cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Bedside Method for Placing Small Bowel Feeding Tubes in Critically III Patients : A Prospective Study

Enteral delivery of nutrients is important for optimal treatment of critically ill patients. It maintains gut digestive and barrier functions, decreases gut bacterial translocation, decreases the incidence of sepsis, and improves outcome. Gastric emptying is impaired in many critically ill patients and feeding into a gastroparetic stomach leads to large gastric residuals and aspiration. We describe a simple bedside technique for placement of small bowel feeding tubes. Using this technique, we successfully placed 213/231 (92 percent) of feeding tubes in critically ill patients. Three percent were in the first portion of the duodenum, 25 percent in the second portion, 47 percent in the third portion, and 17 percent in the proximal jejunum. The average time for placement of small bowel feeding tubes was 40± 14 min (mean ± SD). Abdominal roentgenograms failed to properly locate 13 (6 percent) tubes. The most accurate and cheapest methods for confirming small bowel location of feeding tubes were bile aspiration, pH change from acidic to basic, and blue dye injection.
Phase behavior of binary mixtures of styrene/acrylonitrile copolymers and aliphatic polyesters

The phase behavior of binary mixtures of copolymers containing varying amounts of styrene and acrylonitrile (SAN) with a large range of aliphatic polyesters was examined. Miscibility was observed over a limited range of AN contents of the SANs, for each polyester, while similarly for each SAN, miscibility was only observed over a limited range of polyester molecular structures. Thermodynamic interaction parameters for the miscible blends were obtained by analysis of the depression of the polyester melting point. A binary interaction model was used to correlate the data and six group interaction parameters were deduced by subdividing the polyester and SAN copolymer repeating units in three different ways. It is concluded that there is a strong repulsion between the segmental units within the polyesters and within the SAN copolymers, which is an important factor in the observed phase behavior.
The Vestibular Function Research Programme as a Part of the Spacelab Project: An Investigation of the Effect of Free Fall on Unitary and Integrated Vestibular Activity

The significance for basic and applied sciences of the shuttle Spacelab programme is discussed, special attention being given to the vestibular research field. The European side of the programme is based on the design of a linear accelerator integrated with the Spacelab to be used on man and animals. The American vestibular function research (v.f.r.) programme is described as originated from the previous orbital frog otolith (OFO-A) experiment. (Bracchi, Gualtierotti, Morabito & Rocca, Acta otolaryngol. (Stockh.) suppl. 334, 1975). The changes of the rate of firing of single vestibular statoreceptors in bullfrogs at rest and of their responses to centrifuge spins observed during the OFO-A experiment are briefly summarized and tentatively interpreted as due to an alteration of the mechanical transducing mechanism of the cells controlled by the efferent network and/or to a modification of a membrane adaptive process. The future experiments of the v.f.r. programme are described as directed to test these working hypotheses, by reloading the otolith membrane temporarily through centrifugation during the orbital flight and by blocking the efferent junctions reversibly by means of appropriate drugs. The time course and the characteristics of the vestibular unitary activity are to be studied after re-entry on the same receptor cells. The investigation is to be extended to the semicircular canals and vibration responding units.
Trends in clinical management of women with von Willebrand disease: a survey of 75 women enrolled in haemophilia treatment centres in the United States.

Summary. Objective: To assess the management of women with von Willebrand disease( vWD) in an Heamophilia Treatment Center (HTC) setting. Methods: A total of 75 women with vWd who were registered in HTCs in the United States participated in this study. A telephone interview elicited information about symptoms pertaining to bleeding disorders, diagnostic issues, referral patterns, treatment modalities before and after the enrollment in the HTC, HTC services provided, and satisfaction with care in the HTC. Results: Menorrhagia was the most commonly reported symptom (84%). The average time from the first symptom until clinician recognition was 16 years (range 0-39). In HTC, DDAVP was the most commonly used drug (31%). Of the 75 women, 71 reported a strong positive opinion and satisfaction about their care in the HTCs. Discussion: Women with VWD were typically diagnosed with the condition well into adulthood, in spite of the fact that majority of them experienced several bleeding symptoms beginning in early childhood. In general an HTC setting is appropriate for management of women with bleeding disorders. Diagnosis, treatment and education provided in the HTCs were viewed positively by those surveyed.
Association between children's blood lead levels, lead service lines, and water disinfection, Washington, DC, 1998-2006

Objective: Evaluate the effect of changes in the water disinfection process, and presence of lead service lines (LSLs), on children’s blood lead levels (BLLs) in Washington, DC. Methods: Three cross-sectional analyses examined the relationship of LSL and changes in water disinfectant with BLLs in children o 6 years of age. The study population was derived from the DC Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program blood lead surveillance system of children who were tested and whose blood lead test results were reported to the DC Health Department. The Washington, DC Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) provided information on LSLs. The final study population consisted of 63,854 children with validated addresses. Results: Controlling for age of housing, LSL was an independent risk factor for BLLs Z10 mg/dL, and Z 5 mg/dL even during time periods when water levels met the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) action level of 15 parts per billion (ppb). When chloramine alone was used to disinfect water, the risk for BLL in the highest quartile among children in homes with LSL was greater than when either chlorine or chloramine with orthophosphate was used. For children tested after LSLs in their houses were replaced, those with partially replaced LSL were 4 3 times as likely to have BLLs Z10 mg/dL versus children who never had LSLs. Conclusions: LSLs were a risk factor for elevated BLLs even when WASA met the EPA water action level. Changes in water disinfection can enhance the effect of LSLs and increase lead exposure. Partially replacing LSLs may not decrease the risk of elevated BLLs associated with LSL exposure. & 2010 Published by Elsevier Inc.
Practice effects on speech production planning: evidence from slips of the tongue in spontaneous vs. preplanned speech in Japanese.

The present study addresses the question of how practice in expressing the content to be conveyed in a specific situation influences speech production planning processes. A comparison of slips of the tongue in Japanese collected from spontaneous everyday conversation and those collected from largely preplanned conversation in live-broadcast TV programs reveals that, although there are those aspects of speech production planning that are unaffected by practice, there are various practice effects, most of which can be explained in terms of automatization of the processing of content, resulting in shifts in the loci of errors.
Human Taf(II)130 is a coactivator for NFATp.

NFATp is one member of a family of transcriptional activators that regulate the expression of cytokine genes. To study mechanisms of NFATp transcriptional activation, we established a reconstituted transcription system consisting of human components that is responsive to activation by full-length NFATp. The TATA-associated factor (TAFII) subunits of the TFIID complex were required for NFATp-mediated activation in this transcription system, since TATA-binding protein (TBP) alone was insufficient in supporting activated transcription. In vitro interaction assays revealed that human TAFII130 (hTAFII130) and its Drosophila melanogaster homolog dTAFII110 bound specifically and reproducibly to immobilized NFATp. Sequences contained in the C-terminal domain of NFATp (amino acids 688 to 921) were necessary and sufficient for hTAFII130 binding. A partial TFIID complex assembled from recombinant hTBP, hTAFII250, and hTAFII130 supported NFATp-activated transcription, demonstrating the ability of hTAFII130 to serve as a coactivator for NFATp in vitro. Overexpression of hTAFII130 in Cos-1 cells inhibited NFATp activation of a luciferase reporter. These studies demonstrate that hTAFII130 is a coactivator for NFATp and represent the first biochemical characterization of the mechanism of transcriptional activation by the NFAT family of activators.
The membrane transport and polyglutamation of pralatrexate: a new-generation dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor.

Purpose To characterize, directly and for the first time, the membrane transport and metabolism of pralatrexate, a new-generation dihydrofolate reductase inhibitor approved for the treatment for peripheral T-cell lymphoma.
Brunhes-Matuyama Polarity Transition in Three Deep-Sea Sediment Cores

The Brunhes-Matuyama polarity transition was studied in three deep-sea sediment cores obtained from the mid-northern and equatorial Pacific Ocean. Rates of sedimentation vary from 0.7 to 1.1 cm k a -1 . The cores were sampled across the transition in 4 mm slices, and each level was further subdivided into three specimens. Inclinations above and below the transition interval are in close agreement with that of an axial dipole field. Estimates of transition duration based on directional change range from 4900 to 8500 years. The transition can be described by a longitudinally confined portion in each of the v.g.p. paths, but is complicated by broad loops in all three records. While fine-scale sampling reveals considerable detail, the notable increase in within-level dispersion observed in the transition and the apparent differences in v.g.p. paths in nearby cores from the same region indicate that factors other than the geomagnetic field may contribute to these transition records.
Communicating technology to the public via educational TV

Many writers who have concentrated on technical writing for publication may be asked to become involved with other communication technologies. Information is given to help prepare such writers for more knowledgeable involvement in television production, especially in the creation of TV programming for the general public using videotaped interviews with experts. >
Information capacity of diffusion-based molecular communication in nanonetworks

Molecular Communication (MC) is a promising bio-inspired paradigm in which molecules are transmitted, propagated and received between nanoscale machines. One of the main challenges is the theoretical study of the maximum achievable information rate (capacity). The objective of this paper is to provide a mathematical expression for the capacity in MC nanonetworks when the propagation of the information relies on the free diffusion of molecules. Solutions from statistical mechanics and thermodynamics are used to derive a closed-form expression for the capacity as function of physical parameters, such as the size of the system, the temperature and the number of molecules as well as of the bandwidth of the system and the transmitted power. An extremely high order of magnitude of the capacity numerical values demonstrates the enormous potential of the diffusion-based MC systems.
Addressing Childhood Obesity Using a Multidisciplinary Approach with Social Workers

Childhood obesity can be effectively addressed with behavioral interventions in programs such as CATCH and Planet Health using a multidisciplinary approach. Social workers and school nurses are in close contact with children and youths at risk of obesity and their families within the school setting and are prepared to lead a multidisciplinary team in program planning, implementation, and evaluation related to reducing childhood obesity.
General closed-form PML constitutive tensors to match arbitrary bianisotropic and dispersive linear media

The perfectly matched layer (PML) constitutive tensors that match more general linear media presenting bianisotropic and dispersive behavior are obtained for single interface problems and for two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) corner regions. The derivation is based on the analytic continuation of Maxwell's equations to a complex variables domain. The formulation is Maxwellian so that it is equally applicable to the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) or finite-element (FEM) methods. It recovers, as special cases, previous anisotropic media formulations, and dispersive media formulations.
Surgical management of pulmonary carcinoid tumors: sublobar resection versus lobectomy.

Abstract Background Surgical resection of bronchopulmonary carcinoid tumors can be curative and remains the primary treatment modality. There are limited data to delineate the optimal extent of resection for this disease. Methods A retrospective review of the 3,270 patients diagnosed with typical and atypical carcinoid tumors between 2000 and 2007 in the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results registry was performed. Results The mean follow-up period was 46 months (range, 1–95 mo). Overall survival (OS) and disease-specific survival at 5 years was 80% and 90%, respectively. The mean OS was slightly better in the lobectomy group compared with those undergoing sublobar resection (86 vs 83 mo; P = .008). After adjusting for age, this finding was no longer present ( P = .513). By using multivariate analysis, sublobar resection was noninferior to lobectomy with regard to disease-specific survival and OS ( P Conclusions Compared with lobectomy, sublobar resection is associated with noninferior survival in patients with typical carcinoid of the lung.
Part five: Aboriginal medicine in highland Guatemala

This paper will examine Indian medical knowledge and practices described by priests and chroniclers during the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. Writings from the sixteenth century deal primarily with Indian medicine as it existed prior to contact. Most of the sources are from the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and describe surviving Indian herbal medical lore. Much of this was similar or identical to that of pre‐Hispanic times, but by the seventeenth century some medical concepts and practices had been lost. By this time Indian and Spanish medical systems had begun to influence and borrow from each other. I will first reconstruct what is known of aboriginal medicine in the highlands and then discuss changes which occurred as a result of the Spanish Conquest.
Gram-Negative Bacteria and Endotoxin in Cotton: Effect of Multiple Lint Cleaning

Over a two-year period, 72 bales of Mississippi Delta grown cotton were processed with zero to seven lint cleaners in increments of one lint cleaner to evaluate the effect on gram-negative bacteria and endotoxin remaining in the ginned lint. The gram- negative bacteria content decreased as the number of lint cleaners increased; however, only minimum decreases were obtained after the second lint cleaner. Linear correlation coefficients for gram-negative bacteria versus nonlint content ranged from 0.66 to 0.96. Correlations between gram-negative bacteria and grade components were also determined. The number of lint cleaners did not affect the level of endotoxin remaining in the ginned lint.
Assessing the Use of Two-Way Interactive Video (TWIV) Conferencing to Offer Heart Failure Continuing Education to Rural Pharmacists

ABSTRACTTo assess the effectiveness of using two-way interactive video (TWIV) conferencing technology to offer heart failure continuing education to rural pharmacists, a continuing education program was simulcast from a metropolitan hospital to two rural hospitals via TWIV conferencing. A series of three surveys (pre-program, post-program, six month follow-up) were administered to assess heart failure knowledge and pharmacist confidence when treating patients with heart failure. Fifteen pharmacists participated in the study. Baseline heart failure knowledge significantly improved in the post-program vs. pre-program assessment (90% vs. 66%, P = 0.002) as did the six month follow-up assessment vs. pre-program assessment (81.3% vs. 66%, P = 0.034). Confidence levels of heart failure patient management were significantly improved in the post-program vs. pre-program evaluation (P < 0.022). This study showed that TWIV conferencing can be an effective way to offer live continuing education to pharmacists practic...
Eponyms in Cardiothoracic Radiology: Part I—Neoplasms

Eponyms serve the purpose of honoring individuals who have made important observations and discoveries. As with other fields of medicine, eponyms are frequently encountered in radiology, particularly in chest radiology. However, inappropriate use of an eponym may lead to potentially dangerous miscommunication. Moreover, an eponym may honor the incorrect person or a person who falls into disrepute. Despite their limitations, eponyms are still widespread in medical literature. Furthermore, in some circumstances, more than one individual may have contributed to the description or discovery of a particular anatomical structure or disease, whereas in others, an eponym may have been incorrectly applied initially and propagated for years in medical literature. Nevertheless, radiologic eponyms are a means of honoring those who have made lasting contributions to the field of radiology, and familiarity with these eponyms is critical for proper reporting and accurate communication. In addition, the acquisition of some historical knowledge about those whose names are associated with various structures or pathologic conditions conveys a sense of humanity in the field of medicine. In this article, the first of a multipart series, the authors discuss a number of chest radiology eponyms as they relate to neoplasms, including relevant clinical and imaging features, as well biographic information of the respective eponym׳s namesake.
Acanthamoebiasis and immunosuppression. Case report.

Immunosuppression and debilitating illnesses are occasionally associated with multifocal brain lesions of Acanthamoebiasis, an encephalitis distinct from the acute, water-sport related meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri . A 38-year-old man with a renal transplant two and one-half years before his final illness developed pneumonia due to Legionella micdadei. Candida albicans was isolated from sputum and cytomegalovirus was found in lung and liver biopsies. He had continuous corticosteroids, broad spectrum antibiotics, and immunosuppressive therapies. Coma developed and computerized tomography of the head revealed multifocal areas of decreased density, interpreted as cerebral abscesses. Brain biopsy demonstrated encephalitis and amocbae ( Acanthamoeba castellanii ). Four days after brain biopsy, he died and multifocal hemorrhagic lesions were found in the cerebral hemispheres, brainstem, and cerebellum. This case supports the hypothesis that Acanthamoebiasis is an opportunistic infection.
Management of focal dystonia of the extensor hallucis longus muscle with botulinum toxin injection: A case report

Recently botulinum toxin has been used with increasing frequency as a safe and effective treatment for many previously refractory conditions associated with excessive muscle activity. The indications for use of botulinum toxin injection continue to expand. This report describes the case of an 83-year-old woman with a history of diabetes mellitus and lumbar spinal stenosis who developed a severe focal dystonia of the left great toe, such that the toe maintained the extended position. Functionally, the resultant deformity prevented the patient from wearing shoes. In addition, the patient had significant pain in the left great toe. Under needle electromyographic localization, 50 units of botulinum toxin were injected into the left extensor hallucis longus muscle. Two weeks after the injection the patient was symptom free and could place her left foot into a shoe. Seven months later, she remained symptom free. This case illustrates that localized injection of botulinum toxin to a specific lower limb muscle can effectively result in decreased muscle activity and functional improvement.
Presidential Address: General Economic Theory and the Emergence of Theories of Economic Development

I welcome the delegates of the Eighth World Congress of the International Economic Association. We come from countries containing the bulk of the world’s population and represent economies with widely varying modes of economic organisation and income levels. The International Economic Association was founded thirty-three years ago as a federation of national economic associations from as wide a variety of nations as possible. Among us today are two of the early leaders of the Association, Sir Austin Robinson and Academician Tigran Khachaturov. Throughout its history the Association has continued to maintain and strengthen the ties of intellectual interaction among economists, regardless of changes in the political climate. We have contributed, I am proud to say, to the common elements of mankind in seeking better understanding and contributing to the universal aspiration for a better material life. We have had, and will have, many and strong differences of opinion. It is only by frank expression that we understand and learn from each other. The serious and unpolemical nature of the papers at this Congress shows the underlying universality of respect for evidence and logical argument.
Design and production of an anti-theft alarm system for handbags

Aiming at the bad habits of forgetfulness and steal phenomena, an ATA (anti-theft alarm) system for handbags and valuables is designed in this paper. The whole system is a pure hardware circuit, which includes radio transmitting part, radio receiving part, coding part,decoding part, alarm parts and so on. The principles of every module circuit are introduced mainly. It is discussed how to use radio signals to control the alarming circuit.Through the division of each function module, the whole system is analyzed and designed.
Expanding Our Understanding of Eating Practices, Body Image, and Appearance in African American Women: A Qualitative Study:

Researchers consistently have supported the notion that African American women experience greater body satisfaction and are less likely to engage in unhealthy restrictive eating practices due to br...
SU-G-TeP4-05: An Evaluation of a Low Dose Rate (LDR) Prostate Brachytherapy Procedure Using a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA).

Purpose: The aim of the study is the application of a Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) to access the risks for patients undergoing a Low Dose Rate (LDR) Prostate Brachytherapy Treatment. Methods: FMEA was applied to identify all the sub processes involved in the stages of identifying patient, source handling, treatment preparation, treatment delivery, and post treatment. These processes characterize the radiation treatment associated with LDR Prostate Brachytherapy. The potential failure modes together with their causes and effects were identified and ranked in order of their importance. Three indexes were assigned for each failure mode: the occurrence rating (O), the severity rating (S), and the detection rating (D). A ten-point scale was used to score each category, ten being the number indicating most severe, most frequent, and least detectable failure mode, respectively. The risk probability number (RPN) was calculated as a product of the three attributes: RPN = O X S x D. The analysis was carried out by a working group (WG) at UPMC. Results: The total of 56 failure modes were identified including 32 modes before the treatment, 13 modes during the treatment, and 11 modes after the treatment. In addition to the protocols already adopted in the clinical practice, the prioritized risk management will be implanted to the high risk procedures on the basis of RPN score. Conclusion: The effectiveness of the FMEA method was established. The FMEA methodology provides a structured and detailed assessment method for the risk analysis of the LDR Prostate Brachytherapy Procedure and can be applied to other radiation treatment modes.
Identifying hypertension using the Ohio Blood Pressure History Survey

Although medical survey studies often rely on self-reported symptoms to establish the presence or absence of clinical conditions in respondents, recent findings suggest that surveys that assess a broad range of symptoms may have limited sensitivity in detecting specific clinical conditions such as hypertension. The present study evaluated the accuracy of a blood pressure history survey mailed to 800 men and women who had received treatment at a military medical facility in the previous year. Compared with their medical records, patient reports of a previous diagnosis of hypertension exhibited an overall accuracy of 94.2%. This high level of overall accuracy was associated with equally high proportions of correct identifications of high blood pressure histories (sensitivity = 95.4%) and normal blood pressure histories (specificity = 92.4%). Our findings indicate that the Ohio Blood Pressure History Survey is a highly accurate measure of hypertension history among active and retired military personnel.
Impact of nucleic acid comparisons on the classification of fungi

Measurements of nucleic acid relatedness provide a genetic means for under-standing the relationships of species and higher orders of classification among the fungi. Nuclear DNA reassociation effectively separates species but resolves no further than to the sibling species level. Approximately this same level of resolution results from comparisons of mitochondrial DNA fragments generated with restriction endonucleases. Comparisons of ribosomal RNA divergence measured from either hybridization or sequencing give a means for assessing more distant relationships.
Eight Common Misconceptions about Psychology Papers

Students and inexperienced writers often have misconceptions about the writing process and characteristics of good papers that effectively prevent them from writing as good a paper as they possibly could. Here are eight common misconceptions you should be aware of before you even begin writing: Writing the psychology paper is the most routine, least creative aspect of the scientiﬁfic enterprise, requiring much time but little imagination. The important thing is what you say, not how you say it. Longer papers are better papers, and more papers are better yet. The main purpose of a psychology paper is the presentation of facts, whether newly established (as in reports of experiments) or well established (as in literature reviews). The distinction between scientiﬁfic writing, on the one hand, and advertising or propaganda, on the other hand, is that the purpose of scientiﬁfic writing is to inform, whereas the purpose of advertising or propaganda is to persuade. A good way to gain acceptance of your theory is by refuting someone else's theory. Negative results that fail to support the researcher's hypothesis are every bit as valuable as positive results that do support the researcher's hypothesis. The logical development of ideas in a psychology paper reﬂflects the historical development of ideas in the psychologist's head. Misconception 1. Writing the psychology paper is the most routine, least creative aspect of the scientific enterprise, requiring much time but little imagination.
An Artificial Intelligence Approach to Test Generation

1 Introduction.- 1.1 Motivation.- 1.2 Exploiting Design Morphology.- 1.3 Methodology.- 1.4 Example.- 1.5 Relationship to other work.- 1.5.1 Reasoning about devices.- 1.5.2 Reformulating representations.- 1.6 Overview.- 2 Reformulation.- 2.1 Devices and Designs.- 2.1.1 Definition of a Device.- 2.1.2 Definition of a Design.- 2.2 Reformulating Designs.- 2.2.1 Abstracting Designs.- 2.2.2 Repartitioning Designs.- 2.2.3 Making Design Knowledge Explicit/Implicit.- 2.3 Design Correctness.- 2.3.1 Correctness for an Abstraction Level.- 2.3.2 Correctness Between Adjacent Abstraction Levels.- 2.4 Automatically Reformulating Designs.- 2.5 Manually Reformulating Designs.- 3 General Representation and Reasoning.- 3.1 Requirements for a Design Description Language.- 3.2 Syntax and Semantics for Predicate Calculus.- 3.3 Describing Designs.- 3.4 Automated Deduction.- 3.4.1 Simulation.- 3.4.2 Diagnosis.- 3.4.3 Test Generation.- 3.4.4 Control.- 3.5 Utility of General Representation and Reasoning.- 3.5.1 Advantages.- 3.5.2 Disadvantages.- 4 Test Generation.- 4.1 Task Definition.- 4.2 Previous Work.- 4.3 The Saturn Test Generation System.- 4.3.1 Algorithm.- 4.3.2 Example.- 4.3.3 Control Strategies to Increase Efficiency.- 4.3.4 Empirical Evaluation.- 5 Conclusion.- 5.1 Summary of Key Ideas.- 5.2 Further Work.- 5.3 Implementation State.- A Printer Adapter Card.- B Tests for the Printer Adapter Card.
The Re-Imagination of the Middle East: Political and Academic Frontiers (1991 Presidential Address)

The world is now undergoing a transformation as profound as that experienced with the rise of the territorial state system after the religious wars of Europe’s feudal period. Modern technology in defense and communications and “emerging trans-state patterns of commerce, politics, and cultural life” are rendering traditional notions of “frontier” obsolete. Dispersed transnational communities—Sikhs in Canada, Muslims in Britain, Germany, France, and the U.S.—sectarian and ethnic militias sustained by emigre and foreign funds, and transnational banking, commercial, religious, and intellectual links often opaque to state authorities may not threaten the existence of the nation-state everywhere, but they serve as a poignant reminder that nation-states are not the only significant political actors in the late twentieth century.
Simultaneous segmentation and correspondence improvement using statistical modes

With the increasing amount of patient information that is being collected today, the idea of using this information to inform future patient care has gained momentum. In many cases, this information comes in the form of medical images. Several algorithms have been presented to automatically segment these images, and to extract structures relevant to different diagnostic or surgical procedures. Consequently, this allows us to obtain large data-sets of shapes, in the form of triangular meshes, segmented from these images. Given correspondences between these shapes, statistical shape models (SSMs) can be built using methods like Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Often, the initial correspondences between the shapes need to be improved, and SSMs can be used to improve these correspondences. However, just as often, initial segmentations also need to be improved. Unlike many correspondence improvement algorithms, which do not affect segmentation, many segmentation improvement algorithms negatively affect correspondences between shapes. We present a method that iteratively improves both segmentation as well as correspondence by using SSMs not only to improve correspondence, but also to constrain the movement of vertices during segmentation improvement. We show that our method is able to maintain correspondence while achieving as good or better segmentations than those produced by methods that improve segmentation without maintaining correspondence. We are additionally able to achieve segmentations with better triangle quality than segmentations produced without correspondence improvement.
Reliability of 2T-core CMOS OTP non-volatile memory bitcells

Reliability assessment on 2T CMOS antifuse bitcell, consisting of two core NMOSFETs having a program transistor coupled in series with a select transistor, is presented. The discrepancy in the measured time to breakdown of program transistors and predicted minimum programming voltage by discrete device based time dependent dielectric breakdown model, is identified to be directly related to the select transistor sizing. In addition, the maximum programming voltage is controlled by junction leakage between the middle node of program/select transistors and substrate while the unprogramed/inhibit stage is in the programming stress. Using these two critical findings, for the first time, this paper presents a scientific frame work to aid designer and manufacturer to fine tune their design/process and produce robust memory elements and IP blocks.
Pore-scale Evolution of Trapped CO2 at Early Stages Following Imbibition Using Micro-CT Imaging

Abstract A CO 2 -brine drainage and imbibition cycle was performed in a Boise sandstone sample at reservoir conditions (1300 PSI, 44 °C) at the Advanced Light Source, LBNL. The sample was repeatedly imaged, at the pore-scale, using synchrotron-based X-ray microtomography. In particular the temporal evolution of residually trapped CO 2 was monitored for about 30 hours in order to quantify fluid stability at early stages following imbibition. The data show that fluid phase distribution distribution was not stable with time over the course of the experiment. We hypothesize that fluid displacement is caused by local capillary equilibration following the imbibition process.
Reducing uncertainty in stochastic streamflow generation and reservoir sizing by combining observed, reconstructed and projected streamflow

Reservoir sizing is one of the most important aspects of water resources engineering as the storage in a reservoir must be sufficient to supply water during extended droughts. Typically, observed streamflow is used to stochastically generate multiple realizations of streamflow to estimate the required storage based on the Sequent Peak Algorithm (SQP). The main limitation in this approach is that the parameters of the stochastic model are purely derived from the observed record (limited to less than 80 years of data) which does not have information related to prehistoric droughts. Further, reservoir sizing is typically estimated to meet future increase in water demand, and there is no guarantee that future streamflow over the planning period will be representative of past streamflow records. In this context, reconstructed streamflow records, usually estimated based on tree ring chronologies, provide better estimates of prehistoric droughts, and future streamflow records over the planning period could be obtained from general circulation models (GCMs) which provide 30 year near-term climate change projections. In this study, we developed paleo streamflow records and future streamflow records for 30 years are obtained by forcing the projected precipitation and temperature from the GCMs over a lumped watershed model. We propose combining observed, reconstructed and projected streamflows to generate synthetic streamflow records using a Bayesian framework that provides the posterior distribution of reservoir storage estimates. The performance of the Bayesian framework is compared to a traditional stochastic streamflow generation approach. Findings based on the split-sample validation show that the Bayesian approach yielded generated streamflow traces more representative of future streamflow conditions than the traditional stochastic approach thereby, reducing uncertainty on storage estimates corresponding to higher reliabilities. Potential strategies for improving future streamflow projections and its utility in reservoir sizing and capacity expansion projects are also discussed.
Characterization of Oxidation States in Metal/Metal Oxide Catalysts in Liquid-Phase Hydrodeoxygenation Reactions with a Trickle Bed Reactor

Bifunctional hydrodeoxygenation catalysts containing both metal and metal oxide phases are widely employed in biomass upgrading reactions. Determining the oxidation state of metals in such complex reaction media has been challenging. In this work, we developed a high-pressure trickle-bed reactor capable of conducting temperature-programed reduction of catalysts after liquid-phase reactions without exposing the catalyst bed to ambient conditions. Two case studies on metal/metal oxide catalysts employed in key biomass upgrading processes were investigated. The reduction of the RuOx phase in Ru/RuOx/SiO2 occurs at temperatures as low as 115 °C via catalytic transfer hydrogenation reactions using liquid 2-propanol as a hydrogen source. Pretreatment of Ir-ReOx/SiO2 catalyst with H2 in the presence of either liquid cyclohexane or liquid water reduces Re to an oxidation state of +2.6, while the residual ReOx phase cannot be reduced in H2 at up to 900 °C.
On computing logarithms over finite fields

The problem of computing logarithms over finite fields has proved to be of interest in different fields [4]. Subexponential time algorithms for computing logarithms over the special cases GF(p), GF(p2) and GF(pm) for a fixed p and m ? ? have been obtained. In this paper, we present some results for obtaining a sub exponential time algorithms for the remaining cases GF(pm) for p ? ? and fixed m ? 1, 2. The algorithm depends on mapping the fieLd GF(pm) into a suitable cyclotomic extension of the integers (or rationals). Once an isomorphism between GF(pm) and a subset of the cyclotomic field Q(?q) is obtained, the algorithms becomes similar to the previous algorithms for m = 1, 2.A rigorous proof for subexponential time is not yet available, but using some heuristic arguments we can show how it could be proved. If a proof would be obtained, it would use results on the distribution of certain classes of integers and results on the distribution of some ideal classes in cyclotomic fields.
Miscellaneous Analysis Issues Using jHepWork

Several third-party libraries and classes which are helpful for working with data are described. This chapter encompasses miscellaneous topics, such as how to retrieve files from the web, extract data points from images, display tables and spreadsheets, construction of applets with canvases for data visualization, mixing Java and Jython codes in one program and many other.
Gambling and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

We continue the analysis of the Add Health data used in Chap. 10 to examine the relationship between gambling behaviors and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurobehavioral condition, affecting 3–10 % of youth and persisting into adulthood in 30–50 % of cases (Richters et al. 1995; Smalley et al. 2003). ADHD accounts for a third to a half of all referrals to child mental health services and is characterized by developmentally inappropriate behaviors, low frustration tolerance, impulsivity, poor organization, distractibility, and a lack of concentration (Richters et al. 1995).
Plato on Inequalities, Justice, and Democracy

The paper focuses on Plato’s treatment of equality and inequalities in his best constitution in the Republic and in the second best constitution in the Laws. Plato was aware of the equality solution and various inequalities solutions to the problem of distributing political offices, the burdens of defense, other careers, and property and wealth. In his best constitution he rejected participatory democracy’s solution of equality of political offices, and also rejected inequality distributions of political office on the bases of courage only or wealth only or on force only. He opted for proportional inequality in the distribution of all careers, including ruling, defense, and the provision of goods and services, on the basis of inborn inequalities in intelligence, spirit, abilities in the arts/crafts, and appropriate education. Such a distribution is directed by his principle of social or city justice and justified by his belief that only with such distributions would the city function best. In the economic domain he opted for radical inequality, the abolition of private property and wealth for the ruling classes and the military—a radical divorce between power and wealth, which is his solution to the political problem posed by Thrasymachus. For the remaining and largest class, the providers of basic goods and services, he proposed functional economic floors and ceilings—allowing farmers and craftsmen what they needed, and not more, for doing their jobs well. Later, in his second best constitution, Plato opted for democratic equality in the distribution of the main political offices, for absolute equality in the division of land, and very measured inequalities in other goods and other offices. Plato now seems to think that the very great inequalities of his best constitution/city would create conflicts and factions too difficult to assuage or overcome, since he now cites repeatedly the avoidance of faction as the main reason for his newly found political and economic equality and for the avoidance of extreme inequalities. At the same time, he lowers his earlier and very high standard of the knowledge required for ruling well, which allows many more citizens to participate in ruling the city well; they no longer need to know the form of the Good, but it is sufficient to know the goods of the soul, the goods of the body, the social goods, and the teleological priority of the goods of the soul over all other goods—all the others to be pursued for the sake of the goods of the soul. Looking at both books, it is rather remarkable that all the solutions to the distribution problem of social justice that Plato discusses—equality, proportional inequality, floors and ceilings, and distance between the best off and the worst off—find an echo in modern solutions to the distributions of similar social advantages and burdens.
Predictive Liquid Chromatography Separation for Mixtures of Functionalized Double-Decker Shaped Silsesquioxanes Based on HPLC Chromatograms

Analytical separation parameters of a side-capped octaphenyl double-decker shaped silsesquioxanes (DDSQ) mixture with zero, one, and two hydroxyl groups were obtained with HPLC. These parameters we...
Experiments reveal limited top-down control of key herbivores in southern California kelp forests

Predator responses to gradients in prey density have important implications for population regulation and are a potential structuring force for subtidal marine communities, particularly on rocky reefs where herbivorous sea urchins can drive community state shifts. On rocky reefs in southern California where predatory sea otters have been extirpated, top-down control of sea urchins by alternative predators has been hypothesized but rarely tested experimentally. In laboratory feeding assays, predatory spiny lobsters (Panulirus interruptus) demonstrated a saturating functional response to urchin prey, whereby urchin proportional mortality was inversely density-dependent. In field experiments on rocky reefs near San Diego, California, predators (primarily the labrid fish California sheephead, Semicossyphus pulcher) inflicted highly variable mortality on purple urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) prey across all density levels. However, at low to moderate densities commonly observed within kelp forests, purple urchin mortality increased to a peak at a density of ~11 urchins/m2 . Above that level, at densities typical of urchin barrens, purple urchin mortality was density-independent. When larger red urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) were offered to predators simultaneously with purple urchins, mortality was density-independent. Underwater videography revealed a positive relationship between purple urchin density and both the number and richness of fish predators, but these correlations were not observed when red urchins were present. Our results demonstrate highly variable mortality rates across prey densities in this system and suggest that top-down control of urchins can occur only under limited circumstances. Our findings provide insight into the dynamics of alternate community states observed on rocky reefs.
Structure of the Ebola virus nucleoprotein – RNA complex

Abstract Ebola virus is an emerging virus capable of causing a deadly disease in humans. Replication, transcription and packaging of the viral genome is carried out by the viral nucleocapsid. The nucleocapsid is a complex of the viral nucleoprotein, RNA and several other viral proteins. The nucleoprotein NP forms large, RNA-bound, helical filaments and acts as a scaffold for additional viral proteins. The 3.1 A single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of the nucleoprotein-RNA helical filament presented here resembles previous structures determined at lower resolution while providing improved molecular details of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions. The higher resolution of the structure presented here will facilitate the design and characterization of novel and specific Ebola virus therapeutics targeting the nucleocapsid. Synopsis The 3.1 A single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structure of the RNA-bound, Ebola virus nucleoprotein helical filament provides molecular details of protein-protein and protein-RNA interactions.
Sharing Notes: A Qualitative Analysis of Description of Archival Music Materials

This qualitative study uses document analysis to explore the description of archival music materials in 35 online finding aids for music collections, including single-level and multilevel finding a...
Neurophysiological effects of multiple mood episodes in bipolar disorder.

Objectives Bipolar disorder is marked by progressive symptomatic changes, which have been linked with episode-related structural findings-particularly in the prefrontal cortex. However, few studies have examined neurofunctional and neurochemical effects of disease burden. In this study, we compared first- and multi-episode bipolar individuals. We hypothesized that the latter would demonstrate evidence of neurophysiological differences consistent with a model of progressive functional degradation of these networks. Methods First- and multi-episode manic bipolar subjects participated in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) including a continuous performance task with emotional distractors, and in single-voxel (1 H) magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS). A priori fMRI regions-of-interest (ROI) included structures comprising prefrontal-striatal-amygdala networks; (1 H)MRS voxels were placed within bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal (VLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Both ROI and voxel-based brain activation in response to emotional stimuli, and neurochemical concentrations derived from (1 H)MRS were compared across bipolar groups. Results Multi-episode bipolar subjects showed relatively lower regional activation across prefrontal-striatal-amygdala networks, including bilateral VLPFC, orbitofrontal cortex, ACC, putamen, caudate, and amygdala. Exploratory whole-brain, voxel-based analysis suggested additional areas of lower activation extending into Brodmann area 22, posterior parietal regions, and right thalamus. Glutamate and N-acetylaspartate (NAA) concentrations were also relatively lower in the ACC of multi-episode subjects. Conclusions Disease burden, exemplified by multiple affective episodes is associated with evidence of widespread decrements in affective network activity. Lower ACC NAA concentration is similarly consistent with a model of progressive functional deficits. These findings support the functional significance of previously observed progressive structural changes throughout these regions.