to neurons and glial cells in both right and left M1 are altered. N-Acetylaspartate (NAA) and myo-inositol (mI) were measured with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy in 19 subjects with chronic LBP and 14 healthy controls. We also examined correlations among neurochemicals within and between M1 and relationships between neurochemical concentrations and clinical features of pain. Right M1 NAA was lower in subjects with LBP compared to controls (p = 0.008). Left M1 NAA and mI were not significantly different between LBP and control groups. Correlations between neurochemical concentrations across M1s were different between groups (p = 0.008). There were no significant correlations between M1 neurochemicals and pain characteristics. These findings provide preliminary evidence of neuronal depression and altered neuronal-glial interactions across M1 in chronic LBP.
Phase II study of transdermal estradiol in androgen-independent prostate carcinoma.

BACKGROUND Oral estrogen therapy has activity in patients with hormone-naive and androgen-independent prostate carcinoma (AIPC), but its utility is limited by the associated risk of thromboembolic toxicity. Parenteral administration may be safer as it avoids “first pass” liver exposure to estrogen. The authors tested the safety and efficacy of transdermal estradiol (TDE), as well as the effect of therapy on hot flashes, sex hormones, the procoagulant cascade, and bone turnover in patients with AIPC. METHODS Patients with prostate carcinoma progressing after primary hormonal therapy received TDE 0.6 mg per 24 hours (administered as six 0.1 mg per 24-hour patches replaced every 7 days). Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and hormone levels, coagulation factors, markers of bone turnover, bone density measurements, and a hot flash diary were collected at regular intervals. RESULTS Three of 24 patients (12.5%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0–26%) had a confirmed PSA reduction > 50%. The Kaplan–Meier estimate of median time to disease progression was 12 weeks (95% CI, 4.6–19.4 weeks). Toxicity was modest and no thromboembolic complications occurred. The mean (±95% CI) serum estradiol level increased from 17.2 pg.mL (range, 14.8–19.6 pg/mL) to 460.7 pg/mL (range, 334.6–586.7 pg/mL). The total testosterone level remained stable in the anorchid range during treatment, but the free testosterone level decreased as a result of increased sex hormone binding globulin. No change in factor VIII activity, F 1.2, or resistance to activated protein C was observed, whereas a modest decrease in the protein S level was observed. CONCLUSIONS In patients with APIC, TDE was well tolerated and produced a modest response rate, but was not associated with thromboembolic complications or clinically important changes in several coagulation factors. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.
Radiation Hardening of an SiGe BiCMOS Wilkinson ADC for Distributed Motor Controller Application

The radiation robustness of a newly designed Wilkinson analog-to-digital converter (ADC) is being investigated. The ADC is a front-end design block within a cold capable, analog sense, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) manufactured using the IBM 0.5 $\mu$ m silicon germanium (SiGe) BiCMOS 5HP process. The ASIC is part of a next-generation, cold capable, distributed motor controller architecture, which is a candidate for the next generation of Mars rovers. Its main function is to interface with various sensor types to monitor motor health (i.e., temperature, mechanical stress, pressure). While relatively well-hardened against total ionizing dose and destructive single-event latchup, the ADC showed some SEU (SET) sensitivity that is heavily dependent on its input channel configuration. For this study, we used a combination of experiments (pulsed-laser) and Cadence mixed-mode SEE simulations to explain the heavy ion irradiation results. We concluded that ADC input impedance configuration should be carefully controlled in the design of radiation-hardened systems for space.
Growth abnormalities of the spine after radiation therapy: Respecting the past while moving forward in proton craniospinal irradiation.

Modern techniques of craniospinal radiation therapy (CSI) offer the advantage of modulating dose distribution to normal tissues in children and young adults. Reducing risks for second neoplasms and late effects to uninvolved tissues must be a priority for radiation oncologists. This manuscript reviews potential advantages and concerns moving forward with proton beam CSI.
Signal-to-noise ratio of Geiger-mode avalanche photodiode single-photon counting detectors

Geiger-mode avalanche photodiodes (GM-APDs) use the avalanche mechanism of semiconductors to amplify signals in individual pixels. With proper thresholding, a pixel will be either "on" (avalanching) or "off." This discrete detection scheme eliminates read noise, which makes these devices capable of counting single photons. Using these detectors for imaging applications requires a well-developed and comprehensive expres- sion for the expected signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). This paper derives the expected SNR of a GM-APD detector in gated operation based on gate length, number of samples, signal flux, dark count rate, photon detection effi- ciency, and afterpulsing probability. To verify the theoretical results, carrier-level Monte Carlo simulation results are compared to the derived equations and found to be in good agreement. © 2014 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation
MIND AND HEART AT THE SERVICE OF MUSLIM‐CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING: LOUIS MASSIGNON AS TRAIL BLAZER

L'article est consacre a Louis Massignon et son apport au dialogue islamo-chretien. L'A. decrit la maniere propre a Massignon d'approcher l'islam et la theologie des autres religions qui peut s'en inspirer.
The friction and wear behavior of irradiated very high molecular weight polyethylene

Abstract The friction and wear behavior of gamma irradiated very high molecular weight polyethylene has been studied for radiation doses of 20 to 1000 MRad. For tests run at low loads the effect of irradiation is to increase the friction coefficient and the wear factor. As the load is increased the friction coefficient decreases and the wear factor remains constant. At a critical load there is an abrupt increase in the wear factor. However, further increase in the load leads to a decrease in the wear factor to about the original value. This wear behavior is quite different from that shown by unirradiated polyethylene and is connected to changes in structure resulting from the temperatures generated during sliding.
Intracellular hydroxylation of non-helical protocollagen to form triple-helical procollagen and subsequent secretion of the molecule.

Cells liberated from the tendons of chick embryos by controlled enzymic digestion were used to examine the synthesis of the polypeptide chains of collagen separately from the secretion of collagen in the precursor form known as procollagen. When the cells were incubated under anaerobic conditions, the synthesis of collagen hydroxyproline was completely inhibited but the rate of protein synthesis remained about the same as the control rate for about 30 min. Under these conditions the cells synthesized the non-hydroxylated precursor known as protocollagen and the protocollagen was retained in the cells. By incubating the cells with [14C]proline under anaerobic conditions and then exposing the system to air, it was possible to follow the intracellular hydroxylation of [14C]protocollagen to [14C]procollagen. The conformation of the intracellular [14C]protocollagen and [14C]procollagen was examined by proteolytic digestion under conditions in which the triple-helical portion of collagen is resistant to digestion. When digestion with either pepsin or α-chymotrypsin was carried out at either 30 ° C or 37 °C, all of the [14C]protocollagen was digested. After the same protein was hydroxylated to [14C]procollagen by exposing the cells to O2 a large fraction of the protein became resistant to proteolysis and was secreted. The results suggested that the intracellular hydroxylation of collagen polypeptides converts them from a non-helical to a helical form and that the helical conformation probably is required for the protein to be secreted at an optimal rate.
AN EVALUATION OF A CONFIGURABLE VLIW MICROARCHITECTURE FOR EMBEDDED DSP APPLICATIONS

The last decade has witnessed a significant increase in processor offerings geared towards embedded DSP applications. Such processors are commonly VLIW architectures with special ISA and/or microarchitecture features for speeding up signal processing functions and customization options to improve cost/performance. The Jazz Programmable System Architecture from Improv Systems is one such processor offering. Jazz employs a VLIW architecture which is well-suited to the characteristics of embedded DSP applications such as voice over packet, media processing, and home connectivity. The microarchitecture incorporates overlaid datapaths, distributed register file and memory systems, code compression, and parallel computation and memory access. Jazz permits design-time configuration in an attempt to bridge the gap between the flexibility of a programmable processor and the cost-benefit of full customization. In this paper, we explore the cost/performance tradeoffs of the Jazz microarchitecture on various embedded multimedia applications using a detailed cycle-level simulator as well as area and power models. Through a comparison of the performance, power, and area of different hardware configurations running these applications, we demonstrate how the configurability of the architecture affords a cost-performance benefit over a fixed microarchitecture. Key features of the microarchitecture are quantitatively evaluated in terms of their influence on performance. The relationship between compiler optimizations and processor performance is also explored.
High ambient temperature associated with increased mortality in nursing home residents

Commentary on: J Klenk, C Becker, K Rapp. Heat-related mortality in residents of nursing homes. Age Ageing2010;39:245–52.
Workshop — Developing cross-disciplinary collaborations for engineering education research

More and more engineering faculty are moving beyond developing effective classrooms practices to conducting educational research, but this move is not without significant challenges. One set of challenges has to do with forming cross-disciplinary research collaborations. This involves attending to differences in disciplinary cultures and language, building trust, learning how to translate across cultures, and committing to an exploration of synthesis across different perspectives. It also requires knowing where to find collaborators to build networks of expertise. This workshop is designed for engineering education researchers who wish to forge cross-disciplinary partnerships. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to (1) identify complementary expertise needs and communities for finding collaborators, (2) craft messages about research interests in everyday language that can spark the research interests of potential collaborators, and (3) describe strategies for making the most of first “cultural” exchanges in cross-disciplinary research collaborations. Participants are encouraged to bring their research ideas and questions to the workshop as the basis for working in small groups. This workshop is sponsored by the National Science foundation through Expanding and sustaining research capacity in engineering and technology education: Building on successful programs for faculty and graduate students (DUE — 0817461).
Adaptation to monocular torsion after macular translocation

• Purpose: To document the functional outcome of two patients following successful macular translocation for the treatment of severe subretinal hemorrhage in age-related maculopathy. • Methods: The retina was surgically rotated around the optic nerve with translocation of the fovea either upward or downward to an area of healthy retinal pigment epithelium. In the postoperative period, visual function was carefully studied with emphasis on adaptation to torsion. • Results: Visual acuity in one patient improved from 2/200 to 20/80 and the other patient remained at 20/200. Both patients developed horizontal and vertical strabismus with torsion of up to 55°. After a prolonged period of occlusion of the unoperated eye, both patients were subjectively able to adapt to monocular torsion. However, adaptation under binocular conditions did not occur. • Conclusion: Macular translocation was successful in improving visual acuity in one patient, with no improvement in the second. Both patients had significant ocular torsion and strabismus, but under monocular conditions they were successful in perceptually adapting to the change in the visual environment. Fear of cyclotorsion should not be a deterrent to considering macular translocation as a possible treatment option for severe subretinal macular hemorrhage if the patient is willing to accept monocular vision.
The use of chlorpromazine and lomotil to prevent and/or reduce the side effects of prostaglandin E2 used for abortion.

Abstract Suppositories of PGE 2 were utilized to induce abortion in 30 midtrimester patients. Side effects were reduced by a combination of premedication and concurrent medication consisting of chlorpromazine and lomotil. All gastrointestinal side effects, including nausea, emesis, and diarrhea, were significantly reduced with this combination of pre- and concurrent medication. Chlorpromazine did not significantly reduce fever in patients receiving PGE 2 .
Theoretical Study of Thermal Decomposition Mechanism of Oxalic Acid

Density functional theory B3LYP/6-31G** and ab initio MP2/6-31G** and MP4(SDQ)/6−311++G** calculations were carried out to study the structures and isomerization and decomposition mechanisms of oxalic acid. The B3LYP structures and relative energies of the rotational isomers of oxalic acid are found very similar to MP2 results, confirming that the most stable isomer is the doubly intramolecular hydrogen-bonded C2h structure E1, with four other planar isomers within 6 kcal/mol. It is predicted that unimolecular formation of carbon dioxide and dihydroxycarbene (DHC) from oxalic acid has an activation barrier of 31 kcal/mol and that unimolecular formation of HCOOH from DHC has an activation barrier about 31 kcal/mol higher. The unimolecular formation of CO2, CO and H2O from oxalic acid via a concerted transition state has an activation barrier of only 42 kcal/mol, indicating it is a more favorable unimolecular decomposition channel. On the other hand, hydrogen migration from oxygen to carbon of DHC to produc...
Crop mixtures under peasant conditions: a decision theoretic interpretation.

The theory of utility maximization is advanced as a suitable model to explain the adoption of mixed cropping—in the sense of partial adoption of high‐yielding varieties—by rice farmers in Sri Lanka. The expected utilities of different allocations of land to the high‐yielding varieties and traditional varieties were computed and these were then compared with actual land allocation to the two varieties by farmers. The minimization of the square of the coefficient of variation was also used as another decision criterion. The comparison of the results from expected utility and minimization of the square of the coefficient of variation with actual land allocations indicated that the predictions from expected utility theory were more representative of actual behaviour than the minimization of the square of the coefficient of variation.
Distinct Protein Kinase C Isoforms Mediate Regulation of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Expression by A2A Adenosine Receptor Activation and Phorbol Esters in Pheochromocytoma PC12 Cells

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) stimulates angiogenesis during development and in disease. In pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells, VEGF expression is regulated by A2A adenosine receptor (A2AAR) activation. The present work examines the underlying signaling pathway. The adenylyl cyclase-protein kinase A cascade has no role in the down-regulation of VEGF mRNA induced by the A2AAR agonist, 2-[4-[(2-carboxyethyl)phenyl]ethylamino]-5′-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine (CGS21680). Conversely, 6-h exposure of cells to either phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) or protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors mimicked the CGS21680-induced down-regulation. PMA activated PKCα, PKCe, and PKCζ, and CGS21680 activated PKCe and PKCζ as assessed by cellular translocation. By 6 h, PMA but not CGS21680 decreased PKCα and PKCe expression. Neither compound affected PKCζ levels. Following prolonged PMA treatment to down-regulate susceptible PKC isoforms, CGS21680 but not PMA inhibited the cobalt chloride induction of VEGF mRNA. The proteasome inhibitor, MG-132, abolished PMA- but not CGS21680-induced down-regulation of VEGF mRNA. Phorbol 12,13-diacetate reduced VEGF mRNA levels while down-regulating PKCe but not PKCα expression. In cells expressing a dominant negative PKCζ construct, CGS21680 was unable to reduce VEGF mRNA. Together, the findings suggest that phorbol ester-induced down-regulation of VEGF mRNA occurs as a result of a reduction of PKCe activity, whereas that mediated by the A2AAR occurs following deactivation of PKCζ.
Reconceptualizing Cerebral Dominance: Implications for Reading- and Learning-Disabled Children

Over the past several decades much has been written regarding the suspected relationship between cerebral lateralization for function and cognitive development. Most typically, the research in this area has attempted to relate poorly established lateral preferences to reading and learning disorders. Generally, these research efforts have been inconclusive in increasing our conceptual understanding of this relationship. However, recent research employing more direct measures of central functional asymmetry suggests that a reconceptualization of the notion of cerebral dominance may be in order. A rationale for this reconceptualization is provided and the implications for children with learning disorders is discussed.
Characterization of swollen [Al3P4O16]3-· 3[NH3CH2CH3]+ in preparation for polymer-aluminophosphate nanocomposite fabrication

Abstract The as-synthesized layers of [Al 3 P 4 O 16 ] 3− · 3[NH 3 CH 2 CH 3 ] + are hydrogen bonded together with ethylammonium ions present in the gallery spaces. Before a polymer nanocomposite can be fabricated with this material the forces between the layers must be reduced and the gallery space must be expanded. The aluminophosphate was, therefore, ion exchanged with three surfactants, including cetyltrimethylammonium, octadecyldimethylbenzylammonium and protonated 1,12-diaminododecane to prepare the material for dispersion into a polymer matrix. Powder X-ray diffraction showed that the gallery spaces were expanded as a result of each ion exchange. A physical change could be observed in the treated samples using FESEM and 31 P NMR confirmed that the bonding of the framework was not altered as a result of the treatments used.
Antiarrhythmic agents for atrial fibrillation: focus on prolonging atrial repolarization.

Abstract Atrial fibrillation (AF) has been the subject of considerable attention and intensive clinical research in recent years. Current opinion among physicians on the management of AF favors the restoration and maintenance of normal sinus rhythm. This has several potential benefits, including the alleviation of arrhythmia-associated symptoms, hemodynamic improvements, and possibly a reduced risk of thromboembolic events. After normal sinus rhythm has been restored, antiarrhythmic therapy is necessary to reduce the frequency of AF recurrence. In the selection of an antiarrhythmic agent, both efficacy and safety should be taken into consideration. Many antiarrhythmic agents have the capacity to provoke proarrhythmia, which may result in an increase in mortality. This is of particular concern with sodium-channel blockers in the context of patients with structural heart disease. Flecainide and propafenone are well tolerated and effective in maintaining sinus rhythm in patients without significant cardiac disease but with AF. Recent interest has focused on the use of class III antiarrhythmic agents, such as amiodarone, sotalol, dofetilide (recently approved), ibutilide (approved for chemical conversion of AF and atrial flutter), and azimilide (still to be approved) in patients with AF and structural heart disease. To date, amiodarone and sotalol still hold the greatest interest, and although controlled clinical trials with these agents have been few, a number are in progress and some have been recently completed. These agents are effective in maintaining normal sinus rhythm in patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF and are associated with a low incidence of proarrhythmia when used appropriately. Because of the relative paucity of placebo-controlled trials of antiarrhythmic agents in patients with AF, experience until recently has tended to dictate treatment decisions. Increasingly, selection of drug therapy is being based on a careful and individualized benefit–risk evaluation by means of controlled clinical trials, an approach that is likely to dominate the overall approach to the control of atrial fibrillation in the largest numbers of cases of the arrhythmia. Pharmacologic therapy is likely to be dominated by compounds that exert their predominant effect by prolonging atrial repolarization.
Random-field effects in disordered spin-flop antiferromagnets

Abstract The critical exponents at the bicritical point of a disordered spin-flop antiferromagnet are shown to be identical, to all orders in ϵ = 6 − d , to those of an Ising model in a random-ordering field.
High-performance terahertz spatial light modulators based on reconfigurable diamagnetic meta-surfaces

We present high-performance spatial light modulators based on a new class of reconfigurable meta-surfaces that offer extreme diamagnetic switching capability over a broad frequency band. We experimentally demonstrate record high modulation depths (> 70%) and modulation bandwidths (> 1.5 THz) through a fully integrated device solution at room temperature.
Alternative infrared lasers for endoscopic surgery

There are substantial technical problems attendant to the removal of sessile polyps from the lumen of thin walled gastrointestinal organs such as the colon. A laser system which is capable of precise and circumscribed mucosal tissue vaporization would be useful for this task. Because of technical shortcomings of existing medical laser systems, we investigated the possibilities of mid-infrared lasers which could take advantage of large water absorption peaks in the 2 micron region to produce precise vaporization while retaining fiberoptic transmissibility. In addition to a high absorption wavelength, pulsed energy delivery contributes to precise vaporizing capabilities. The laser system that best fits our criteria is the 2.15 micron thulium-holmium- chromium:YAG which produces 200 microsecond pulses of energies up to 1 joule at firing rates up to 6 Hz. The laser output is transmitted efficiently via low hydroxyl quartz fibers. Ablative efficiency, defined here as the slope of the vaporization depth versus energy, reveals that the THC:YAG produces approximately 3 times greater depth of vaporization per joule than the cw Nd:YAG. On average, the Nd:YAG produced 1.5 times the amount of thermal damage as the THC:YAG for a given depth of vaporization. The THC:YAG laser should have an important clinical role since its use could reduce the risk of perforation in endoscopic laser procedures such as the removal of sessile polyps.
Resolution of invasive fungal sinusitis in two pediatric patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Summary Two cases of invasive fungal sinusitis are presented which occurred in immunocompromised pediatric patients and were successfully resolved. The management of these cases can provide important recommendations in regards to identification and interventions, both medical and surgical, as well as the timing of treatment.
Molecular cloning of rat glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP).

Abstract A cDNA clone encoding glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) was identified that consisted of 34 bp of 5′ untranslated sequence, an open reading frame of 432 bp and 115 bp in the 3′ untranslated region. The deduced amino acid sequence revealed a 144 amino acid preprohormone consisting of a 43 amino acid N-terminal extension including a signal peptide, a 42 amino acid hormone, and a 59 amino acid C-terminal extension. Rat GIP differs from the human hormone by two amino acid substitutions: arginine for histidine at position 18 and leucine for isoleucine at position 40. A single mRNA from small intestine of ≈800 bases was identified on Northern blot analysis in equivalent amounts in proximal and distal small intestine.
The predictive value of lipid studies in patients undergoing cardiac catheterization and open heart surgery.

All patients admitted for cardiac catheterization prior to possible coronary bypass surgery have a lipid profile ordered as part of their preadmission laboratory work. These studies, usually the first and only performed on the patient, include: high and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and apolipoproteins A-I and B. This study was designed to determine the diagnostic significance and sensitivity of these tests based on a one-time determination as predictors of coronary artery disease. The three groups studied included those patients with surgically confirmed coronary artery disease ( n = 247), aortic and/or mitral stenosis ( n = 34), and normals, those free of disease ( n = 30). The total population was 311 subjects, ranging in age from 20–85 years, which comprised 250 males and 61 postmenopausal females. The prevalence of the disease was 77% over the total population, with 238 of those with coronary artery disease going on to bypass surgery. Surgical results of cardiac catheterization were collected as percent occlusion. No correlations were found between lipoproteins and percent occlusion in the diseased group. Calculations of sensitivity and specificity for various lipid values suggested no clinical use for a one-time determination of these apo- and lipoproteins.
Design of high-radix digit slices for online computations

We present a design of high-radix digit-slices for the implementation of on-line multiply-add operator (OMA). Our evaluation of performance and cost shows that speedups above 1.5 can be obtained with respect to radix 2 at reasonable increase in cost. The design and evaluation are based on the Xilinx FPGAs. We also discuss the use of OMAs modules in solving linear recurrences.