cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A filtered backprojection MAP algorithm with nonuniform sampling and noise modeling.

Purpose: The goal of this paper is to extend our recently developed FBP (filtered backprojection) algorithm, which has the same characteristics of an iterative Landweber algorithm, to an FBP algorithm with the same characteristics of an iterative MAP (maximum a posteriori) algorithm. The newly developed FBP algorithm also works when the angular sampling interval is not uniform. The projection noise variance can be modeled using a view-based weighting scheme. Methods: The new objective function contains projection noise model dependent weighting factors and image dependent prior (i.e., a Bayesian term). The noise weighting is view-by-view based. For the first time, the FBP algorithm is able to model the projection noise. Based on the formulation of the iterative Landweber MAP algorithm, a frequency-domain window function is derived for each iteration of the Landweber MAP algorithm. As a result, the ramp filter and the windowing function are both modified by the Bayesian component. This new FBP algorithm can be applied to a projection data set that is not uniformly sampled. Results: Computer simulations show that the new FBP-MAP algorithm with window function index k and the iterative Landweber MAP algorithm with iteration number k give similar reconstructions in terms of resolution and noise texture. An example of transmission x-ray CT shows that the noise modeling method is able to significantly reduce the streaking artifacts associated with low-dose CT. Conclusions: View-based noise weighting scheme can be introduced to the FBP algorithm as a weighting factor in the window function. The new FBP algorithm is able to provide similar results to the iterative MAP algorithm if the ramp filter is modified with a additive term. Nonuniform sampling and sensitivity can be accommodated by proper backprojection weighting.
THE CHEMISTRY OF INSECT HEMOLYMPH : III. GLYCEROL

Free glycerol has been identified as a major solute in plasma of pupae of the silk moth, Hyalophora cecropia. Glycerol is not found in the blood of larvae; it appears about the time of pupation, and then gradually accumulates during diapause to reach after 6 months a level of about 0.3 M. When diapause is broken and the adult develops, glycerol rapidly disappears. In diapausing pupae of the related species, Telea polyphemus, about 0.05 M glycerol was found; in 3 other saturniid species, there was little or none. It is suggested that glycerol may be a product of a modified glycolytic pathway.
Temperature-dependent exciton linewidths in semiconductors

The temperature-dependent linewidths of excitons in semiconductors due to the interaction of the exciton with both LO phonons and with acoustic phonons are studied with use of a Green's-function approach in which the exciton-phonon interaction is treated perturbatively. The interaction between the excitons and the LO phonons is taken to be of the Fr\"ohlich form, and the contribution to the linewidth is obtained in closed form. In this case it is found that scattering of the exciton to both bound and continuum states is important and that it is important to treat the continuum states fully as Coulomb scattering states. In describing optical-absorption processes, the fact that absorption occurs from polariton states, which are states composed of excitons coupled to light, is taken into account. The linewidths due to the exciton--LO-phonon interaction are evaluated for a series of II-VI and III-V compound semiconductors, and are shown to account for the existing experimental results for temperatures \ensuremath{\gtrsim}80 K. The contributions to the linewidth due to the interaction of excitons with acoustic phonons via both the deformation potential and the piezoelectric couplings are treated, and it is found that the deformation-potential coupling dominates for all of the materials considered. Because of the small velocity of sound, scattering to only intraband intermediate states, i.e., those in which the internal exciton quantum numbers do not change, is found to contribute to the linewidth. In the case of acoustic phonons, it is found to be important to treat optical absorption as originating from polariton states in order to evaluate properly the magnitude of this contribution to the linewidth. The acoustic-phonon contribution to the linewidths is compared with experiment for temperatures \ensuremath{\lesssim}80 K, for which it dominates the temperature dependence.
Analysis of Single Perceptrons Learning Capabilities

This paper addresses the problem of supervised learning in two types of artificial neurons. They are: (1) an ADALINE (Adaptive Linear Element) with differentiable activation function (the McCulloch-Pitts type neuron), (ii) an adaline feeding a discrete dynamical system. Supervised learning occurs when the neuron is supplied with both the input and the correct output values. Learning algorithms are then used to adjust adaptable learning parameters, weights, based on the error of the computed output. We propose learning laws for both types of neurons. The proposed laws are based on the Widrow-Hoff learning algorithm. We then give sufficiency conditions under which the learning parameters converge, i.e. learning takes place. We also investigate conditions under which the learning parameters diverge.
Combined drought and episodic freezing effects on seedlings of low- and high-elevation subspecies of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata)

Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) is a dominant shrub throughout much of the arid western United States. Several recognized subspecies differ in physiology, morphology and in their distribution in relation to soil water availability. While several studies have compared mature individuals of these subspecies, there is little information on seedling physiological tolerance to physical stresses. Understanding seedling physiology is essential for predicting how species may respond to changes in temperature and precipitation regimes. Our objective was to examine the drought and freezing tolerance of seedlings of two A. tridentata subspecies: ssp. tridentata, which is found in low-elevation dry sites, and ssp. vaseyana, found in higher, moister sites. We examined growth, gas exchange and quantum yield of chlorophyll a fluorescence from photosystem II (PSII) for seedlings grown in a greenhouse and exposed to two different levels of moisture availability in combination with a simulated growing season freezing event. We found that ssp. tridentata possessed several drought-tolerant characteristics, such as rapid growth rates, thick leaves and low stomatal conductance. Both subspecies shared similar physiological tolerance to the low-moisture treatment but experienced relatively more stress under the freezing treatment. Subspecies vaseyana was more sensitive to freezing when grown with low soil moisture, resulting in reduced stomatal conductance and PSII quantum yield. In contrast, the low-soil moisture treatment did not increase the susceptibility of ssp. tridentata to freezing. These results demonstrate that drought tolerance may be an important trait for seedlings of A. tridentata, but stress because of freezing damage of seedlings may limit the distribution of the species.
A study of the role of renal nerves in the renal responses to 60° head‐up tilt in the anaesthetized dog

1. Renal responses to 10 min of 60° head-up tilt were measured in anaesthetized dogs in which renal perfusion pressure was maintained at a relatively constant value. 2. Tilting was associated with a fall in systemic blood pressure and an increase in heart rate. Renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate remained constant while there was a significant decrease in both absolute and fractional excretion of sodium. 3. Animals which had undergone acute renal denervation were tilted. The cardiovascular responses were similar to intact animals. A fall in renal blood flow was observed but the glomerular filtration rate was maintained at a steady value during tilting. The decreased renal tubular excretion of sodium measured in intact animals was abolished. 4. Alpha-adrenergic blockade of the kidney was achieved by infusion of phentolamine into the renal artery. Tilting of these animals caused cardiovascular changes similar to those observed in control animals but renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate and sodium handling remained unchanged. 5. Animals in which both carotid sinuses had been acutely denervated were tilted. Systemic blood pressure fell as in intact animals, but the rise in heart rate was significantly less. Renal blood flow, glomerular filtration rate and the rate of sodium excretion were unchanged. 6. A 10 min period of 60° head-up tilt in anaesthetized dogs resulted in an unchanged renal blood flow and glomerular filtration rate which was associated with a decrease in both fractional excretion of sodium and sodium excretion. The renal sympathetic nerves were shown to be responsible for these changes in tubular sodium handling which appeared to exert their action via renal tubular α-adrenergic receptors. This activation of the renal nerves appeared to be mediated by the carotid sinus baroreceptor reflex.
The General Circulation of the Atmosphere

Theories of how Earth’s surface climate may change in the future, of how it may have been in the past, and of how it is related to climates of other planets must build upon a theory of the general circulation of the atmosphere. The view of the atmospheric general circulation presented here focuses not on Earth’s general circulation as such but on a continuum of idealized circulations with axisymmetric flow statistics. Analyses of observational data for Earth’s atmosphere, simulations with idealized general circulation models, and theoretical considerations suggest how characteristics of the tropical Hadley circulation, of the extratropical circulation, and of atmospheric macroturbulence may depend on parameters such as the planet radius and rotation rate and the strength of the differential heating at the surface.
A fault-tolerant distributed channel allocation scheme for cellular networks

In cellular networks, it is vital to allocate communication channels efficiently because the bandwidth allocated for cellular communication is limited. If channels are statically allocated, as is the case in current cellular networks, a cell may run out of channels when a large number of mobile hosts move to the cell. To overcome this problem, dynamic channel allocation approaches have been proposed. Under dynamic channel allocation, channels are allocated to cells on demand, thus increasing channel utilization. Such channel allocation approaches fall under two categories, namely, centralized and distributed. Centralized approaches are neither scalable nor reliable, while distributed approaches have the potential to be both reliable and scalable. In the distributed approaches, a mobile service station is responsible for allocating channels to mobile hosts in the same cell. In cellular networks, mobile service stations may fail. In addition, the network may encounter intermittent network congestion and/or link failures. It is desirable for a channel allocation algorithm to work well, even in the presence of network congestion, link failures, and/or mobile service station failures. In this paper, we present a distributed dynamic channel allocation scheme for cellular networks that is fault-tolerant. Our approach can tolerate the failure of mobile service stations, link failure, and network congestion, and make efficient reuse of channels. We also provide results of the performance evaluation of our algorithm.
Matrix converter fed open-ended power electronic transformer for power system application

A matrix converter controlled 3-phase power electronics transformer is proposed for power system application. The proposed system uses three matrix converters and a three phase high frequency transformer in order to achieve isolation and, voltage and current transformation from primary to secondary. The primary side of the transformer is open-ended and two matrix converters connected to both sides of the opened primary side control the voltage by use of high frequency switching. By use of high frequency switching the size of the transformer is reduced. Another matrix converter connected to the star connected secondary side of the transformer converts back the high frequency chopped voltage at the output of the transformer to normal line frequency voltage by synchronized switching with primary side converters. By applying phase shift control to the forward rotating and backward rotating vectors the input power factor and output power factor are decoupled and unity power factor operation is achievable at the input.
A Comparison of Language Issues in High-Functioning Autism and Related Disorders with Onset in Childhood and Adolescence

Speech, language, and communication in autism present a heterogeneous and complex picture that has fascinated clinicians and researchers since Kanner’s (1943) original description of the syndrome. Deficits in these areas have been studied from the perspectives of normal language development, their relationship to cognition, and more recently, their relationship to socialization and affect (Baron-Cohen, 1988, 1989a; Hobson, 1986; Sigman, Mundy, Sherman & Ungerer, 1986). Important variables in these studies have included IQ, age, language acquisition history, and age of onset, as well as remedial and pharmacological intervention. While language function can vary considerably based on these variables, communication behaviors in autism appear to remain flawed in specific ways and constitute an essential aspect of the total diagnostic picture. Foremost are impairments in pragmatics, or the use of language in a social context. Fillmore (1981) characterized the are of pragmatics from a structural-functional perspective as “a three-termed relationship that unites (a) linguistic form and (b) the communicative functions that these forms are capable of serving, with (c) the contexts or settings in which those linguistic forms can have those communicative functions” (p. 144). Recent reviews of pragmatic deficits in autism are provided by Watson (1988) and Baron-Cohen (1988).
Comparative study of intensive pulse load impact on active and passive rectification system in MVDC ship power generation unit

The rectifier plays a key role in connecting generation units to a medium voltage direct current (MVDC) bus on all electric ship power systems, where the rectification systems provide power continuation warranty including power quality criteria in order to meet standard requirements. Active rectifiers are able to present distinguished benefits over passive rectifiers such as: regulation, dynamic response to load change, output voltage ripple, input current total harmonic distortion (THD), power factor correction, and wave factor. On the other hand, passive rectifiers can demonstrate simplicity. They require fewer components resulting in a lower cost, reduced maintenance and installation effort. This paper purveys a thorough quantified and qualified analysis of neutral-point-clamped (NPC) and three-phase diode rectifiers as active and passive rectification modules, respectively, when they supply intensive pulse loads. The three-phase diode rectifier without line filter inductor and with output filter capacitor is directly connected to a synchronous generator including an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) that regulates the generator and the rectifier output voltage in the first two scenarios, respectively. In the third scenario, the NPC rectifier that is able to regulate the output voltage independent of input voltage alterations is demonstrated by a three-phase source with variable output amplitude. All three cases will be simulated thoroughly to validate the steady-state and transient performance of these test scenarios, while in each case the rectifier's output supplies an intensive pulse load.
The trace formula for vector bundles

(II) fedN(X) = ^ e ± i ^ i J k is a tempered distributional function of t. The classical trace formula says that the singular support of (II) is contained in the length spectrum of X. Moreover, under suitable hypotheses on geodesic flow, the trace formula gives considerable information about the singularities in (II). (See [DG and C].) There is a fairly straightforward (and not terribly interesting) generalization of the trace formula to vector bundles. (See, for instance, the introduction to [DG].) We will be concerned in this article with a much more subtle generalization inspired by recent articles of Hogreve, Potthoff, and Schrader [HPS], and Schrader and Taylor [ST] in Communications in Mathematical Physics. Let G be a compact Lie group and ir: P —> X a principle G-bundle with connection. Given a finite-dimensional unitary representation, p, of G we will denote by Ep the vector bundle over X associated with p and by Dp the associated connection. Now consider a ladder {pe, e = 1,2,...} of irreducible representations of G. (This means that the maximal weight of pe is e times the maximal weight of p\.) For given e let Afc,e? # = 1, 2, O, . . . be the spectrum of the Laplace operator on C(Epe): Ae = D*peDpe + e .
Unintended Consequences of Screening for Ebola.

Ebola virus disease (EVD) reached the United States in September 2014, leading the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to publish screening guidelines to identify patients with high-risk exposures at their first point of contact with the health care system.In West Africa, the burden of EVD is superimposed on the trauma of decades of civil war, violence, and poverty. Therefore, an important consideration in implementing screening procedures in the United States is the potential to unintentionally exacerbate posttraumatic stress disorder, or add additional stress from stigma and discrimination, among the West African diaspora.We recommend rigorous research to develop and implement evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches to screening for communicable diseases during outbreaks, using principles of community-engaged or community-based participatory research.
Some advantages of calculating octanol—water partition coefficients

Reliable values for the octanol—water partition coefficients of small solutes used in enzyme binding/inhibition studies are desirable if a hydrophobic effect is being examined. Many investigators will grant that measuring each solute by shake-flask is the ideal, but reversedphase HPLC data is becoming more commonplace since it is easier to obtain. This note examines one study where HPLC hydrophobicity, from an apparently valid procedure, obscured an obvious hydrophobic relationship. Another example is cited where probable errors in shake-flask measurement also led to an erroneous conclusion. In both instances, values obtained from a simple method of calculation of log P(o/w) values could have provided a warning.
Laboratory Studies of DIB Carriers

Spectroscopic studies of the following potential diffuse interstellar band (DIB) carriers are reviewed: unspecified organics, carbon chains, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), fullerenes and derivatives, as well as porphyrins and related material. An assessment of each is given, along with suggestions for further experimental studies needed to fully test each candidate. Of the experimental techniques in common use, matrix isolation spectroscopy with neon matrices is the most appropriate for the DIBs. The low vapor pressure and high reactivity of these materials preclude gas phase studies on many of these species. At this point, given the type and quality of published data available, carbon chains and PAHs are the most promising candidates for a number of the DIBs.
Evolution of the presentation and pathologic and biochemical outcomes after radical prostatectomy for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer diagnosed during the PSA era.

Abstract Objectives. To demonstrate the evolution of the clinical presentation and pathologic and biochemical outcomes for patients with clinically localized prostate cancer treated with radical prostatectomy during the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) era. Methods. One thousand fifty-nine consecutive men treated with radical prostatectomy from January 1989 to December 2000 comprised the study cohort. A chi-squared metric was used to compare the proportions of patients during three intervals (1989 to 1992, 1993 to 1996, and 1997 to 2000) by categories of PSA level, biopsy Gleason score, clinical T stage, percent positive biopsy cores, age, and risk group, as well as pathologic T stage, Gleason score, margin status, and lymph node status. Actual 2-year PSA recurrence-free survival rates are reported for patients with a minimal follow-up of 24 months, stratified by the interval and preoperative risk group. Results. There was a significant shift in the preoperative characteristics toward younger patients (P Conclusions. With the introduction of serum PSA as a screening tool, we have noted an evolution toward a lower pathologic stage, grade, and improved PSA outcome. These findings provide further support that serum PSA screening increases the proportion of patients potentially curable after radical prostatectomy.
DEFECT STRUCTURE OF THE MIXED-CONDUCTING Sr-Fe-Co-O SYSTEM

Electrical conductivity of the mixed-conducting Sr-Fe-Co-O system was investigated at high temperatures and various oxygen partial pressures (pO2). The system exhibits not only high combined electrical and oxygen ionic conductivities but also structural stability in both oxidizing and reducing environments. Conductivity of SrFeCo{sub 0.5}O{sub x} increases with temperature and pO2, within the experiment pO2 range (1-10{sup -18} atm). p-type conduction was observed, the activity energy of which decreases with pO2. A model of the defect chemistry in the Sr-Fe-Co-O system is proposed. The pO2- dependent conducting behavior can be understood by considering the trivalent-to-divalent transition of the transition metal ions in the system.
Shedding Light on Voltage-dependent Gating

Voltage-dependent channels respond to changes in the transmembrane electric field by rearranging their voltage sensors, triggering increases in selective permeability. The channels reside in three types of conformationally distinct populations: closed states, open states, and a variety of
Adaptive heterogeneous scheduling for integrated GPUs

Many processors today integrate a CPU and GPU on the same die, which allows them to share resources like physical memory and lowers the cost of CPU-GPU communication. As a consequence, programmers can effectively utilize both the CPU and GPU to execute a single application. This paper presents novel adaptive scheduling techniques for integrated CPU-GPU processors. We present two online profiling-based scheduling algorithms: naive and asymmetric. Our asymmetric scheduling algorithm uses low-overhead online profiling to automatically partition the work of data-parallel kernels between the CPU and GPU without input from application developers. It does profiling on the CPU and GPU in a way that it doesn't penalize GPU-centric workloads that run significantly faster on the GPU. It adapts to application characteristics by addressing: 1) load imbalance via irregularity caused by, e.g., data-dependent control flow, 2) different amounts of work on each kernel call, and 3) multiple kernels with different characteristics. Unlike many existing approaches primarily targeting NVIDIA discrete GPUs, our scheduling algorithm does not require offline processing. We evaluate our asymmetric scheduling algorithm on a desktop system with an Intel 4th generation Core processor using a set of sixteen regular and irregular workloads from diverse application areas. On average, our asymmetric scheduling algorithm performs within 3.2% of the maximum throughput with a perfect CPU-and-GPU oracle that always chooses the ideal work partitioning between the CPU and GPU. These results underscore the feasibility of online profile-based heterogeneous scheduling on integrated CPU-GPU processors.
Clinical Course of Bimatoprost-Induced Periocular Skin Changes in Caucasians

Purpose To describe the demographic and clinical characteristics of bimatoprost-induced periocular skin hyperpigmentation in Caucasians. Design Retrospective noncomparative case series. Participants Thirty-seven Caucasian patients (29 female, 8 male) with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (n = 28) or ocular hypertension (n = 9) in whom cosmetically noticeable periocular skin pigmentation developed with bimatoprost therapy. Methods An unbiased examiner performed a retrospective chart analysis of patients in whom periocular skin hyperpigmentation developed after starting bimatoprost therapy. Data collected included patient demographics, diagnosis, medication history, dates of starting and stopping bimatoprost treatment, and subjective assessment of the periocular hyperpigmentation at initial detection and follow-up visits. Main Outcome Measures Periocular hyperpigmentation was graded using an arbitrary scale from 0 to 3. The number of days to the onset of hyperpigmentation and to pigment resolution was determined and their associations to demographic and other clinical parameters were analyzed. Results Patients had variable grades of periocular hyperpigmentation at presentation (mean, 1.27±0.50; range, 1–2.5). Bimatoprost-induced periocular hyperpigmentation appeared most frequently between 3 and 6 months after initiation of bimatoprost therapy (277±138 days). Resolution of skin hyperpigmentation was noted most frequently between 3 and 12 months (205±97 days); however, there was a wide range of 61 to 472 days. Thirty-three of the 37 patients had complete resolution of the periocular hyperpigmentation. Conclusions Bimatoprost use is associated with periocular skin hyperpigmentation in Caucasians with variable time of onset. The periocular hyperpigmentation appears gradually, but in this series was completely reversible on discontinuation of bimatoprost.
Diffusion-weighted and diffusion tensor imaging in fibromyalgia patients: a prospective study of whole brain diffusivity, apparent diffusion coefficient, and fraction anisotropy in different regions of the brain and correlation with symptom severity

Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic pain condition characterized by widespread pain and tenderness that afflicts 2%–4% of the population in industrialized countries (1). It is the second most common rheumatologic disease after osteoarthritis. Although the underlying pathology, mediating the allodynia and hyperalgesia of FM remains poorly understood, a dysfunction in central neurobiologic structures is suspected. In addition to pain, FM patients often present with other syndromes such as irritable bowel syndrome, idiopathic low back pain, and temporomandibular disease syndrome, suggesting a common underlying pathology across these conditions (2). Although FM is defined by widespread tenderness, experimental data indicate that the enhanced pain sensitivity of FM is not limited to pressure stimuli alone. Individuals with FM also exhibit heightened pain sensitivity in response to multiple other stimuli, including heat, noise, and electricity (3–5). These data, in conjunction with the finding that pain is not localized to a particular body re-
In vivo high-resolution magic angle spinning magnetic and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic analysis of mitochondria-targeted peptide in Drosophila melanogaster with trauma-induced thoracic injury

Trauma is the most common cause of mortality among individuals aged between 1 and 44 years and the third leading cause of mortality overall in the US. In this study, we examined the effects of trauma on the expression of genes in Drosophila melanogaster, a useful model for investigating genetics and physiology. After trauma was induced by a non-lethal needle puncture of the thorax, we observed the differential expression of genes encoding for mitochondrial uncoupling proteins, as well as those encoding for apoptosis-related and insulin signaling-related proteins, thus indicating muscle functional dysregulation. These results prompted us to examine the link between insulin signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction using in vivo nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) with complementary electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. Trauma significantly increased insulin resistance biomarkers, and the NMR spectral profile of the aged flies with trauma-induced thoracic injury resembled that of insulin-resistant chico mutant flies. In addition, the mitochondrial redox status, as measured by EPR, was significantly altered following trauma, indicating mitochondrial uncoupling. A mitochondria-targeted compound, Szeto-Schiller (SS)-31 that promotes adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis normalized the NMR spectral profile, as well as the mitochondrial redox status of the flies with trauma-induced thoracic injury, as assessed by EPR. Based on these findings, we propose a molecular mechanism responsible for trauma-related mortality and also propose that trauma sequelae in aging are linked to insulin signaling and mitochondrial dysfunction. Our findings further suggest that SS-31 attenuates trauma-associated pathological changes.
Presidential-Election Rules in Latin America: Is Plurality or Runoff Better for Democracy?

In recent decades, a majority of Latin American nations has adopted a runoff rule for the election of the president. However, the runoff rule is opposed by most scholars on the grounds that it exacerbates the proliferation of political parties and, in particular after the reversal of a first-round result, increases the possibilities of gridlock. On the other hand, the runoff rule is advocated by a few scholars who emphasize the frequency and dangers for democracy of election with less than 40% of the vote. These arguments are tested in this paper for Latin America between 2978 and 2006-2007. It is found that, in recent years, countries with runoff rules fared better on key measures of democracy than countries with plurality rules, largely for the reasons advanced by runoff advocates.
Stress-induced Void Formation in Passivated Cu Films

In this paper, we investigated void formation in passivated Cu films focusing on the kinetics of void formation under isothermal annealing as a function of temperature. Interestingly, we found that the kinetics of void formation in Cu films is consistent with that observed in Cu lines, which is driven by the combined effect of thermal stress and mass transport resulting in a peak growth rate at about 250°C. To analyze the observed results, we have calculated the stress state at the / Cu grain boundary to demonstrate the existence of a localized triaxial stress state as a result of elastic anisotropy. To account for void density, x-ray analysis was performed to measure the grain texture using inverse pole figure plot and the result can account for the void density observed. A kinetic model was used to analyze void growth under isothermal annealing. A threshold stress of about 40MPa was deduced for void growth in passivated Cu films with an activation energy of 0.75 eV.
Motivating students taking CS1 by using image manipulation in C and C

Creating a CS1 course that teaches good programming techniques and computer science concepts while also motivating students is a challenge faced by all computer science educators. We have all seen that students who are excited about their assignments make a greater effort and learn the concepts embodied in those assignments better. Based on this experience we have designed a CS1 curriculum that motivates students through assignments that involve image manipulation and creation. For this course we have somewhat reordered how concepts are typically taught in order to get students quickly into image manipulation. The choice of which concept to introduce is motivated by what it enables students to do to images. All concepts are covered using C for the first three quarters of the semester and then revisited during the final quarter using C++ to reinforce material and present object-oriented concepts.
Characterization of Fluorescent Proteins for Three- and Four-Color Live-Cell Imaging in S. cerevisiae

Saccharomyces cerevisiae are widely used for imaging fluorescently tagged protein fusions. Fluorescent proteins can easily be inserted into yeast genes at their chromosomal locus, by homologous recombination, for expression of tagged proteins at endogenous levels. This is especially useful for incorporation of multiple fluorescent protein fusions into a single strain, which can be challenging in organisms where genetic manipulation is more complex. However, the availability of optimal fluorescent protein combinations for 3-color imaging is limited. Here, we have characterized a combination of fluorescent proteins, mTFP1/mCitrine/mCherry for multicolor live cell imaging in S. cerevisiae. This combination can be used with conventional blue dyes, such as DAPI, for potential four-color live cell imaging.
Handing Off Safety at the Bedside

The study purpose was to describe how bedside nurses can use nursing bedside shift report (NBSR) to keep patients safe. NBSR has been recommended as a means of increasing patient safety, but little is known about how or whether it does so. Grounded theory methods were used. Data were collected from 2014 to 2015 with bedside nurses in a pediatric unit with an established NBSR process. The primary process by which bedside nurses use NBSR to keep patients safe is reducing risk of harm through conveying the patient story from shift to shift. Having a perspective from the bedside is a key antecedent to reducing risk of harm, as it supports the nurses' ability to subsequently identify and address risks. Although often seen as a routine exchange of information, how nursing shift report is conducted can impact patient safety. The study reinforces the value of targeting nursing communication to improve patient safety.
The Systemic Flaws of the Tanzania Public Procurement Act, Cap. 410 and Proposed Solutions: A Short Paper Submitted to the Law Review Commission of Tanzania 14th January, 2016

The Public Procurement Act (PPA) 2011 and the Public Procurement Regulations (PPR) 2013 make up the current main legal framework and the latest outputs of the procurement reforms that Tanzania has undertaken since 1990s. More or less like its predecessors, the PPA 2011 has not enabled the government (the procuring entities) to achieve value for money in terms of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. Based on an intensive scholarly research work (draft paper), the author submits that there is a major systemic weakness of the law which require policy and legislative actions to unlock the potential of public procurement to delivery of the best value for the limited public monetary resources. The author recommends major reforms to the law centered on redefining the policy goal of public procurement along with setting up a coherent legal system consistent with the policy goal.
Length-dependent aggregation of uninterrupted polyalanine peptides.

Polyalanine (polyA) is the third-most prevalent homopeptide repeat in eukaryotes, behind polyglutamine and polyasparagine. Abnormal expansion of the polyA repeat is linked to at least nine human diseases, and the disease mechanism likely involves enhanced length-dependent aggregation. Because of the simplicity of its side chain, polyA has been a favorite target of computational studies, and because of their tendency to fold into α-helix, peptides containing polyA-rich domains have been a popular experimental subject. However, experimental studies on uninterrupted polyA are very limited. We synthesized polyA peptides containing uninterrupted sequences of 7 to 25 alanines (A7 to A25) and characterized their length-dependent conformation and aggregation properties. The peptides were primarily disordered, with a modest component of α-helix that increased with increasing length. From measurements of mean distance spanned by the polyA segment, we concluded that physiological buffers are neutral solvents for sho...
Asymmetric Surface Potential Energy Distributions in Organic Electronic Materials via Kelvin Probe Force Microscopy

Organic electronic devices promise cheaper solution processability than their inorganic counterparts and allow for the vast tailorability of synthetic chemistry to tune properties and efficiency. A critical fundamental challenge is to understand the dynamics and mechanisms of charge transport, particularly the role of defects and traps. We use Kelvin probe force microscopy to compare potential energy distributions of organic, semiconducting thin films to comparable histograms calculated via our dynamic Monte Carlo simulation. A combination of theoretical and experimental investigations indicates that the common assumption of a Gaussian disorder model (GDM) is not always a good approximation for these materials. Instead we find asymmetric distributions due to nanoscale heterogeneity of charge and a resulting mix of Lorentzian and Gaussian disorder fit through a Voigt profile. Determining a more accurate model for disorder in these commonly used materials has the potential to influence the future of organic...
Evaluation of the Application Effect of the Theory of Evidence-based Medicine in Clinic Hospital

Evaluate the educational effect of evidence-based medicine(EBM) in clinic hospital by questionnaire survey,analyze the results and present the progressive method to improve the ability of application EBME.Results and Conclusion: The effect of evidence-based medicine teaching was sound in the teaching hospital.
O23.2 Achieving the goals of the us national hiv/aids strategy: declining hiv diagnoses, improving clinical outcomes, and diminishing racial/ethnic disparities in king county, wa., usa

Background US national data suggest that new HIV diagnoses are now declining. However, that decline has been uneven, and has not clearly included men who have sex with men (MSM), the group most affected by HIV in the US. Methods We used data from the US Census, American Community Survey, and the King County, WA HIV/AIDS Reporting System (NHSS) 2004–2013 to assess trends in the rates of new HIV diagnoses, AIDS diagnoses and age- and reporting lag-adjusted HIV-associated mortality rates among King County residents. Trends in viral suppression, defined as the proportion of individuals with a last reported plasma viral load (VL) result of Results Between 2004 and 2013, the rate of new HIV diagnoses decreased from 18.4 to 13.2 per 100,000 residents (decline of 28%); AIDS diagnosis rates declined 42% from 12.3 to 7.2 per 100,000; and death rates decreased from 27 to 15 per 1,000 persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) (decline of 44%; p Conclusions The rates of new HIV diagnosis, AIDS diagnoses and mortality in PLWHA in King County, WA have significantly declined over the last decade. These changes have occurred concurrent with a dramatic increase in HIV viral suppression, and have affected diverse populations, including MSM and African American MSM.
EFFECTS OF AEROSOLIZATION ON SALMONELLA NEWBRUNSWICK1

Salmonella newbrunswick was aerosolized with distilled water into a duct with temperature and relative humidity control of the air. Airborne bacteria were collected on a membrane filter and held in the airstream for ½ hr. Cells were rehydrated and held in distilled water for ½ hr; then they were centrifuged and the supernatant fluids tested for various inorganic chemicals and organic materials that are essential for normal functions. Spot tests revealed potassium, magnesium, phosphates, simple carbohydrates, and amino acids in the supernatant fluids from the bacteria. Sodium was definitely identified in < 10% of the tests on the fluids. An increase over the unaerosolized control in absorbance of the supernatant fluids at 265 nm was noticed. The increase may be attributed to partial destruction of ribosomes observed by electron microscopy.
Prospective validation of an intraoperative algorithm to guide surgical staging in early endometrial cancer

Abstract Objectives Prospectively validate an intraoperative surgical staging algorithm to stratify patients with early endometrial cancer by risk of lymph node metastasis. Methods Subjects with endometrial cancer clinically confined to the uterus were prospectively enrolled at an academic cancer center between Jan 2012 and Jun 2015. Study participants were stratified intraoperatively into two groups based on risk of nodal involvement using cell type, tumor grade, myometrial invasion, and tumor size in accordance with an established protocol from the Mayo Clinic. Low risk (LR) subjects received extrafascial hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy; high risk (HR) patients received complete surgical staging including bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Results Of the 200 subjects enrolled, 194 were eligible for analysis. The algorithm identified 132 (68%) HR and 62 (32%) LR cancers. Of the HR subjects, 126 had lymphadenectomy performed with 14 (11%) positive for nodal metastases. Five HR subjects experienced disease recurrence. Of the 62 LR cancers, two patients developed disease recurrence. Ten LR cancers were upgraded to HR on final pathology due to lesion size (6) and grade (4). None of these patients experienced disease recurrence. The algorithm demonstrated 90% sensitivity (18/20) and 36% specificity (62/174) as determined by positive lymph nodes and/or disease recurrence. Conclusions Intraoperative assessment of early endometrial cancer can be used to determine the extent of surgical staging. The studied algorithm has low specificity and modifications are necessary to better match the surgical procedure to the risk of metastatic cancer.
Chromatography with Cyclodextrin-Based Stationary Phases

A significant number of the organic components of foods, flavorings, pharmaceuticals, and pesticides are chiral molecules (Ariens, 1988). The role of stereochemistry in biological processes was first recognized more than 100 years ago by Pasteur and van’t Hoff’Le Bel (Pasteur, 1901). Much of the stereoselectivity of these chemicals has remained shrouded in mystery, however, because techniques for chiral separations were not well developed. The fact that enantiomers exhibit identical physical and chemical properties in an achiral environment renders their separation extremely difficult.
Judicially Straight? Boy Scouts v. Dale and the Missing Scalia Dissent

In cases involving both the freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion, Justice Scalia has famously maintained that a neutral law of general applicability does not trigger any special First Amendment scrutiny merely because it happens to burden an individual's expressive activity or religious activity. When a bare majority of the Supreme Court invalidated New Jersey's application of its neutral and generally applicable antidiscrimination law to require the Boy Scouts of America to permit a gay man to serve as an assistant scout master, Scalia nevertheless joined the majority opinion even though the Court did not conclude that New Jersey had targeted the Boy Scouts because of the content of its expression or belief. A detailed analysis of Scalia's First Amendment jurisprudence shows that his vote to invalidate New Jersey's action because of its mere impact on the Boy Scouts was irreconcilable with his interpretation of the First Amendment in other cases.
Easier said than done: a qualitative study conducted in the USA exploring Latino family child care home providers as role models for healthy eating and physical activity behaviours

Objective Latinos are the largest and most rapidly growing minority population group in the USA and are disproportionally affected by obesity and related chronic diseases. Child care providers likely influence the eating and physical activity behaviours of children in their care, and therefore are important targets for interventions designed to prevent childhood obesity. Nonetheless, there is a paucity of research examining the behaviours of family child care home (FCCH) providers and whether they model healthy eating and physical activity behaviours. Therefore, this study explored Latino FCCH providers’ beliefs and practices related to healthy eating, physical activity and sedentary behaviours, and how they view their ability to serve as role models for these behaviours for young children in their care. Methods This is a qualitative study consisting of six focus groups conducted in Spanish with a sample of 44 state-licensed Latino FCCH providers in the state of Massachusetts. Translated transcripts were analysed using thematic analyses to identify meaningful patterns. Results Analyses revealed that Latino FCCH providers have positive beliefs and attitudes about the importance of healthy eating and physical activity for children in their care, but personally struggle with these same behaviours and with maintaining a healthy weight status. The ability of Latino FCCH providers to model healthy eating and physical activity may be limited by their low self-efficacy in their ability to be physically active, eat a healthy diet and maintain a healthy weight. Conclusions Interventions designed to improve healthy eating and physical activity behaviours of children enrolled in FCCHs should address providers’ own health behaviours as well as their modelling of these health behaviours. Future research can build on the findings of this qualitative study by quantifying Latino FCCH providers’ eating and physical activity behaviours, and determining how these behaviours influence behaviours and health outcomes of children in their care.
Erosion Rate Prediction Model for Levee-Floodwall Overtopping Applications in Fine-Grained Soils

Characterizing soil erosion and predicting levee erosion rates for various levee soils and storm conditions during floodwall overtopping events is necessary in designing levee-floodwall systems. In this study, a series of laboratory scaled levee-floodwall erosion tests were conducted to determine erosion characteristics of fine grained soils subject to overtopping from different floodwall heights with variable flow-rates. A decreasing rate of erosion was observed as a pool of water was generated in the created scour hole at the crest of the levee model. The erosion rates were also assessed using jet erosion test (JET) and erosion function apparatus (EFA) tests. The results of levee-floodwall overtopping along with soil geotechnical characteristics such as plasticity index, compaction level, and saturation level of the levee soils as well as hydraulic parameters such as water overtopping velocity were used to develop a levee-floodwall erosion rate prediction model. Then, the results of JET and EFA were integrated to develop another prediction model for levee-floodwall erosion rate estimation. Consequently, the prediction models were evaluated by conducting additional tests and comparing the prediction results with the actual measured erosion rates.
Transfemoral Amputation Adductor Myodesis Using FiberTape and Knotless Anchors.

Transfemoral amputation is considered the last treatment option for severe infection, vascular disease, trauma, and malignant tumors of the lower extremity that have failed limb salvage. Unopposed ...