cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Pilot Quantitative Evaluation of Early Life Language Development in Fragile X Syndrome

Language delay and communication deficits are a core characteristic of the fragile X syndrome (FXS) phenotype. To date, the literature examining early language development in FXS is limited potentially due to barriers in language assessment in very young children. The present study is one of the first to examine early language development through vocal production and the language learning environment in infants and toddlers with FXS utilizing an automated vocal analysis system. Child vocalizations, conversational turns, and adult word counts in the home environment were collected and analyzed in a group of nine infants and toddlers with FXS and compared to a typically developing (TD) normative sample. Results suggest infants and toddlers with FXS are exhibiting deficits in their early language skills when compared to their chronological expectations. Despite this, when accounting for overall developmental level, their early language skills appear to be on track. Additionally, FXS caregivers utilize less vocalizations around infants and toddlers with FXS; however, additional research is needed to understand the true gap between FXS caregivers and TD caregivers. These findings provide preliminary information about the early language learning environment and support for the feasibility of utilizing an automated vocal analysis system within the FXS population that could ease data collection and further our understanding of the emergence of language development.
Management intensification maintains wood production over multiple harvests in tropical Eucalyptus plantations.

Plantation forestry, in which trees are grown as a crop, must maintain wood production over repeated harvest cycles (rotations) to meet global wood demands on a limited land area. We analyze 33 yr of Landsat observations across the world's most productive forestry system, Eucalyptus plantations in southeastern Brazil, to assess long-term regional trends in wood production. We apply a simple algorithm to time series of the vegetation index NIRv in thousands of Eucalyptus stands to detect the starts and ends of rotations. We then estimate wood production in each identified stand and rotation, based on a statistical relationship between NIRv trajectories and inventory data from three plantation companies. We also compare Eucalyptus NIRv with that of surrounding native vegetation to assess the relative influence of management and environment on plantation productivity trends. Across more than 3,500 stands with three complete rotations between 1984 and 2016, modeled wood volume decreased significantly between the first and second rotation, but recovered at least partially in the third; mean wood volumes for the three rotations were 262, 228, and 247 m3 /ha. This nonlinear trend reflects intensifying plantation management, as rotation length decreased by an average of 15% (decreasing wood volume per rotation) and NIRv proxies of tree growth rates increased (increasing volume) between the first and third rotation. However, NIRv also increased significantly over time in unmanaged vegetation around the plantations, suggesting that environmental trends affecting all vegetation also contribute to sustaining wood production. Management inputs will likely continue to be important for maintaining wood production in future harvests.
Molecular characterization of four beta-tubulin genes from dinitroaniline susceptible and resistant biotypes of Eleusine indica.

Dinitroaniline herbicides are antimicrotubule drugs that bind to tubulins and inhibit polymerization. As a result of repeated application of dinitroaniline herbicides, resistant biotypes of goosegrass (Eleusine indica) developed in previously susceptible wild-type populations. We have previously reported that α-tubulin missense mutations correlate with dinitroaniline response phenotypes (Drp) (Plant Cell 10: 297–308, 1998). In order to ascertain associations of other tubulins with dinitroaniline resistance, four β-tubulin cDNA classes (designated TUB1, TUB2, TUB3, and TUB4) were isolated from dinitroaniline-susceptible and -resistant biotypes. Sequence analysis of the four β-tubulin cDNA classes identified no missense mutations. Identified nucleotide substitutions did not result in amino acid replacements. These results suggest that the molecular basis of dinitroaniline resistance in goosegrass differs from those of colchicine/dinitroaniline cross-resistant Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and benzimidazole-resistant fungi and yeast. Expression of the four β-tubulins was highest in inflorescences. This is in contrast to α-tubulin TUA1 that is expressed predominantly in roots. Collectively, these results imply that β-tubulin genes are not associated with dinitroaniline resistance in goosegrass. Phylogenetic analysis of the four β-tubulins, together with three α-tubulins, suggests that the resistant biotype developed independently in multiple locations rather than spreading from one location.
Electromyography as a Suitable Input for Virtual Reality-Based Biofeedback in Stroke Rehabilitation

Virtual reality (VR)-based biofeedback of brain signals using electroencephalography (EEG) has been utilized to encourage the recovery of brain-to-muscle pathways following a stroke. Such models incorporate principles of action observation with neurofeedback of motor-related brain activity to increase sensorimotor activity on the lesioned hemisphere. However, for individuals with existing muscle activity in the hemiparetic arm, we hypothesize that providing biofeedback of muscle signals, to strengthen already established brain-to-muscle pathways, may be more effective. In this project, we aimed to understand whether and when feedback of muscle activity (measured using surface electromyography (EMG)) might more effective compared to EEG biofeedback. To do so, we used a virtual reality (VR) training paradigm we developed for stroke rehabilitation (REINVENT), which provides EEG biofeedback of ipsilesional sensorimotor brain activity and simultaneously records EMG signals. We acquired 640 trials over eight 1.5-h sessions in four stroke participants with varying levels of motor impairment. For each trial, participants attempted to move their affected arm. Successful trials, defined as when their EEG sensorimotor desynchronization (8–24 Hz) during a time-limited movement attempt exceeded their baseline activity, drove a virtual arm towards a target. Here, EMG signals were analyzed offline to see (1) whether EMG amplitude could be significantly differentiated between active trials compared to baseline, and (2) whether using EMG would have led to more successful VR biofeedback control than EEG. Our current results show a significant increase in EMG amplitude across all four participants for active versus baseline trials, suggesting that EMG biofeedback is feasible for stroke participants across a range of impairments. However, we observed significantly better performance with EMG than EEG for only the three individuals with higher motor abilities, suggesting that EMG biofeedback may be best suited for those with better motor abilities.
Soil inoculation with Trichoderma asperellum, T. harzianum or Streptomyces griseoviridis prior to anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) does not increase ASD efficacy against Sclerotium rolfsii germination

Abstract Studies on anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD), a non-chemical alternative to soil fumigants for controlling plant diseases caused by soilborne pathogens, have shown that ASD increases populations of beneficial microorganisms with activity against plant pathogens, including species of Trichoderma and Streptomyces, which are known to parasitize sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii. However, studies on ASD effectiveness paired with inoculation of Trichoderma and Streptomyces are lacking. This study compared the effects of ASD, soil incorporation of antagonists [Trichoderma asperellum, T. harzianum (RootShield®), Streptomyces griseoviridis (Mycostop®) and T. harzianum + S. griseoviridis], and ASD + soil incorporation of antagonists at the initiation of ASD treatment, on sclerotial germination and colonization. The effect of ASD and soil incorporation of antagonists on abundance of Trichoderma spp., actinomycetes, and Bacillus spp. in soil were assessed. In contrast to the negative effect of ASD on sclerotial germination, we observed positive or no effect of ASD alone on populations of beneficial microorganisms evaluated. ASD treatment that included addition of T. asperellum or T. harzianum did not increase colonization of sclerotia by Trichoderma spp. compared to ASD alone, whereas ASD treatment with inoculation of S. griseoviridis did increase sclerotia colonization by actinomycetes. Indigenous soil actinomycete populations were suppressed by incorporation of T. asperellum and T. harzianum during ASD treatment. Soil abundance of T. harzianum was increased by ASD treatment, and further increased by T. harzianum inoculation at ASD treatment initiation. Inoculation of T. asperellum, T. harzianum, or S. griseoviridis at ASD treatment did not further reduce germination of sclerotia of S. rolfsii, indicating that addition of these microorganisms to soil prior to ASD treatment is unlikely to improve ASD treatment efficacy against pathogens with resistant sclerotial survival structures.
Effectiveness of a Tailored Intervention for Women With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and ADHD Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Importance: Women with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and ADHD symptoms may experience difficulty carrying out desired life roles and activities. Objective: To determine whether a 7-wk tailored occupation-based intervention can reduce perceived stress and ADHD symptoms and enhance perceived performance of and satisfaction with daily roles and activities among women with ADHD. Design: Randomization to intervention (n = 11) and control (n = 12) groups. Setting: Home and community. Participants: Twenty-three participants ages 20–55 yr, English speaking, and with a self-reported diagnosis of ADHD. Intervention: The intervention was administered for 7 wk in individual 1-hr sessions and addressed routine establishment, organization, time management, stress management, and sensory regulation in the home and community. Outcomes and Measures: Adult Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Self-Report Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, and Canadian Occupational Performance Measure. Results: At 1-wk postintervention, statistically significant differences were found between intervention and control groups in perceived stress (Z = –3.838, p < .000, d = –2.66), ADHD symptoms (Z = –3.605, p < .000, d = –2.17), and COPM Performance (Z = –4.074, p < .000, d = 3.04) and Satisfaction change scores (Z = –3.759, p < .000, d = 2.82). Conclusion and Relevance: A 7-wk tailored intervention reduced perceived stress and ADHD symptoms and enhanced perceived performance of and satisfaction with desired occupational roles and activities in a sample of women with ADHD. Further research is warranted to determine whether the intervention can be useful to women with ADHD beyond the present sample. What This Article Adds: This intervention may offer an effective nonpharmacological option for women with ADHD symptoms.
Comparing Gene Expression in the Parabrachial and Amygdala of Diestrus and Proestrus Female Rats after Orofacial Varicella Zoster Injection

The orofacial pain pathway projects to the parabrachial and amygdala, and sex steroids have been shown to affect neuronal activity in these regions. GABA positive cells in the amygdala are influenced by sex steroid metabolites to affect pain, and sex steroids have been shown to alter the expression of genes in the parabrachial, changing neuronal excitability. Mechanisms by which sex steroids affect amygdala and parabrachial signaling are unclear. The expression of genes in the parabrachial and amygdala in diestrus (low estradiol) and proestrus (high estradiol) female rats were evaluated in this study. First, varicella zoster virus was injected into the whisker pad of female rats to induce a pain response. Second, gene expression was quantitated using RNA-seq one week after injection. Genes that had the greatest change in expression and known to function in pain signaling were selected for the quantitation of protein content. Protein expression of four genes in the parabrachial and seven genes in the amygdala were quantitated by ELISA. In the parabrachial, neurexin 3 (Nrnx3) was elevated at proestrus. Nrnx3 has a role in AMPA receptor and GABA signaling. Neuronatin (Nnat) and protein phosphatase, Mg2+/Mn2+ dependent 1E (Ppm1e) were elevated in the parabrachial of diestrus animals both genes having a role in pain signaling. Epoxide hydroxylase (Ephx2) was elevated in the parabrachial at proestrus and the vitamin D receptor (Vdr) was elevated in the amygdala. Ephx2 antagonists and vitamin D have been used to treat neuropathic pain. In conclusion, sex steroids regulate genes in the parabrachial and amygdala that might result in the greater pain response observed during diestrus.
Digital gaming and metacognition in middle childhood

Abstract Interactive digital game play is a popular activity of childhood. The current study examined metacognitive affordances provided by digital games for children 6- to 10-years-old. Fifteen games from five different genres were coded for features of interactivity, including level-of-control, feedback, and adaptivity. Parents reported time their child spent on each of these games, and children completed a measure of metacognitive awareness. Children's preference for different gaming environments were also examined. Results indicated that exposure to games high in interactive features was positively associated with children's metacognitive awareness. However, exposure to games with fewer interactive features was unrelated to metacognitive awareness. Game preferences did not differ by age or sex. These results support the hypothesis that different digital games provide children with differential opportunities for metacognitive experience and have implications for future research investigating interactive media and children's cognitive development during middle childhood.
Clorpactin: An Alternative Irrigation Method for Total Knee Arthroplasty Joint Infection Revisions.

Different combinations of irrigation solutions have been used in attempt to eradicate microorganisms for the prevention and treatment of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Clorpactin WCS-90 was evaluated as an alternative irrigation intraoperative technique for the treatment of PJI using both debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR) and 2-stage total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures. We retrospectively reviewed PJIs irrigated with Clorpactin between January 2015 and January 2020. We found 13 patients who underwent a DAIR procedure for an acutely infected primary TKA, 18 patients underwent a 2-stage procedure for a chronically infected primary TKA, two patients underwent a DAIR procedure for an acutely infected revision TKA, and 18 patients underwent a 2-stage procedure for a chronically infected revision TKA. The odds of reinfection and need for additional surgery were analyzed at a mean follow-up of 20 to 26 months between groups. Only one patient (7.69%) became reinfected in the acute infected primary TKA group, three patients (16.67%) in the chronic infected primary TKA group, 0 patients (0%) in the acute infected revision TKA group, and six patients (33.33%) in the chronic infected revision TKA group. When the acute primary TKA infection group was compared with the chronic revision TKA infection group, the odds of reinfection (Chi-square test [χ2] = 21.7, df 3, p
Enabling Ether-Based Electrolytes for Long Cycle Life of Lithium-Ion Batteries at High Charge Voltage.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) with high-nickel (Ni) content LiNixMnyCozO2 (x + y + z = 1) (NMC with Ni ≥ 0.6) cathodes operated at high charge voltages have been considered as one of the most promising candidates for addressing the challenge of increasing energy density demand. Conventional LiPF6-organocarbonate electrolytes exhibit incompatibility with such cell chemistries under certain testing conditions because of the instability of electrode/electrolyte interphases. In response to this challenge, ether-based electrolytes with finely tuned structure and composition of solvation sheaths were developed and evaluated in graphite (Gr)∥NMC811 cell chemistry in 2.5-4.4 V, despite ethers being conventionally considered to be unfavorable electrolyte solvents for LIBs because of their anodic instability above 4.0 V and cointercalation into Gr electrodes. The functional ether-based electrolytes in this work enable both excellent cycle life and high rate capability of Gr∥NMC811 cells. Mechanistic studies reveal that the unique structure and composition of the solvation sheath of the functional ether electrolytes are the main reasons behind their excellent anodic stability and effective protection of the Gr electrode and, consequently, the extraordinary cell performances when operated at high charge cutoff voltages. This work also provides a feasible approach in developing highly stable functional electrolytes for high-energy density LIBs.
From Jim Crow Finance to Subprime Shenanigans: Expunging Financial Exclusion, Discrimination, and Predation from America

Over the course of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the U.S. financial system became more inclusive but subtle forms of financial discrimination remained, though they were difficult to prove statistically. Instead of reducing the residue of recalcitrant discrimination, regulators in the 1990s and 2000s instead lowered credit standards and thereby initiated the chain of events that culminated in the financial crisis of 2008. Lowered credit standards also precipitated a rapid rise in financial predation. Instead of lowering standards, creating government banks or programs, or forcing lenders to lend via regulation like the Community Reinvestment Act, policymakers should encourage new entry by groups that feel discriminated against, which was the traditional way that Americans had reduced financial exclusion and discrimination before the financial repression associated with the New Deal. New, small banks may be more fragile than larger ones but their exit, in cases where they are not able to lend profitably to groups that feel discriminated against, will not pose systemic risks.
DeepGeni: Deep generalized interpretable autoencoder elucidates gut microbiota for better cancer immunotherapy

Abstract Recent studies revealed that gut microbiota modulates the response to cancer immunotherapy and fecal microbiota transplantation has clinical benefit in melanoma patients during the treatment. Understanding microbiota affecting individual response is crucial to advance precision oncology. However, it is challenging to identify the key microbial taxa with limited data as statistical and machine learning models often lose their generalizability. In this study, DeepGeni, a deep generalized interpretable autoencoder, is proposed to improve the generalizability and interpretability of microbiome profiles by augmenting data and by introducing interpretable links in the autoencoder. DeepGeni-based machine learning classifier outperforms state-of-the-art classifier in the microbiome-driven prediction of responsiveness of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. DeepGeni-based machine learning classifier outperforms state-of-the-art classifier in the microbiome-driven responsiveness prediction of melanoma patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Also, the interpretable links of DeepGeni elucidate the most informative microbiota associated with cancer immunotherapy response.
Treatment Options for End-Stage Hip Disease in Adolescents: To Replace, Fuse, or Reconstruct?

INTRODUCTION This paper aims to review the indications criteria for the surgical treatment of adolescents with hip osteoarthritis and summarize the contemporary techniques that orthopaedic surgeons can apply for hip reconstruction. DISCUSSION Hip osteoarthritis remains a concerning burden to North American society. While the rate of total hip replacement (THR) in younger patients has increased in the last decades, younger patients may have a higher risk of revision hip replacement because of their increased level of activity and expected patient longevity compared with the elderly. Increased demand for multiple revision surgeries is a concern for the adolescent patient. Although in general THR has been increasingly recommended for the treatment of end-stage osteoarthritis secondary to pediatric hip disorders, hip arthrodesis remains a beneficial alternative for the treatment of severe hip disease secondary to infection and for patients who desire to engage in a very active lifestyle. Hip preservation procedures are ideally performed in the prearthritic stage or in hips with minimal degeneration to preserve the joint and achieve the most optimal outcomes. However, adolescents and young adults with moderate and rarely advanced arthritis may benefit from surgical treatment using hip preservation techniques. CONCLUSIONS Treatment of adolescents with pain and dysfunction because of end-stage hip disease is challenging and controversial. THR and arthrodesis are the 2 principal alternatives. However, in particular circumstances, hip reconstruction may be recommended.
Quantum critical metals in 4 − ε dimensions

We study the quantum theory of a Fermi surface coupled to a gapless boson scalar in $D=4\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ space-time dimensions as a simple model for non-Fermi liquids (NFL) near a quantum phase transition. Our analysis takes into account the full backreaction from Landau damping of the boson, and obtains an RG flow that proceeds through three distinct stages. Above the scale of Landau damping, the Fermi velocity flows to zero, while the coupling evolves according to its classical dimension. Once damping becomes important, its backreaction leads to a crossover regime where dynamic and static damping effects compete and the fermion self-energy does not respect scaling. Below this crossover and having tuned the boson to criticality, the theory flows to a $z=3$ scalar interacting with an NFL. We finally analyze the IR phases of the theory with arbitrary number of flavors ${N}_{c}$. When ${N}_{c}$ is small, the superconducting dome covers the NFL behavior; strikingly, for moderately large ${N}_{c}$, we find that NFL effects become important first, before the onset of superconductivity. A generic prediction of the theory is that the Fermi velocity and quasiparticle residue vanish with a power law ${\ensuremath{\omega}}^{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}$ as the fixed point is approached. These features may be useful for understanding some of the phenomenology of high-${T}_{c}$ materials in a systematic $\ensuremath{\epsilon}$ expansion.
Telecommunications privatization issues: The Jamaican experience

Abstract Many developing countries are privatizing their telecommunication sectors, but their governments are often inexperienced in the use of regulatory power to oversee the operations of the new private company. This article reviews pertinent issues and relevant literature concerning telecommunications privatization to provide a contextual framework for discussing the privatization of Telecommunications of Jamaica. The sale of shares and public reaction to the divestiture are examined as well as Jamaica's apparently ineffectual regulatory system which seems to ensure that such goals as universal service will not be addressed.
Conditions for stable operation in a helical quadrupole focusing accelerator

A number of high-current accelerator designs utilize strong focusing in the form of helical quadrupole and axial guide fields. Operation in certain parameter regimes can cause electromagnetic instabilities. We find that the electron beam centroid can be i) orbit unstable, independent of the waveguide modes, ii) three-wave unstable or iii) fully stable. Analytic expressions for the various stability conditions are obtained in the limit of zero beam current. The stability conditions are verified via particle simulation in each regime.
Protein chain initiation by methionyl transfer ribonucleic acid in the cytoplasm of Neurospora.

Abstract The initiation of protein biosynthesis in the cytoplasmic system of Neurospora crassa has been investigated. Two major methionyl-tRNA species exist in the cytoplasm of Neurospora, only one of which (methionyl-tRNAf) is formylatable with Escherichia coli transformylase. In addition, methionyl-tRNAf has more affinity to bind on ribosomes in the presence of the AUG codon than methionyl-tRNAm. This methionyl-tRNAf appears to function for the initiation of protein biosynthesis by incorporating methionine at the amino-terminal end of proteins. In contrast, methionyl-tRNAm transfers methionine predominantly into the internal positions. This investigation provides evidence that protein biosynthesis in the cytoplasm of Neurospora is initiated by methionyl-tRNAf without prior formylation.
NIST's 1998 topic detection and tracking evaluation (TDT2).

This paper presents a summary of the 1998 Topic Detection and Tracking (TDT) tasks and the results of the 1998 TDT evaluation. The purpose of TDT is to develop technologies for retrieval and automatic organization of Broadcast News and Newswire stories and to evaluate the performance of those technologies. The TDT project builds on and extends the technologies of Automatic Speech Recognition and Document Retrieval with three tasks: 1) Story Segmentation, 2) Topic Detection and 3) Topic Tracking. Each of the tasks simulates a hypothetical operational system that requires incoming data to be processed time synchronously. The 1998 TDT evaluation (TDT2) continues the work of the TDT pilot study conducted in 1997 (TDT1) and is the first open evaluation of TDT tasks.
Anergic Responses Characterize a Large Fraction of Human Autoreactive Naive B Cells Expressing Low Levels of Surface IgM

B cell anergy represents an important mechanism of peripheral immunological tolerance for mature autoreactive B cells that escape central tolerance enforced by receptor editing and clonal deletion. Although well documented in mice, the extent of its participation in human B cell tolerance remains to be fully established. In this study, we characterize the functional behavior of strictly defined human naive B cells separated on the basis of their surface IgM (sIgM) expression levels. We demonstrate that cells with lower sIgM levels (IgMlo) are impaired in their ability to flux calcium in response to either anti-IgM or anti-IgD cross-linking and contain a significantly increased frequency of autoreactive cells compared with naive B cells with higher levels of sIgM. Phenotypically, in healthy subjects, IgMlo cells are characterized by the absence of activation markers, reduction of costimulatory molecules (CD19 and CD21), and increased levels of inhibitory CD22. Functionally, IgMlo cells display significantly weaker proliferation, impaired differentiation, and poor Ab production. In aggregate, the data indicate that hyporesponsiveness to BCR cross-linking associated with sIgM downregulation is present in a much larger fraction of all human naive B cells than previously reported and is likely to reflect a state of anergy induced by chronic autoantigen stimulation. Finally, our results indicate that in systemic lupus erythematosus patients, naive IgMlo cells display increased levels of CD95 and decreased levels of CD22, a phenotype consistent with enhanced activation of autoreactive naive B cells in this autoimmune disease.
Does The Classroom Delivery Method Make A Difference

This study seeks to determine if a difference exists in student performance and participation between an online and face-to-face Accounting Intermediate I class taught by the same professor. Even though students self-selected which course section to enroll, no significant difference was found to exist between the delivery method of the two courses based on the student’s major field of study, gender, and whether or not they commuted to class. No significant difference is found between the assessments of the two class sections’ membership except the students’ course performance. Contrary to prior research, the students enrolled in the online sections did not perform as well as the face-to-face students. This study supports prior research which finds that online class support videos or other materials must be kept to ten minutes or less to retain students’ attention.
Integration testing of software product lines using compositional symbolic execution

Software product lines are families of products defined by feature commonality and variability, with a well-managed asset base. Recent work in testing of software product lines has exploited similarities across development phases to reuse shared assets and reduce test effort. The use of feature dependence graphs has also been employed to reduce testing effort, but little work has focused on code level analysis of dataflow between features. In this paper we present a compositional symbolic execution technique that works in concert with a feature dependence graph to extract the set of possible interaction trees in a product family. It composes these to incrementally and symbolically analyze feature interactions. We experiment with two product lines and determine that our technique can reduce the overall number of interactions that must be considered during testing, and requires less time to run than a traditional symbolic execution technique.
The lives of Erich Fromm : love's prophet

Foreword, by Gerald N. Grob Acknowledgments Prologue: Writing Lives Part 1: Germany 1. The Unsteady Apprentice 2. Frankfurt Scholar Part 2: The Americas 3. The Americanization of a European Intellectual 4. Escape from Freedom 5. Clinician and Ethicist 6. To Love and to Mentor 7. Politics and Prose Part 3: Global Citizenship 8. Prophecies for a Troubled World 9. A Third Way 10. "Life Is Extravagance": Almost 11. Hope and Stasis 12. Love and Death A Bibliographical Note Notes Index
Setting checkpoints in legacy code to improve fault-tolerance

In this paper we describe the results of a study of the insertion of checkpoints within a legacy software system in the aerospace domain. The purpose of the checkpoints was to improve program fault-tolerance during program execution by rolling back system control to a saved state from which program execution can continue. The study used novice programmers for the determination of where the checkpoints were to be added. The focus was on the programmer's understanding of the code, since this affected how the checkpoints were placed. The results should provide guidance to those interested in improving the fault-tolerance of legacy software systems, especially those written in older, nearly obsolescent programming languages.
Spectrophotometric determination of freshwater pH using bromocresol purple and phenol red.

The dissociation constants (KI = [H+][I2-]/[HI-]) of two sulfonephthalein indicators (bromocresol purple and phenol red) were determined as function of temperature (10−30 °C) at zero ionic strength. Freshwater pH, on the free hydrogen ion concentration scale (molal units), can be precisely calculated from measurements of indicator absorbance ratios (λ2A/λ1A) using the following equations: pH = pKI + log((R − e1)/(e2 − Re3)) and pKI = pKI° − AΔZ2(μ1/2/(1 + μ1/2) − 0.3 μ), where R = λ2A/λ1A, pKI = −log KI, μ is the ionic strength, ΔZ2 = 4, and values of A for 283 ≤ T ≤ 303 can be estimated from the equation: A = 0.5092 + (T − 298.15) × 8.5 × 10-4. For bromocresol purple (λ1 = 432 nm, λ2 = 589 nm), pKI° = 5.226 + 378.1/T, e1 = 0.00387, e2 = 2.858, and e3 = 0.0181. For phenol red (λ1 = 433 nm, λ2 = 558 nm), pKI° = 5.798 + 666.7/T, e1 = 0.00244, e2 = 2.734, and e3 = 0.1075. These two indicators can be used to make accurate pH measurements of freshwaters (river water, lake water, groundwater, rainwater, etc) ...
Relationship between changes in the guard cell abscisic-acid content and other stress-related physiological parameters in intact plants

The relationships of guard cell ABA content to eight stress-related physiological parameters were determined on intact Vicia faba L. plants that were grown hydroponically with split-root systems. Continuous stress was imposed by the addition of PEG to part of the root system. The water potentials of roots sampled after the addition of PEG were 0.25 MPa lower than the water potentials of other roots of the same plant, which were similar to the roots of untreated plants. The leaflet water potentials of plants sampled within 2 h of stress imposition were similar to those of control plants. However, leaf conductance was lower in plants sampled after only 20 min of stress imposition, and the root- and leaflet apoplastic ABA concentrations of these plants were higher than those of untreated plants. As the essence of this report, there was a linear relationship between guard cell ABA content and leaf conductance. Leaflet apoplastic ABA concentrations <150 nM were also linearly related to leaf conductance, but higher leaflet apoplastic ABA concentration did not cause equally large further declines in leaf conductance. It is suggested that evaporation from guard cell walls caused ABA to accumulate in the guard cell apoplast and this pool was saturated at high leaflet apoplastic ABA concentrations.
Scaling Analysis for Large Membrane Optics

To meet future requirements, space telescopes are envisioned to require optics tens of meters in diameter. Packaging restrictions of current and foreseeable launch vehicles prohibit the use of a single rigid monolithic mirror of that size. Membrane optics research seeks to create large diameter apertures out of thin flexible Aim-like reflective material. For our analysis, we examine those structures with embedded in-plane actuated piezoelectric elements for active surface shape control. By analyzing the non-dimensional form of the governing differential equation, relative effects of linear and non-linear terms are apparent. Then, through a series of MSC.Nastran finite element models, scalability issues are explored to include the effects of non-linear terms, existing membrane pre-tension, and unimorph versus bimorph actuation. Results show small-scale (existing) test articles may respond in accordance with linear models, but may mask the nonlinear characteristics which dominate large full-scale membrane optics in the proposed applications.
Mathematical models for the release of drugs from matrix tablets

A previously derived cubic equation describing the release of drugs from matrix tablets is compared with a more complex equation recently presented. Using data obtained from cylindrical hydrocortisone matrix tablets, it is shown that the simpler cubic equation affords an equally acceptable description of drug release. Because the cubic equation contains a release-rate constant Kr that is independent of tablet shape, a congruency between this equation and other historical models of diffusion may be demonstrated. It is suggested, given the complexity of drug disposition in vivo, that simplicity in modeling is a desirable goal.
Acute Inflammatory Surgical Disease

Infectious and inflammatory diseases comprise some of the most common gastrointestinal disorders resulting in hospitalization in the United States. Accordingly, they occupy a significant proportion of the workload of the acute care surgeon. This article discusses the diagnosis, management, and treatment of appendicitis, acute cholecystitis/cholangitis, acute pancreatitis, diverticulitis, and Clostridium difficile colitis.
Incorporation of pantothenate-1-14C into pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase: 4'-phosphopantetheine, a prosthetic group of the multienzyme complex.

Abstract Pantothenate-l- 14 C was injected into starved and refed pigeons. 14 C-Labeled soluble fatty acid synthetase was then isolated from the liver, and the protein bound radioactivity was released from the enzyme complex by mild alkaline hydrolysis. The liberated moiety was shown to be 4′-phosphopantetheine by co-chromatography with the authentic compound on a DEAE-cellulose column and by conversion to CoA in the presence of dephospho-CoA pyrophosphorylase, dephospho-CoA kinase, and ATP. The product was then converted to acetyl-CoA to further confirm its identity. These results show that the pigeon liver fatty acid synthetase contains covalently bound 4′-phosphopantetheine.
The nutritional significance of maize and teosinte

(1976). The nutritional significance of maize and teosinte. Ecology of Food and Nutrition: Vol. 4, No. 4, pp. 243-249.
Investigating phase transitions and strength in single-crystal sapphire using shock–reshock loading techniques☆

This paper focuses on developing a technique that can probe phase transitions in ceramics and evaluating strength properties of single-crystal sapphire. High strength ceramics that undergo solid-to-solid polymorphic phase transitions can display a wide range of volume changes. Materials with large volumetric changes can be easily detected; however, materials demonstrating small volume changes, pose a different experimental problem. Because of the variety of diagnostics tools (for acquiring data), and differing interpretation of the data, materials that undergo small volume changes, make detection of transformation quite challenging. Different experimental test methods are needed to potentially allow detection and characterization of materials undergoing phase transitions with small volume changes. In addition, these results show that single-crystal sapphire has considerable strength loss at approximately 56 GPa on the Hugoniot. In this study, we report loading profile measurements in the form of particle velocity histories for single-crystal sapphire that is shocked to a given stress level directly or through multiple steps from a shocked state of 56 GPa. We probe the region of suggested phase transformations utilizing the simplest type of off-Hugoniot reshock loading. This also allows an assessment of shear strength in the shocked state of single-crystal c-axis sapphire. The present measurements show no evidence of a phase transition, but do suggest considerable strength loss in sapphire.
Orthopedic aspects of child abuse

Child abuse remains a relatively frequent cause of orthopedic injuries in infants and children, and, although the classic signs of abuse are still useful for identifying victims, more careful observation and more sophisticated diagnostic tests, such as collagen synthesis, may be required to identify less severely injured victims. Recently observed changes in injury patterns and age incidences should be considered in the evaluation of a child suspected of being a child abuse victim.
Pathologic measurements in aortic atresia

Detailed autopsy measurements were performed in 13 infants with hypoplastic left ventricle and aortic atresia. Emphasis was placed on the evaluation of changes in the right ventricle, since its function may be important in determining surgical survival. Other important aspects were the ascending aortic and transverse aortic arch diameter, the presence of left atrial obstruction, and the size of the left atrium. The development of improved 2DE and Doppler imaging will permit preoperative and sequential evaluation of these parameters. Measurements performed in this study may serve as a basis for selection of infants for palliative surgery; these procedures are being undertaken more frequently in this hitherto fatal lesion. The measurements may also serve as a basis for noninvasive serial studies of these infants postoperatively.
Prediction of flux through polydimethylsiloxane membranes using atomic charge calculations: Application to an extended data set

Abstract The maximum steady state flux of 171 compounds through PDMS membranes was predicted using a refinement of a previously developed empirical quantitative structure-transportability relationship (QSTR) produced using the reported flux data for 103 compounds. The model utilized partial atomic charge, solubility, and molecular weight as predictors. The predicted data set includes a variety of substituted benzenes, naphthalenes, thiophenes, benzimidazoles, pyridines, quinolines, isoquinolines, pyrimidines, triazoles and lesser numbers of other heterocyclic classes of compounds over a wide range of polarity. Maximum steady state flux was measured using isopropyl alcohol as solvent. Molecular models of all the compounds were simulated using SYBYL 6.0 molecular modeling software. The atomic charge of each individual compound was computed with the Gast-Huck method using the same software. Results show that the simple QSTR equation is capable of accurately predicting the steady state flux of a variety of compounds. Contribution of atomic charge to mass transport phenomena was further verified by the prediction of the apparent permeability calculated from the steady state flux data. Permeability decreases significantly as the atomic charge of diffusant is increased. Predicted results show that atomic charges can be used to represent the polarity and be correlated to the polarity-related properties of an electrically neutral compound.
Stromatolites in the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite: implications for microbial growth and preservation in siliciclastic settings

Well-preserved siliciclastic domal stromatolites, up to 2 m wide and 1AE 5m high, are found in a 10 to 15 m thick interval within the Late Ordovician Eureka Quartzite of Southern Nevada and Eastern California, USA. These stromatolites appear as either isolated features or patchy clusters that contain more than 70% by volume quartz grains; their association with planar, trough and herringbone cross-bedding suggests that they were formed in an upper shoreface environment with high hydraulic energy. In this environment, sand bars or dunes may have provided localized shelter for initial microbial mat colonization. Biostabilization and early lithification of microbial mats effectively prevented erosion during tidal flushing and storm surges, and the prevalence of translucent quartz sand grains permitted light penetration into the sediment, leading to thick microbial mat accretion and the formation of domal stromatolites. Decimetre-scale to metre-scale stromatolite domes may have served as localized shelter and nucleation sites for further microbial mat colonization, forming patchy stromatolite clusters. Enrichment of iron minerals, including pyrite and hematite, within dark internal laminae of the stromatolites indicates anaerobic mineralization of microbial mats. The occurrence of stromatolites in the Eureka Quartzite provides an example of microbial growth in highly stressed, siliciclastic sedimentary environments, in which microbial communities may have been able to create microenvironments promoting early cementation/lithification essential for the growth and preservation of siliciclastic stromatolites.
Pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase activity of soluble cardiac NADH dehydrogenase and particulate NADH-ubiquinone reductase

Abstract Pyridine nucleotide transhydrogenase activities of a highly purified soluble NADH dehydrogenase and particulate NADH-ubiquinone reductase (Complex I) differ in their pH optima (5.0 and 6.0, respectively) and in their sensitivity to inhibition by Mg 2+ and ATP. The oxidation of NADPH with ferricyanide as acceptor is very similar in both preparations with a pH optimum around 5.0. It is concluded that Complex I possesses two types of transhydrogenase activity, whereas only one has been found in the soluble dehydrogenase.
Comparison of experiment and theory for the coagulation of aerosols

Abstract The possibility of a sodium fire as a consequence of an accident in fast nuclear reactors has prompted interest in studying the distribution of airborne sodium-oxide particles generated in such an event. Since these particles may incorporate fission products, knowledge of their ultimate distribution in time and space is needed to evaluate the extent of the associated hazard. The purpose of this paper is to present modifications of a previously reported general equation intended to describe the dynamic behavior of a heterogeneous population of aerosol particles. Solutions of the modified equation are compared with experimental results. In these experiments, liquid sodium at 1000°F is exposed to an environment containing 4% to21% of oxygen. Some fraction of the oxidized sodium is released as an aerosol in a laboratory test chamber. Measurements and computations are made of the airborne mass concentration, mass deposition rates on the floor and walls, and the particle size distribution, each as a function of time.
Biological Availability of Selenodicysteine in Chicks

The biological availability of selenium (Se) in selenodicysteine (SDC) for chicks was evaluated using plasma glutathione peroxidase (SeGSHpx) activity and tissue Se levels as criteria. In each of two trials day-old Single Comb White Leghorn chicks were fed a basal diet low in Se but supplemented with vitamin E during Days 1 to 14. On Day 15 three replicate groups of eight chicks were assigned to each dietary treatment. Dietary treatments consisted of feeding the basal diet alone or supplemented with approximately 50, 100, or 150 ppb Se as either sodium selenite or SDC from Days 15 to 27. Pooled samples of blood, liver, and breast muscle were obtained from four chicks per replicate group on Day 27. Activity of SeGSHpx and the concentration of Se in plasma, whole blood, muscle, and liver were highly correlated (P less than .0001) with supplemental dietary Se. In Trial 1 no differences were observed between the slopes for each compound upon determining linear regression equations for SeGSHpx, plasma Se, whole blood Se, muscle Se, or liver Se versus supplemental dietary Se. In Trial 2 there were no differences between the slopes for each compound in equations for SeGSHpx, plasma Se, or whole blood Se versus supplemental dietary Se. The ratio of slopes (SDC/sodium selenite) was .82 for both muscle Se and liver Se versus dietary Se. Thus, data indicate that Se in SDC is highly available for chicks.
Persistent Right Ventricular Sinusoids And Coronary Artery To Right Ventricle Communications (PRVS) Associated With Severe Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension 78

Persistent Right Ventricular Sinusoids And Coronary Artery To Right Ventricle Communications (PRVS) Associated With Severe Neonatal Pulmonary Hypertension 78
The Sprint Fidelis lead fracture story: what do we really know and where do we go from here?

I I s enter e vest rising e up of 3 omm in p that p s. is the e hese d ased o ed by c not n of f of the d p s e i O t Over the last several years, the news media has arded the public with a series of articles dealing wit imitations of the technologies we apply to help our pa n a daily basis. This publicity has sparked a careful mination by both physicians and device manufacturers ow to better communicate risk to physicians and pat nd how to better identify and treat device malfunctio 1,2
High regioselectivity in the Diels-Alder reaction of a surfactant 1,3-diene with a surfactant dienophile resulting from a short tether between their functional groups and head groups

Abstract The Diels-Alder reaction of surfactant 1,3-diene 5 and surfactant dienophile 6 within their aqueous mixed micelles at 25(35)°C gave a 30:1 ratio of cycloadducts 14 and 15 , respectively. The high regioselectivity was ascribed to a combination of alignment of 5 and 6 at the mixed micelle-H 2 O interface and the short tether between their functional groups and head groups.