cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Platform Storage Performance With 3D XPoint Technology

With a combination of high performance and nonvolatility, the arrival of 3D XPoint memory promises to fundamentally change the memory-storage hierarchy at the hardware, system software, and application levels. This memory will be deployed first as a block addressable storage device, known as the Intel Optane SSD, and even in this familiar form it will drive basic system change. Access times consistently as fast, or faster, than the rest of the system will blur the line between storage and memory. The low latencies from these solid-state drives (SSDs) allow rethinking even basic storage methodologies to be more memory-like. For example, the manner in which storage performance is measured shifts from input–output operations (IOs) at a given queue depth to response time for a given load, like memory is typically measured. System changes to match the low latency of these SSDs are already advanced, and in many cases they enable the application to utilize the SSD’s performance. In other cases, additional work is required, particularly on policies set originally with slow storage in mind. On top of these already-capable systems are real applications. System-level tests show that applications such as key–value stores and real-time analytics can benefit immediately. These application benefits include significantly faster runtime (up to $3\times $ ) and access to larger data sets than supported in DRAM. Newly viable mechanisms for expanding application memory footprint include native application support or native operating system paging, a significant change in the use of SSDs. The next step in this convergence is 3D XPoint memory accessed through processor load/store operations. Significant operating system support is already in place. The implications of consistently low latency storage and fast persistent memory on computing are great, with applications and systems taking advantage of this new technology as storage as the first to benefit.
Growth rate and surfactant-assisted enhancements of rare-earth arsenide InGaAs nanocomposites for terahertz generation

We report the effects of the growth rate on the properties of iii-v nanocomposites containing rare-earth-monopnictide nanoparticles. In particular, the beneficial effects of surfactant-assisted growth of LuAs:In0.53Ga0.47As nanocomposites were found to be most profound at reduced LuAs growth rates. Substantial enhancement in the electrical and optical properties that are beneficial for ultrafast photoconductors was observed and is attributed to the higher structural quality of the InGaAs matrix in this new growth regime. The combined enhancements enabled a >50% increase in the amount of LuAs that could be grown without degrading the quality of the InGaAs overgrowth. Dark resistivity increased by ∼25× while maintaining carrier mobilities over 3000 cm2/V s; carrier lifetimes were reduced by >2×, even at high depositions of LuAs. The combined growth rate and surfactant enhancements offer a previously unexplored regime to enable high-performance fast photoconductors that may be integrated with telecom compone...
Dihydroergotamine mesylate-loaded dissolving microneedle patch made of polyvinylpyrrolidone for management of acute migraine therapy.

Abstract Migraine is a widespread neurological disease with negative effects on quality of life and productivity. Moderate to severe acute migraine attacks can be treated with dihydroergotamine mesylate (DHE), an ergot derivative that is especially effective in non-responders to triptan derivatives. To overcome limitations of current DHE formulations in subcutaneous injection and nasal spray such as pain, adverse side effects and poor bioavailability, a new approach is needed for DHE delivery enabling painless self-administration, quick onset of action, and high bioavailability. In this study, we developed a dissolving microneedle patch (MNP) made of polyvinylpyrrolidone, due to its high aqueous solubility and solubility enhancement properties, using a MNP design previously shown to be painless and simple to administer. DHE-loaded MNPs were shown to have a content uniformity of 108 ± 9% with sufficient mechanical strength for insertion to pig skin ex vivo and dissolution within 2 min. In vivo pharmacokinetic studies were carried out on hairless rats, and DHE plasma levels were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The area under curve (AUC) value after DHE delivery by MNP (1259 ± 917 ng/mL min) was not significantly different (p > 0.05) as compared to subcutaneous injection, with a relative bioavailability of 97%. Also, appreciable plasma levels of DHE were seen within 5 min for both delivery methods and tmax value of MNPs (38 ± 23 min) showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) compared to subcutaneous injection (24 ± 13 min). These results suggest that DHE-loaded MNPs have promise as an alternative DHE delivery method that can be painlessly self-administered with rapid onset and high bioavailability.
The concept of alpha-synuclein as a prion-like protein: ten years after

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic signaling and the presence of alpha-synuclein aggregates (also called Lewy bodies and neurites) throughout the brain. In 2003, Braak and colleagues created a staging system for Parkinson’s disease describing the connection between the alpha-synuclein pathology and disease severity. Later, they suggested that the pathology might initially be triggered by exogenous insults targeting the gut and olfactory system. In 2008, we and other groups documented Lewy pathology in grafted neurons in people with Parkinson’s disease who had been transplanted over a decade prior to autopsy. We proposed that the Lewy pathology in the grafted neurons was the result of permissive templating or prion-like spread of alpha-synuclein pathology from neurons in the host to those in the grafts. During the following ten years, several studies described the transmission of alpha-synuclein pathology between neurons, both in cell culture and in experimental animals. Recent research has also begun to identify underlying molecular mechanisms. Collectively, these experimental studies tentatively support the idea that the progression from one Braak stage to the next is the consequence of prion-like propagation of Lewy pathology. However, definitive proof that intercellular propagation of alpha-synuclein pathology occurs in Parkinson’s disease cases has proven difficult to secure. In this review, we highlight several open questions that currently prevent us from concluding with certainty that prion-like transfer of alpha-synuclein contributes to the progression of Parkinson’s disease.
SHAKTI: Subglacial Hydrology and Kinetic, Transient Interactions v1.0

Abstract. Subglacial hydrology has a strong influence on glacier and ice sheet dynamics, particularly through the dependence of sliding velocity on subglacial water pressure. Significant challenges are involved in modeling subglacial hydrology, as the drainage geometry and flow mechanics are constantly changing, with complex feedbacks that play out between water and ice. A clear tradition has been established in the subglacial hydrology modeling literature of distinguishing between channelized (efficient) and sheetlike (inefficient or distributed) drainage systems or components and using slightly different forms of the governing equations in each subsystem to represent the dominant physics. Specifically, many previous subglacial hydrology models disregard opening by melt in the sheetlike system or redistribute it to adjacent channel elements in order to avoid runaway growth that occurs when it is included in the sheetlike system. We present a new subglacial hydrology model, SHAKTI (Subglacial Hydrology and Kinetic, Transient Interactions), in which a single set of governing equations is used everywhere, including opening by melt in the entire domain. SHAKTI employs a generalized relationship between the subglacial water flux and the hydraulic gradient that allows for the representation of laminar, turbulent, and transitional regimes depending on the local Reynolds number. This formulation allows for the coexistence of these flow regimes in different regions, and the configuration and geometry of the subglacial system evolves naturally to represent sheetlike drainage as well as systematic channelized drainage under appropriate conditions. We present steady and transient example simulations to illustrate the features and capabilities of the model and to examine sensitivity to mesh size and time step size. The model is implemented as part of the Ice Sheet System Model (ISSM).
Selection of Transformations of Continuous Predictors in Logistic Regression

The binary logistic regression is a machine learning tool for classification and discrimination that is widely used in business analytics and medical research. Transforming continuous predictors to improve model performance of logistic regression is a common practice, but no systematic method for finding optimal transformations exists in the statistical or data mining literature. In this paper, the problem of selecting transformations of continuous predictors to improve the performance of logistic regression models is considered. The proposed method is based upon the point-biserial correlation coefficient between the binary response and a continuous predictor. Several examples are presented to illustrate the proposed method.
Epidemiology of Antiphospholipid Syndrome

Classification criteria for APS (Table 3.1) were developed by consensus at the Sapporo antiphospholipid meeting [1]. These criteria, for the first time, emphasized that vasculopathy (and not just thrombosis) was part of APS and broadened the pregnancy criterion to include severe pre-eclampsia. The Sapporo criteria were validated in an exercise by Lockshin et al [2]. The sensitivity was 0.71. The Sapporo criteria were not evidence based. As part of the Taormina antiphospholipid meeting, evidenced-based criteria were prepared. These criteria required that the criterion be valid in both primary (non-SLE) and secondary (SLE) APS and be proven by more than one study (and more than one study design). The evidence-based criteria do not include pregnancy morbidity, but do include cardiac valve disease (valvular thickening and/or vegetations; Table 3.2) [3].
Malaria and global infectious diseases: why should we care?

Physicians in developed nations play an important role in the global fight against infectious disease within poor communities in lesser-developed areas. Virtual Mentor is a monthly bioethics journal published by the American Medical Association.
Application of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Staging Systems in ALS Patients (P4.460)

Objective: To examine the differences in the clinical characteristics of ALS patients in different racial and gender groups, and to identify differences in disease progression using two proposed ALS staging systems. Background: The prevalence of ALS has been reported to be lower in non-Caucasians compared to Caucasians. This discrepancy is difficult to evaluate due to the limited number of non-Caucasian cases identified. Also, it is unclear whether disease progression as determined by the proposed staging systems (Al Chalabi and ALS-MITOS) in a group of racially diverse patients in the US is similar to patients in Europe. Understanding the differences between these subgroups is important for stratification in clinical trials. Design/Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of 139 patients who attended the ALS Clinic at University of Maryland. We reviewed demographics, clinical characteristics, clinical measures (ALSFRS-R, force vital capacity), and the percentage of time patients remained in each stage to compare the disease progression of different racial groups using two staging systems. Results: The average age of onset was 61.6 years in Caucasians and 58.2 years for non-Caucasians. For all patients, those with bulbar onset were older than limb onset patients, and the limb onset patients had slower progression. Caucasians survived an average of 34.4 months after symptom onset, while African Americans and other non-Caucasians survived 44.7 and 37.7 months, respectively. African American females spent a larger fraction of total survival in the earlier stages of both staging systems than Caucasian females. Conclusions: Both clinical staging systems were easily applied to our patient population. Differences in the time spent in each stage between Caucasian and non-Caucasian may represent underlying genetic factors. Although further studies are needed to validate these staging systems, we believe that these scales and others will help to identify characteristics useful for subject stratification in clinical studies. Disclosure: Dr. Lubinski has nothing to disclose. Dr. Diaz-Abad has nothing to disclose. Dr Kwan has nothing to disclose.
A ligand structure-enantioselectivity relationship for the osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation of olefins

Abstract The highest enantioselectivities to date for various olefins are obtained in the osmium-catalyzed asymmetric dihydroxylation using new 9-O-aromatic dihydroquinidine and dihydroquinine ligands. A ligand structure-enantioselectivity relationship (LSER) is developed, and representative results for quinine-based ligands are reported for the first time.
Familial Studies: Genetic Inferences

This article is a revision of the previous edition article by C. Capron, volume 8, pp. 5259–5265, © 2001, Elsevier Ltd.
Technology Advancement and Firm Performance: A Study of Sales Growth in the FPD Industries

Firms pursue newer generations of technology in the hope of increasing sales, but the effect of this technology advancement strategy on sales growth is undetermined, because the resulting technolog...
Introduction to Brow Lifting

The brow and upper face undergo various changes with age resulting in brow ptosis and various other changes in the forehead and periocular region. This chapter reviews the differences in brow configuration between the male and female brow, the youthful and aged brow, and the modern conception of brow aesthetics. Various brow lifting and brow rejuvenation procedures are introduced along with the relevant anatomy of the brow, forehead, and scalp. The chapter reviews the clinical history and physical exam findings relevant to the brow and forehead evaluation so that readers can masterfully evaluate and choose an appropriate procedure for individual patients.
Scale Effects in Free-Flow Nonlinear Weir Head-Discharge Relationships

AbstractUsing similitude relationships, laboratory-scale models have been used for decades to predict and confirm prototype hydraulic structure performance. For free-flow weir discharge conditions,...
Stomach and Duodenum: Normal Anatomy

The following chapter will serve as a Q&A guide for medical students in reviewing normal anatomy of the stomach and duodenum. Particular importance is placed on vascular supply and drainage, as well as how to identify and locate structures on imaging. Further study should be guided with the help of any relevant anatomy atlas.
Advances in Cosmochemistry Enabled by Antarctic Meteorites.

At present, meteorites collected in Antarctica dominate the total number of the world's known meteorites. We focus here on the scientific advances in cosmochemistry and planetary science that have ...
A prospective analysis of health-related quality of life in intermediate and high-risk prostate cancer patients managed with intensity modulated radiation therapy, with vs. without hormonal therapy.

ABSTRACT Introduction Combined radiotherapy and hormonal treatment are recommended for intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer (CaP). This study compared the long-term effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of intermediate- and high-risk CaP patients managed with radiation therapy (RT) with vs. without hormone therapy (HT). Methods Patients with intermediate- and high-risk CaP enrolled in the Center for Prostate Disease Research diagnosed from 2007 to 2017 were included. EPIC and SF-36 questionnaires were completed and HRQoL scores were compared for patients receiving RT vs. RT + HT at baseline (pretreatment), 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 months after CaP diagnosis. Longitudinal patterns of change in HRQoL were modeled using linear regression models, adjusting for baseline HRQoL, age at CaP diagnosis, race, comorbidities, National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) risk stratum, time to treatment, and follow-up time. Results Of 164 patients, 93 (56.7%) received RT alone and 71 (43.3%) received RT + HT. Both groups reported comparable baseline HRQoL. Patients receiving RT+HT were more likely to be NCCN high risk as compared to those receiving only RT. The RT + HT patients experienced worse sexual function, hormonal function, and hormonal bother than those who only received RT; however, HRQoL recovered over time for the RT + HT group. No significant differences were observed between groups in urinary and bowel domains or SF-36 mental and physical scores. Conclusion Combined RT + HT treatment was associated with temporary lower scores in sexual and hormonal HRQoL compared with RT only. Intermediate- and high-risk CaP patients should be counseled about the possible declines in HRQoL associated with HT.
Clinical Characteristics, Comorbidities and Prognosis in Patients With Heart Failure With Mid-Range Ejection Fraction.

Abstract Background Patients with left ventricular ejection fractions between 40% and 49% either discovered de novo, having declined from ≥50%, or improved from Materials and Methods We queried the electronic medical record from a community based university practice for all patients with a HF diagnosis. We included only those patients with >3 months follow-up and interpretable Doppler echocardiograms. We recorded demographic, Doppler-echo, and outcome variables (up to 2,083 days). Results There were 633 HF patients: 42.4% with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF, EF ≥50%), 36.4% with HFmrEF, and 21.0% with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF, EF Conclusions Rural patients with HFmrEF without an ambulatory HF clinic represent a higher percentage of HF patients than previously reported with greater coronary disease prevalence with comparable readmission rates and nonsignificantly different all-cause mortality.
A Short Survey of Degree Auditing Systems

Choosing the most suitable college courses can be a time-consuming task, given the number of sources from which students need to pull the information regarding degree requirements. In addition, given the limited time and interaction between advisor and student, substantial effort needs to be put in to find a proper path towards graduation. To bridge the gap, a number of degree auditing software systems emerged and evolved, making it easier for students to have a convenient road map and plan their graduation. This study surveys the features of popular degree auditing systems and two research papers, one from Cornell University and the other from Texas State University, on the design and structure of a degree auditing system.
A systems engineering vision for floating offshore wind cost optimization

Abstract The U.S. offshore wind resource potential is vast, and often in close proximity to densely-populated coastal load centers. In many U.S. coastal areas, water depths favor the deployment of floating over fixed-bottom offshore wind technology. Floating offshore wind plants have the potential to be cost-competitive with fixed-bottom installations, but because the technology has not yet been deployed at commercial scale, it is not clear when and with what configurations this potential cost parity can be achieved. This article first reviews the state of floating offshore wind technology and deployments to identify key gaps that must be addressed to bring down the overall cost of energy produced. The article then puts forth a long-term vision for a research program and design methodology that may be able to push floating wind plants toward a lower levelized cost of energy than fixed-bottom offshore wind. The method involves a fully integrated systems-engineering and techno-economic design approach to capture the complex interactions between the physics, manufacturing, installation, and operation of floating wind turbines to achieve transformational cost reductions. The approach also envisions multifidelity and uncertainty management strategies to examine the most robust and viable concepts in the design trade-space. To better focus the computational resources, engineering lessons learned from existing offshore wind systems and concept studies are used to develop a set of criteria that can be applied to prefilter candidate technology building blocks that have the greatest cost reduction potential.
Measurement of heat generation rate and heat sources of pouch type Li-ion cells

Abstract Fundamental understanding of heat generation of lithium-ion batteries during operations is crucial to the cost-effective and efficient design of a thermal management system (TMS) in electric vehicles. Accurate characterization of the heat requires a calorimeter that meets inherent dynamics of the heat with accuracy. Therefore, we have developed an isothermal calorimeter using the thermoelectric assemblies (TEAs) along with the temperature control and Kalman filter, which is used to measure the heat generation rate (HGR) of large format pouch type lithium-ion batteries as an example. The measured HGR is a function of charge and discharge rates, state-of-charge (SOC), and temperatures. Analysis has shown that both the HGR and the ratio of the total heat generation to the total energy stored or released (pheat) of the tested cells increase as the current increases or the temperature decreases. In addition, a new calorimetric method is developed which enables a simultaneous determination of the entropy coefficient and internal resistance in the reversible and irreversible heat source terms in the frequency domain. The method can reduce the testing time about 92% compared with those by the conventional potentiometric method and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analysis, respectively, and the determined parameters are in good accordance with the reference values. Moreover, the calculated reversible and irreversible heat sources terms are compared with the experimental measurement and matched each other.
A Novel Role for CD4+ T Cells in the Control of Cachexia

Cachexia is the dramatic weight loss and muscle atrophy seen in chronic disease states, including autoimmunity, cancer, and infection, and is often associated with lymphopenia. We have previously shown that CD4+ T cells that express the lowest density of CD44 (CD4+CD44v.low) are significantly reduced in diabetic NOD mice that are cachexic compared with diabetic mice that are not cachexic. Using this model, and a model of cancer cachexia, we test the hypothesis that CD4+CD44v.low cells play an active role in protecting the host from cachexia. CD4+CD44v.low cells, but not CD4+ cells depleted of CD44v.low cells, delay the onset of wasting when infused into either diabetic or prediabetic NOD recipients. However, no significant effect on the severity of diabetes was detected. In a model of cancer cachexia, they significantly reduce muscle atrophy, and inhibit muscle protein loss and DNA loss, even when given after the onset of cachexia. Protection from wasting and muscle atrophy by CD4+CD44v.low cells is associated with protection from lymphopenia. These data suggest, for the first time, a role for an immune cell subset in protection from cachexia, and further suggest that the mechanism of protection is independent of protection from autoimmunity.
Performance bounds for decorrelator detectors in a QS-CDMA system

A linear decorrelator detector is considered for use in a quasi-synchronous code-division multiple access (QS-CDMA) system. A QS-CDMA communication system is considered in which decorrelators are employed for multiuser detection at the base station. For long code lengths, the evaluation of bit-error rate can be computationally expensive, due to the need for exhaustive search to determine the worst case relative delays. An upper bound on the error rate based on eigenvalue bounds is presented for the linear decorrelator detector, and which can be computed solely in terms of the maximum cross-correlation between codes and the number of users.
Macroeconomic Implications of the European Integration on the Turkish Economy

The arguments about full membership in the EU has become a priority for Turkey in the last decade, because Turkey’s joining the EU will have a strong impact on Turkey’s and the EU’s macroeconomic structure. In order to analyze the impacts of Turkish accession into the EU, a computable general equilibrium model has been developed and the results of various policy scenarios have been compared. The model considers the imperfect competition in the Turkish manufacturing sector. Simulation results showed that full membership appears to be the most beneficial scenario for the Turkish economy based on several macroeconomic variables.
Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen (PSMA) targeted prodrug “smartbombs” as therapy for prostate cancer

3081 PSMA is a type II membrane carboxypeptidase that possesses a number of characteristics that make it a suitable candidate for targeted cancer therapy. PSMA expression is highly restricted to prostate tissue with strongest expression in both primary and metastatic prostate cancers and is upregulated upon androgen withdrawal. PSMA, however, is also expressed by the neovasculature within most solid tumors, but not by normal tissue vasculature. Functionally, PSMA is both an N-acetylated α-linked acidic dipeptidase (NAALADase) and a pteroyl poly-γ-glutamyl carboxypeptidase (folate hydrolase) whose extracellular domain is accessible to agents in the extracellular peri-tumoral fluid. To develop a prodrug that can be activated selectively within prostate cancer cells or tumor vasculature by PSMA’s enzymatic activity, PSMA selective peptide carriers were identified consisting primarily of α- or γ-carboxyl linked glutamic and or aspartic acids. These peptides were coupled to the amino terminus of 8-O-(12Aminododecanoyl)-8-O debutanoylthapsigargin (12ADT), a potent cytotoxic analog of the natural plant product thapsigargin (TG) that inhibits the ER Ca2+ ATPase pump and induces proliferation independent apoptosis in all cell types. PSMA hydrolysis of the peptide-12ADT prodrug yields Asp- or Glu-12ADT as the final product. Computer modeling demonstrated that these amino acid containing analogs should potently inhibit the Ca2+ pump and these findings were confirmed in vitro with observed IC50 values for Asp- and Glu-12ADT of ∼ 50 nM against prostate cancer cell lines. A series of peptide-12ADT prodrugs were then synthesized and several were identified that were efficiently hydrolyzed by PSMA and stable to hydrolysis in plasma. Dipeptide and pentapeptide prodrugs were identified that were selectively toxic to PSMA expressing prostate cancer cells in vitro but were 10-60 fold less toxic to non-PSMA expressing cells. A lead prodrug (i.e. G202) was identified from these in vitro studies. After identifying a clinically acceptable formulation vehicle (i.e. PEG/Solutol) pharmacokinetic studies were performed. A single dose of 60 mg/kg of G202 produced a Cmax of ∼ 800 μM and a plasma half-life of ∼5hr. Efficacy studies against PSMA-producing CWR22RH xenografts in castrated mice demonstrated tumor regression and significant growth delay following a single 3-day (60 mg/kg/day) or 10-day (18 mg/kg/day) course of G202. On the basis of these results, further preclinical development of G202 is warranted and large scale synthesis and toxicologic studies are in process.
Changing temperature and precipitation extremes in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan region: an analysis of CMIP3 and CMIP5 simulations and projections

The Hindu Kush-Himalayan (HKH) region epitomizes a geographic region where cryospheric processes coupled with hydrological regimes are under threat owing to a warming climate and shifts in climate extremes. In this study, we analyse global climate models in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 3 (CMIP3) and phase 5 (CMIP5) archives to investigate the qualitative aspects of change and trends in temperature and precipitation indices. Specifically, we examine and evaluate multi-model, multi-scenario climate change projections and seven extreme temperature and precipitation indices over the eastern Himalaya (EH) and western Himalaya-Karakoram (WH) regions for the 21st century. Density distribution plots of observed climate indices for meteorological stations and gridded indices are also analysed, which indicate significant negative trends in the annual number of frost days and significant increasing trends in warm nights in the EH region over the 1960-2000 period. Multi-model average (MMA) projections additionally indicate continued trends towards more extreme conditions consistent with a warmer, wetter climate. Precipitation projections indicate increased mean precipitation with more frequent extreme rainfall during monsoon season in the EH region, and a wetter cold season in the WH region. Time series of all MMA precipitation indices exhibit significant increasing trends over the 1901-2099 period. By comparison, time series of temperature indices show decreases in the intra-annual extreme temperature range and total number of frost days, as well as increases in warm nights. In general, these future projections point towards increases in summertime temperatures and modifications in precipitation across both regions.
Patterns of emergency department use for dental and oral health care: implications for dental and medical care coordination

Objectives To describe emergency department (ED) utilization for oral conditions (OCs) focusing on total volume, costs, repeat utilization, small area predictors, and implications for dental and medical care coordination. Methods Administrative and demographic data for New Jersey were used to identify users of the ED for OCs and a group of “high users,” defined as individuals with four or more ED visits for OCs during 2008-2010. Cost-to-charge ratios were used to estimate costs, and linear regression models applied to zip codes were used to determine strongest predictors of small area variation in ED use for OCs. Results ED visits for OC generated $25.5 million in costs during 2008-2010. High users represented 4.2 percent of all users and 21.3 percent of ED visits for OCs. Almost all high users had a diagnosis of “dental disorder not otherwise specified,” and tobacco use disorder was the most common comorbid medical condition. Young adults (ages 19-34), non-Hispanic blacks, and the medically uninsured were over-represented among high users. High users routinely spread their use across multiple hospitals (e.g., 40 percent of them visited three or more hospitals). Local dentist supply and ED use for other conditions were significant predictors of zip code-level ED use for OCs. Conclusions Coordination of medical and dental treatment might improve health and reduce costs if targeted to high user populations. Health-care delivery reforms, such as accountable care organizations, could provide vehicles for achieving this coordination. Important challenges include fragmentation of ED visits across hospitals, adequacy of dentist supply, and broader reliance on the ED for health problems.
Hofmann—Löffler—Freytag reaction

Formation of pyrrolidines or piperidines by thermal or photochemical decomposition of protonated N-haloamines.
Multidimensional rational modeling from specified frequency response samples

Summary form only given, as follows. Given certain frequency response samples or, equivalently, the values of the linear multidimensional system transfer function at specified points on the unit torus, the objective is to obtain a rational model for the system by identifying its transfer function. The authors set up the calculus for multivariate divided differences with the objective of using it to supply a rational model for a multidimensional system from specified frequency response samples. In order to obtain the denominator polynomial, it is shown that a system of linear equations characterized by the block Hankel-Hankel matrix structure has to be targeted for solution. The numerator polynomial can then be obtained by applying multivariate Lagrangian interpolation. Some results concerning simulation are presented. Currently under investigation are procedures for recursively updating the order of the model similar to what has been established in multivariate Pade approximation theory. >
An ESR study of vanadyl porphin

Abstract We report the first ESR spectra of the unsubstituted vanadyl porphyrin. The ESR spectra of vanadyl porphin in its magnetically concentrated form, in a tetrahydrofuran solution, in polycrystalline triphenylene, and in single-crystal triphenylene have been obtained. The hyperfine structure which was observed in vanadyl tetraphenylporphin was not seen in vanadyl porphin, indicating increased dipolar interactions. The data is consistent with porphin molecules in substitutional triphenylene sites, a fact which was not apparent from previous optical studies. The observation of the sample dependence of the number of ESR sites remains as an unexplained anomaly.
A Real Options Approach to the Valuation of a Forestry Investment

Abstract The theory of real options is used to model the optimal tree harvesting decision. The value of the option to harvest is estimated using a dynamic programming approach and a general numerical solution technique suitable for any type of stochastic process for prices. The conditions under which the optimal harvest time is independent of price are examined. In addition, the impact of assuming future lumber prices are mean reverting is considered. It is found that option value and optimal cutting time are significantly different under the mean reversion assumption compared to geometric Brownian motion.
Teacher repair in a second language class for low-literate adults

Abstract This paper complicates the practice of teacher repair in the second language (L2) classroom by specifically focusing on the subset of adult English learners who have a background of low literacy. Using Conversation Analysis, this study explores the interactional means locally available for the low-literate learners to deal with teacher repair in the activity of vocabulary introduction. The analysis shows that the organization of teacher repair is oriented to the learners’ state of literacy, which for the teacher holds priority over what the literature has found as repair strategies sui generis either inside or outside the L2 classroom. The teacher profitably tailors her (para)linguistic input for the learners to perceive and react to her repair, and this rule-governed turn construction helps them identify the pedagogical intent of each turn. These findings will enrich the discussion of whether our existing knowledge of L2 repair can be extended to all learners.
Effect of Several Natural Phospholipids and a Cerebroside on Lipolytic Activity of Bovine Milk

Abstract The objective of this study was to assess the effect of several naturally occurring fat associated compounds on lipolysis. Commercial samples of egg lecithin, animal lecithin, and animal cephalin were added to raw milk at levels of 0.05 and 0.10%. Purified samples of bovine cerebrosides and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were added at levels of 0.05 and 0.035%, respectively. After inducing lipolysis in a Waring Blendor and subsequent storage, the samples were analyzed for free fatty acid content. The average decrease in free fatty acids at the 0.10% level as compared to control samples was egg lecithin 31, animal lecithin 61, and animal cephalin 76%. Purified phosphatidyl ethanolamine caused a 40% decrease, but cerebrosides exerted no inhibitory effect on lipolysis. Data suggest a reaction between the phospholipid and lipase in the serum as a partial contributor to the observed reduction in lipase activity when lecithins and cephalins are added to milk.
Mechanisms controlling early development of the liver

Over the last decade significant advances have been made in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control early aspects of mammalian liver development. Studies using tissue explant cultures and molecular biology techniques as well as the analysis of transgenic and knockout mice have identified signaling molecules and transcription factors that are necessary for the onset of hepatogenesis. This review presents an overview of these studies and discusses the role of individual factors during hepatic development.
From gene networks to brain networks

The brain's structural organization is so complex that 2,500 years of analysis leaves pervasive uncertainty about (i) the identity of its basic parts (regions with their neuronal cell types and pathways interconnecting them), (ii) nomenclature, (iii) systematic classification of the parts with respect to topographic relationships and functional systems and (iv) the reliability of the connectional data itself. Here we present a prototype knowledge management system (http://brancusi.usc.edu/bkms/) for analyzing the architecture of brain networks in a systematic, interactive and extendable way. It supports alternative interpretations and models, is based on fully referenced and annotated data and can interact with genomic and functional knowledge management systems through web services protocols.
A stochastic model for chemical equilibrium

Abstract The classical equations of mass action and chemical equilibrium allow prediction of reactant and product concentrations at any given instant during a reaction, provided that the reaction takes place in a constant environment. In many instances however this latter restriction may not hold, because the environment is subject to random fluctuations of temperature, pressure, etc., unless the reaction is being studied under controlled laboratory conditions. In such cases the prediction problem is most realistically approached by means of a stochastic model. The objective of the present work is the formulation of such a model.
Experimental Evaluation of a Steady-State Model for the Wear of Particle-Filled Polymer Composite Materials

A model for the steady-state wear behavior of polymer composite materials, including the effects of preferential load support by and surface accumulation of wear-resistant filler particles, is further developed. It is shown that the resultant inverse rule-of-mixtures description of steady-state composite wear rate behavior is independent of the assumed form of filler contact pressure, though preferential load support does affect the degree of surface accumulation of filler particles that occurs. The validity of these descriptions of steady-state wear behavior and surface accumulation as functions of bulk filler volume fraction are investigated by experiments with copper particle-filled PTFE composites for bulk filler volume fractions from 0 to 40 percent. The applicability of the description of surface accumulation for this composite system was limited to bulk filler volume fractions less than 20 percent, a hypothesized result of transition in load-sharing between filler and matrix. The inverse rule-of-mixtures description of steady-state wear rate, however, was maintained over the full range of volume fractions investigated.
Geochemistry of sediments from Quaternary sand ramps in the southeastern Mojave Desert, California

Abstract Trace element analyses of sediment from sand ramps in the Bristol Trough and Clark's Pass aeolian corridors of the Mojave Desert, California were conducted to determine their depositional history and relation to sources of sediment within sand transport corridors. Sand ramps are topographically controlled depositional systems consisting of amalgamated accumulations of aeolian, fluvial and talus deposits. These landforms contain a variety of deposits formed in different environments and are, therefore, a valuable source of paleoenvironmental information. Sediments were studied from three sand ramps, the Iron Mountain, Big Maria, and Dale Lake sand ramps; and from two sand sheets, Rice Valley and Cactus Plain. Cactus Plain is located on the eastern side of the Colorado River, in Arizona, but previous researchers have suggested that it is related to the corridors of the western (California) side. Geochemical data from units within individual sand ramps indicate that sources for each sand ramp changed through time, probably as sediment availability from different local fluvial/playa systems changed in response to climate fluctuations. Analyses also indicate that each sand ramp is composed of sediment from discrete, local sources. Sand deposits in the Bristol Trough are not integrated, and thus the corridor does not act as a coherent sand transport pathway. Comparisons of sand from Cactus Plain and sediment from the Bristol Trough and Clark's Pass corridors indicates that the Cactus Plain sand, on the east side of the Colorado River was not derived from sources on the west side of the river.
Principles for individual actions

Although John Rawls is a persistent critic of intuitionism where intuitionism is taken to be the thesis that there is a plurality of first principles in morality and that there is no rationally defensible way of establishing priorities among these principles, the suspicion persists that Rawls’ own theory of justice is closer to intuitionism than Rawls recognizes. Even if Rawls has succeeded in lexically ordering the two principles of justice so that liberty is prior to equality, except in situations where the very survival of society is at stake, Rawls’ success is seriously qualified if it is confined to the choice of principles for the design of social institutions and does not extend to the choice of principles for actions by individuals. Here Rawls’ indictment of intuitionism as ‘but half a conception’ of justice (TJ, 41) appears to haunt his own conception of justice, especially since Rawls himself acknowledges that principles for individual actions are ‘an essential part of any theory of justice’ (ibid., 108).
On the syntactic position of focus in Hungarian

We have argued here that focused constituents in Hungarian must occur as sisters of S or VP and that the word order peculiarities of sentences containing focused constituents must be accounted for independently of the position of these constituents. Section 3 presented an account of sentences containing focused constituents in the GPSG framework. The theoretical implication of the above discussion is that Hungarian focusing does not provide evidence for the existence of ‘downgrading movement’. Since no other evidence for such movement has been given in the literature so far, we can conclude that the generalization requiring the filler to dominate its gap is valid. The GPSG treatment of unbounded dependencies is superior to the GB treatment with respect to this generalization since the non-existence of downgrading movement follows from the former theory but not from the latter.
Characterization of HRP-labeled globular bushy cells in the cat anteroventral cochlear nucleus

We report on the anatomical and physiological features of globular bushy cells in the posterior division of the anteroventral cochlear nucleus based on the characteristics of 20 cells from this population. Each of these cells was recorded from and characterized intracellularly and/or extracellularly, injected with horseradish peroxidase, and studied at the light and/or electron microscopic level. Intracellular records from the vicinity of the globular bushy cell body displayed large, fast synaptic potentials, and in some instances a larger presumed action potential both in silence and during short tone stimulation. Intraaxonal recordings displayed large action potentials in addition to small, fast potentials, which evidence indicates may be the decrementally conducted subthreshold synaptic potentials. Both recording situations indicated that these auditory nerve inputs need not be suprathreshold. Bushy cells with high characteristic frequencies (CFs greater than 3 kHz) typically showed primary-like-with-notch responses to short tones at CF or on-type L responses if the sustained level of discharge after the notch was not as robust. Low-CF bushy cells phase-locked after a well-timed onset spike. Light microscopic anatomy revealed a typically oval cell body giving rise to one or two primary dendrites that branched profusely and an axon that gave off no collaterals within the cochlear nucleus before entering the trapezoid body. Electron microscopic analysis showed a high concentration of large, round, vesicle-containing terminals on the cell body and primary dendrite while the population of terminals on the initial segment and sparsely covered distal dendrites was made up mostly of flat and pleomorphic vesicle-containing terminals.
Assessing Nanoparticle Concentration Using METRiCS Optical Coherence Tomography

We have recently developed METRiCS OCT to provide spatially resolved molecular information of chromosomes. Here we apply this method to measure the extinction spectra of nanoparticles at various concentrations for potential in vivo applications.
Post-silicon timing characterization by compressed sensing

We address post-silicon characterization of the unique gate delays and their timing distributions on each manufactured IC. Our proposed approach is based upon the new theory of compressed sensing. The first step in performing timing measurements is to find the sensitizable paths by traditional testing methods. Next, we show that the timing variations are sparse in the wavelet domain. The sparsity is exploited for estimation of the gate delays using the compressed sensing theory. This estimation method requires significantly less number of timing measurements compared to the case where the dependence between the gate delays is not directly integrated within the estimation framework. We discuss a number of applications for the new post-silicon timing characterization method. Experimental results on benchmark circuits show that using compressed sensing theory can characterize the post-silicon variations with a mean accurately of 95% in the pertinent sparse basis.
THE VIBRATION AND STABILITY OF A FRICTION-GUIDED, TRANSLATING STRING

Abstract Eyelets, capstans and cylindrical surfaces are often used in thread, fiber and paper handling machinery to guide the axially moving element. In addition to providing positional control, these “guides” introduce dry friction forces that alter the vibration and stability characteristics of the system. This paper examines the lateral response of a string that slides through an elastically supported, dry friction guide. Exact expressions are derived for the linear response under free and forced conditions. Solutions for the eigenvalue spectrum exhibit unusual features including multiple divergence instabilities, regions of flutter instability, and regions of curve veering associated with mode localization. A second order perturbation solution is derived to examine the behavior of the eigenvalue spectrum in regions of flutter instability and curve veering. The analysis highlights the common features of these two phenomena and suggests ways to minimize vibration by adjusting various design variables. The analysis also demonstrates that the eigenvalue loci in regions of flutter instability and curve veering are naturally described by a local hyperbolic approximation.
Chronic Kidney Disease and GWAS: “The Proper Study of Mankind Is Man”

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been applied to complex diseases such as diabetes and hypertension, successfully uncovering strong gene associations of potential pathophysiologic significance. Recently, two studies (Kottgen et al., 2010; Chambers et al., 2010) have been applied to uncover genes relevant to the pathophysiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD).