cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abstract 3792: Specific amino acid restriction differentially induces autophagy in DU145 and PC3 human prostate cancer cell lines

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL We previously found that selective amino acid restriction differentially induces death of DU145 and PC3 human prostate cancer cells. Herein we examined the hypothesis that this differential cell death was associated with induction of autophagy. By detecting the immunofluorescence of microtubule-associated protein 1A/1B light chain 3 (LC3) by confocal microscopy, this study shows that selective amino acid restriction also differentially induces autophagy in DU145 and PC3 human prostate cancer cell lines. In DU145 cells, restriction of tyrosine and phenylalanine (Tyr/Phe), glutamine (Gln), and methionine (Met) induces autophagy. Addition of pyruvate significantly increases Tyr/Phe restriction-induced autophagy and significantly reduces Met and Gln restriction-induced autophagy. All of the amino acid restrictions induce cell death in DU145 cells. Pyruvate, a major metabolite of glucose metabolism, significantly reduces Tyr/Phe and Gln restriction-mediated cell death, but not Met restriction-medicated cell death. Tyr/Phe and Gln restriction induces autophagy in PC3 cells. Addition of pyruvate does not alter Tyr/Phe restriction-induced autophagy but significantly increases Met and Gln restriction-induced autophagy. Only Met restriction induces cell death in this cell line, and pyruvate addition reverses this effect. In summary, the present study indicates 1) cell line specific differences between DU145 and PC3 cells in the induction of autophagy by specific amino acid restriction, 2) lack of association between induction of autophagy and cell death, and 3) differential effects of pyruvate on autophagy and cell death. (This study was supported by grant R01CA101035 from the National Cancer Institute). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3792. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3792
Cloud Computing and Your Library

The number of ways in which we access information is making our personal computing environment very complex. My own personal computing infrastructure includes two personal computers, multiple data-...
Intracavity Terahertz Generation in a Synchronously Pumped Optical Parametric Oscillator using Quaso-phasematched GaAs

We generated 1 mW of average power at 2.9 THz (540 GHz bandwidth) in a nearly- diffraction-limited beam by placing a room-temperature quasi-phasematched GaAs crystal inside the cavity of a synchronously pumped optical parametric oscillator.
URANIUM DISTRIBUTIONS IN ARCHEOLOGIC CERAMICS: DATING OF RADIOACTIVE INCLUSIONS.

Small mineral grains (10 to 50 micrometers) of high uranium concentration (100 to 3000 parts per million) were located in polished sections of eight potsherds from Cyprus, England, Greece, and Mexico by induced fission-track mapping. Most of the grains were identified as zircons or apatites by a microprobe attachment to a scanning electron microscope. The advantages in using such radioactive grains for thermoluminescence dating and alpha-recoil track dating are discussed.
Technique charts for Kodak’s new film-screen systems for portal localization

In July 1996, Kodak released new film-screen systems with enhanced contrast (EC) for portal localization with megavoltage therapeutic beams. This study presents the generation of general-purpose technique charts for Kodak's new film-screen combinations: the Enhanced-Contrast localization (EC-L) film in EC-L cassette and the EC-L film in fast ECL (fECL) cassette for use with cobalt-60, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV beams. These technique charts were based on the assumption that a film with an optical density (OD) of 1.8 provides the best viewing density. The doses to produce such as OD, Dexp, were obtained from the H & D curves and were 1.5, 1.6, 1.7, and 1.8 cGy for cobalt-60, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV beams, respectively, with the EC-L-film + EC-L-cassette combination. The corresponding values were 1.3, 1.3, 1.3, and 1.4 cGy, respectively, for the above four beams with the EC-L-film + fEC-L-cassette combination. The dose to the film is assumed to be proportional to the calibrated dose rate (D0), field size factor (FSF), inverse square factor relative to 100.0 cm (INV), and the transmission factor through the patient, which is equal to e-uT, where u is the broad beam attenuation coefficient and T is the patient thickness. With the above assumptions, the exposure time or monitor unit, t, is then calculated from the following equation: t = Dexp/(D0*FSF*INV*e-uT). For an average port size of 15 x 15 cm, the attenuation coefficients were obtained from the fitting of TAR (cobalt-60) or TMR (6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV) as a function of depth from 10 to 30 cm and were 0.0564 cm-1, 0.03714 cm-1, and 0.02271 cm-1 for cobalt-60, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV beams, respectively. The FSF were explicitly obtained from the clinical physics data books and were 1.028, 1.032, 1.036, and 1.053 for cobalt-60, 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV, respectively. For cobalt-60 beam, the D0 was assumed to be 100.0 cGy/min. For the 6 MV, 10 MV, and 18 MV beams, the D0 in cGy per monitor unit is 1.030, 1.051, and 1.061, respectively. Technique charts were then generated as a function of patient thickness from 10 to 45 cm for filming distance from 110 to 140 cm for all four beams. These technique charts can be easily customized to portal localization practices in a radiation therapy department.
The Radon-Nikodym theorem for Lebesgue-Bochner function spaces

It is proved that the Lebesgue-Bochner function spaces Lp(E, λ), 1 < p < ∞, have the Radon-Nikodym property if and only if E has the same property. This solves an unsolved problem of Davies, Diestel and Leonard.
Impact of discontinuing a hospital-based air ambulance service on trauma patient outcomes.

Background The clinical benefit of aeromedical transportation of injured patients in the civilian population has been debated. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of discontinuing a hospital-based helicopter transport program on trauma patient outcomes, with the hypothesis that the
Extracellular Metabolism of Pulmonary Surfactant: The Role of a New Serine Protease

Lung surfactant, an organized complex of lipids and specific apoproteins that is responsible for maintaining alveolar stability, is a product of alveolar epi­ thelial type II cells in which it is packaged for secretion in the form of lamellar bodies (LB) (41, 43, 44). Following its release from type II cells into the alveolar fluid-lining layer, surfactant undergoes a number of structural and metabolic changes. Ultimately, some of the extracellular surfactant is taken back into type II cells for recycling, and the remainder is probably removed by alveolar clearance mechanisms. The structural transformation that surfac­ tant undergoes after its secretion from the type II cell includes at least one step requiring the action of a recently discovered enzyme. We review the evidence for enzymatic activity in this sequence, what is known of its role and actions, as well as some of the properties of the putative enzyme, which we call surfactant convertase.
Reverse short-channel effects and channel-engineering in deep-submicron MOSFETs: modeling and optimization

For the first time, a theoretical model is presented, taking into account all the physical effects of T/sub OX/, X/sub j/, N/sub sub/, V/sub BS/, and channel engineering PTS scheme, to predict the Reverse-Short-Channel Effect (RSCE) in deep-submicron devices of several technology generations. The /spl Delta/V/sub th/ is found to follow the superposition principle. The worst case L/sub min/ is also modelled and its ultimate lower bound is exploited via optimum channel engineering.
Comparison of EPI Distortion Correction Methods in Diffusion Tensor MRI Using a Novel Framework

Diffusion weighted images (DWIs) are commonly acquired with Echo-planar imaging (EPI). B0 inhomogeneities affect EPI by producing spatially nonlinear image distortions. Several strategies have been proposed to correct EPI distortions including B 0 field mapping (B 0 M) and image registration. In this study, an experimental framework is proposed to evaluation the performance of different EPI distortion correction methods in improving DT-derived quantities. A deformable registration based method with mutual information metric and cubic B-spline modeled constrained deformation field (BSP) is proposed as an alternative when B 0 mapping data are not available. BSP method is qualitatively and quantitatively compared to B 0 M method using the framework. Both methods can successful reduce EPI distortions and significantly improve the quality of DT-derived quantities. Overall, B 0 M was clearly superior in infratentorial regions including brainstem and cerebellum, as well as in the ventral areas of the temporal lobes while BSP was better in all rostral brain regions.
The effect of surface passivation on the microwave characteristics of undoped AlGaN/GaN HEMTs

Surface passivation of undoped AlGaN/CaN HEMT's reduces or eliminates the surface effects responsible for limiting both the RF current and breakdown voltages of the devices. Power measurements on a 2/spl times/125/spl times/0.5 /spl mu/m AlGaN/GaN sapphire based HEMT demonstrate an increase in 4 GHz saturated output power from 1.0 W/mm [36% peak power-added efficiency (PAE)] to 2.0 W/mm (46% peak PAE) with 15 V applied to the drain in each case. Breakdown measurement data show a 25% average increase in breakdown voltage for 0.5 /spl mu/m gate length HEMT's on the same wafer. Finally, 4 GHz power sweep data for a 2/spl times/75/spl times/0.4 /spl mu/m AlGaN/GaN HEMT on sapphire processed using the Si/sub 3/N/sub 4/ passivation layer produced 4.0 W/mm saturated output power at 41% PAE (25 V drain bias). This result represents the highest reported microwave power density for undoped sapphire substrated AlGaN/GaN HEMT's.
Special Education Programming in Juvenile Corrections

Results are reported from a sample of 15 state directors of juvenile corrections who were surveyed regarding the extent of special education programming in juvenile correctional facilities. Information was collected describing the number of handicapped students served, the number and types of teachers and psychologists serving these students, the types of correctional education programs offered, and the types of special education services available in juvenile correctional facilities. Implications of these descriptive data are discussed.
Self–other awareness and peer relationships in toddlers: gender comparisons

Toddlers' growing self–other awareness has been linked with their ability to interact with peers, but there is reason to think that self–other awareness may relate to different aspects of peer relationships for boys and girls. We hypothesized that boys would express self–other awareness by separating self from other through claiming toys, while girls would express self–other awareness by creating similarities between self and other through use of the duplicate of a partner's toy. For 52 22–26 month olds, self–other awareness was assessed through four tasks: mirror self recognition, perceptual role taking, pronoun recognition and pronoun use. Each child subsequently interacted with a same-sex peer for 30 min. Girls high in self–other awareness, and their partners were more likely to engage in duplicate toy use than girls low in self–other awareness. No differences in toy claiming were found. Future longitudinal research would clarify how the onset of self–other awareness relates to developments in peer interaction for girls and boys. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mechanical Link between Cohesion Establishment and DNA Replication: Ctf7p/Eco1p, a Cohesion Establishment Factor, Associates with Three Different Replication Factor C Complexes

CTF7/ECO1 is an essential yeast gene required for the establishment of sister chromatid cohesion. The findings that CTF7/ECO1, POL30 (PCNA), and CHL12/CTF18 (a replication factor C [RFC] homolog) genetically interact provided the first evidence that the processes of cohesion establishment and DNA replication are intimately coupled—a link now confirmed by other studies. To date, however, it is unknown how Ctf7p/Eco1p function is coupled to DNA replication or whether Ctf7p/Eco1p physically associates with any components of the DNA replication machinery. Here, we report that Ctf7p/Eco1p associates with proteins that perform partially redundant functions in DNA replication. Chl12p/Ctf18p combines with Rfc2p to Rfc5p to form one of three independent RFC complexes. By chromatographic methods, Ctf7p/Eco1p was found to associate with Chl12/Ctf18p and with Rfc2p, Rfc3p, Rfc4p, and Rfc5p. The association between Ctf7p/Eco1p and this RFC complex is biologically relevant in that (i) Ctf7p/Eco1p cosediments with Chl12p/Ctf18p in vivo and (ii) rfc5-1 mutant cells exhibit precocious sister separation. Previous studies revealed that Rfc1p or Rad24p associates with Rfc2p to Rfc5p to form two other RFC complexes independent of Ctf18p-RFC complexes. These Rfc1pRFC and Rad24p-RFC complexes function in DNA replication or repair and DNA damage checkpoint pathways. Importantly, Ctf7p/Eco1p also associates with Rfc1p and Rad24p, suggesting that these RFC complexes also play critical roles in cohesion establishment. The associations between Ctf7p/Eco1p and RFC subunits provide novel evidence regarding the physical linkage between cohesion establishment and DNA replication. Furthermore, the association of Ctf7p/Eco1p with each of three RFC complexes supplies new insights into the functional redundancy of RFC complexes in cohesion establishment.
Post-natal Effect of Overexpressed DKK1 on Mandibular Molar Formation

Dickkopf-related protein 1 (DKK1) is a potent inhibitor of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Dkk1-null mutant embryos display severe defects in head induction. Conversely, targeted expression of Dkk1 in dental epithelial cells leads to the formation of dysfunctional enamel knots and subsequent tooth defects during embryonic development. However, its role in post-natal dentinogenesis is largely unknown. To address this issue, we studied the role of DKK1 in post-natal dentin development using 2.3-kb Col1a1-Dkk1 transgenic mice, with the following key findings: (1) The Dkk1 transgene was highly expressed in pulp and odontoblast cells during post-natal developmental stages; (2) the 1(st) molar displayed short roots, an enlarged pulp/root canal region, and a decrease in the dentin formation rate; (3) a small malformed second molar and an absent third molar; (4) an increase of immature odontoblasts, few mature odontoblasts, and sharply reduced dentinal tubules; and (5) a dramatic change in Osx and nestin expression. We propose that DKK1 controls post-natal mandibular molar dentin formation either directly or indirectly via the inhibition of Wnt signaling at the following aspects: (i) post-natal dentin formation, (ii) formation and/or maintenance of the dentin tubular system, (iii) mineralization of the dentin, and (iv) regulation of molecules such as Osx and nestin.
Crooked Paths to Allotment: The Fight over Federal Indian Policy after the Civil War. By C. Joseph Genetin-Pilawa. (Chapel Hill, NC: University of North Carolina Press, 2012. Pp. xv, 228. $39.95.)

The Dawes General Allotment Act of 1887, one of the most important pieces of legislation affecting Native Americans and the mechanism for the reduction of reservation lands by about two‐thirds, nea...
A Probabilistic Approach to Tracking Moving Targets With Distributed Sensors

Tracking a moving target is a difficult task in a distributed sensor network due to the lack of knowledge of the target's motion and signal noises. Several existing approaches use only sensory information or may require accurate target's motion models. In this paper, we present a Markovian approach that combines dynamically estimated target's motion models with received sensory information. The approach localizes a target by using the estimated motion models and the provided sensory model. We characterize probabilistic conditions under which the estimation accuracy increases if more sensors are used, and the estimations converge to the target's real position asymptotically. Our experimental analysis shows that our approach leads to substantially more accurate and robust location estimations than the previous approaches using only sensory information, and it is competitive with the standard Markov localization approach.
Acculturation and mental health: Response to a culturally-centered delinquency intervention

There is a dearth of research examining intervention effectiveness for ethnic minorities and few studies have investigated within-group differences in response to treatment. This study examined the prevalence of mental health problems among Anglo- and Mexican-American juveniles entering probation and their response to a comprehensive intervention designed to address drug, alcohol, and mental health in a culturally-sensitive manner. We hypothesized that all youths would demonstrate mental health improvements from pretest to posttest, and the improvements would be equal for Mexican-American youth of varying levels of acculturation and an Anglo comparison group. Participants included a total of 103 adolescents ages thirteen to eighteen years, of whom 59 percent were male and 81 percent were Mexican American. Hypotheses were supported, indicating this comprehensive, community-based intervention targeting delinquent adolescents and their families was effective in improving mental health regardless of ethnic background or level of acculturation. That is, regardless of group differences in mental health problems at intake, youth with different cultural orientations reported significantly reduced levels of internalizing and externalizing behavior problems at posttest.
Cooperative multi-robot reinforcement learning: A framework in hybrid state space

In the area of autonomous multi-robot cooperation, much emphasis has been placed on how to coordinate individual robot behaviors in order to achieve an optimal solution to task completion as a team. This paper presents an approach to cooperative multi-robot reinforcement learning based on a hybrid state space representation of the environment to achieve both task learning and heterogeneous role emergence in a unified framework. The methodology also involves learning space reduction through a neural perception module and a progressive rescheduling algorithm that interleaves online execution and relearning to adapt to environmental uncertainties and enhance performance. The approach aims to reduce combinatorial complexity inherent in role-task optimization, and achieves a satisficing solution to complex team-based tasks, rather than a globally optimal solution. Empirical evaluation of the proposed framework is conducted through simulation of a foraging task.
On-chip phase change heat sinks designed for computational sprinting

Computational sprinting has been proposed to improve responsiveness for the intermittent computational demands of many current and emerging mobile applications by briefly activating reserve cores and/or boosting frequency and voltage to power levels that far exceed the system’s sustained cooling capability. In this work, we focus on the thermal consequences of computational sprinting, studying the use of silicon thermal test chips as processor proxies in a real smartphone package with realistic thermal constraints. We study conditions in which multiple cycles of sprint and cooldown are repeated every few seconds to verify the feasibility of sprinting. Integrated on-chip phase change heat sinks filled with low melting temperature metallic alloys are demonstrated to provide a thermal buffer during intermittent computations by keeping the chip at lower peak and average temperatures.
The Possible Value of Sodium Fluoride for Inactivation of the Otosclerotic Bone Lesion: Experimental and Clinical Studies

The opportunity to follow many patients with otosclerosis by repeated hearing tests extending over 20 years or more has led to revised concepts of the natural course of this common disease, and the hope that it might be possible to influence this natural course by large doses of sodium fluoride.
Imperative LF Meta-Programming

Logical frameworks have enjoyed wide adoption as meta-languages for describing deductive systems. While the techniques for representing object languages in logical frameworks are relatively well understood, languages and techniques for meta-programming with them are much less so. This paper presents work in progress on a programming language called Rogue-Sigma-Pi (RSP), in which general programs can be written for soundly manipulating objects represented in the Edinburgh Logical Framework (LF). The manipulation is sound in the sense that, in the absence of runtime errors, any putative LF object produced by a well-typed RSP program is guaranteed to type check in LF. An important contribution is an approach for soundly combining imperative features with higher-order abstract syntax. The focus of the paper is on demonstrating RSP through representative LF meta-programs.
Molecular genetic analysis of ICEF, an integrative conjugal element that is present as a repetitive sequence in the chromosome of Mycoplasma fermentans PG18.

Mycoplasma genomes contain compact gene sets that approach the minimal complement necessary for life and reflect multiple evolutionary instances of genomic reduction. Lateral gene transfer may play a critical role in shaping the mobile gene pool in these organisms, yet complex mobile elements have not been reported within this genus. We describe here a large (∼23-kb) genetic element with unique features that is present in four copies in the Mycoplasma fermentans PG18 chromosome, accounting for approximately 8% of the genome. These novel elements, designated ICEF (integrative conjugal elements of M. fermentans), resemble conjugative, self-transmissible integrating elements (constins) in that circular, nonreplicative extrachromosomal forms occur in which the left and right termini of the integrated element are juxtaposed and separated by a coupling sequence derived from direct repeats flanking chromosomal copies of ICEF as a result of target site duplication. ICEF contain multiple similarly oriented open reading frames (ORFs), of which some have homology to products of known conjugation genes but others have no known counterparts. Surprisingly, unlike other constins, ICEF lack homologs of known integrases, transposases, or recombinases, suggesting that a novel enzyme may be employed for integration-excision. Skewed distribution and varied sites of chromosomal integration among M. fermentans isolates suggest a role for ICEF in promoting genomic and phenotypic variation in this species. Identification of homologs of terminal ICEF ORFs in two additional mycoplasma species indicates that ICEF is the prototype member of a family of ICE-related elements that may be widespread among pathogenic mycoplasmas infecting diverse vertebrate hosts.
Factors affecting recombinant Western equine encephalitis virus glycoprotein production in the baculovirus system

In an effort to produce processed, soluble Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV) glycoproteins for subunit therapeutic vaccine studies, we isolated twelve recombinant baculoviruses designed to express four different WEEV glycoprotein constructs under the transcriptional control of three temporally distinct baculovirus promoters. The WEEV glycoprotein constructs encoded full-length E1, the E1 ectodomain, an E26KE1 polyprotein precursor, and an artificial, secretable E2E1 chimera. The three different promoters induced gene expression during the immediate early (ie1), late (p6.9), and very late (polh) phases of baculovirus infection. Protein expression studies showed that the nature of the WEEV construct and the timing of expression both influenced the quantity and quality of recombinant glycoprotein produced. The full-length E1 product was insoluble, irrespective of the timing of expression. Each of the other three constructs yielded soluble products and, in these cases, the timing of expression was important, as higher protein processing efficiencies were generally obtained at earlier times of infection. However, immediate early expression did not yield detectable levels of every WEEV product, and expression during the late (p6.9) or very late (polh) phases of infection provided equal or higher amounts of processed, soluble product. Thus, while earlier foreign gene expression can provide higher recombinant glycoprotein processing efficiencies in the baculovirus system, in the case of the WEEV glycoproteins, earlier expression did not provide larger amounts of high quality, soluble recombinant glycoprotein product.
Sustained relief of neuropathic pain by AAV-targeted expression of CBD3 peptide in rat dorsal root ganglion

The Ca2+ channel-binding domain 3 (CBD3) peptide, derived from the collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2), is a recently discovered voltage-gated Ca2+ channel (VGCC) blocker with a preference for CaV2.2. Rodent administration of CBD3 conjugated to cell penetrating motif TAT (TAT-CBD3) has been shown to reduce pain behavior in inflammatory and neuropathic pain models. However, TAT-CBD3 analgesia has limitations, including short half-life, lack of cellular specificity and undesired potential off-site effects. We hypothesized that these issues could be addressed by expressing CBD3 encoded by high-expression vectors in primary sensory neurons. We constructed an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector expressing recombinant fluorescent CBD3 peptide and injected it into lumbar dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) of rats before spared nerve injury (SNI). We show that selective expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-CBD3 in lumbar 4 (L4) and L5 DRG neurons and their axonal projections results in effective attenuation of nerve injury-induced neuropathic pain in the SNI model. We conclude that AAV-encoded CBD3 delivered to peripheral sensory neurons through DRG injection may be a valuable approach for exploring the role of presynaptic VGCCs and long-term modulation of neurotransmission, and may also be considered for development as a gene therapy strategy to treat chronic neuropathic pain.
Rapid pressure compensation by automated cuff pressure controllers worsens sealing in tracheal tubes

Background Cyclic redistribution of air within the cuff during respiratory pressure changes creates a self-sealing mechanism which allows tracheal sealing, despite tracheal airway pressure being above baseline cuff inflation pressure. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of continuous automated cuff pressure regulation on tracheal sealing during cyclic respiratory pressure changes. Methods In vitro tracheal sealing was studied in four different high volume–low pressure (HVLP) tracheal tube cuffs size internal diameter 8.0 and 5.0 mm in combination with a conventional pressure manometer and two different automated pressure controllers (VBM Cuff Controller; Cuff Pressure Control Tracoe™). Experiments were performed at 10, 15, 20, and 25 cm H2O cuff pressure during intermittent positive pressure ventilation with peak inspiratory pressures of 20 and 25 cm H2O. Air leakage was assessed spirometrically. Experiments were performed four times with each tube brand and size with two exemplars of each of the three cuff pressure controllers. Results Owing to immediate cuff pressure correction, tracheal sealing at cuff pressure below inspiratory pressure was reduced in most of the tracheal tube cuffs, except in those with reduced sealing characteristics when using the Pressure Control Tracoe™ compared with the conventional pressure manometer and the VBM Cuff Controller. Tracheal sealing with the Pressure Control Tracoe™ comparable with the other two devices was only achieved at cuff pressures of 20 and 25 cm H2O. Conclusions Automated cuff pressure controllers with rapid pressure correction interfere with the self-sealing mechanism of high sealing HVLP tube cuffs and reduce their improved sealing characteristics.
Passwords for everyone: secure mnemonic-based accessible authentication

In many environments, a computer system is severely constrained to the extent that the practical input mechanisms are merely binary switches. Requiring the user to remember a long random bit string and to authenticate by entering each bit in the available binary input mechanism, is completely impractical. This paper deals with the question of authentication in such environments where the inputs are constrained to be yes/no responses to statements displayed on the user's screen. We present PassWit, a mnemonic-based system for such environments that combines good usability with high security, and has many additional features such as (to mention a few) resistance to phishing, keystroke-logging, and compatibility with currently deployed systems and password file formats (hence it can co-exist with existing login mechanisms).
The Federal Government in the Sunshine Act and Agency Decision Making

Congress passed the Government in the Sunshine Act in 1976, regulating the meeting procedures of more than 50 agencies headed by collegial bodies. Henceforth the major federal regulatory commission...
Duplex ultrasound screening detects high rates of deep vein thromboses in critically ill trauma patients

Objective American College of Chest Physician (ACCP) guidelines stratify deep venous thrombosis (DVT) risk in trauma patients based on injury pattern and pharmacologic prophylaxis. Screening is only recommended for patients with high-risk injuries who are unable to receive pharmacologic prophylaxis. However, the prevalence of lower extremity DVT (LEDVT) in trauma patients may be higher than reported in previous studies as many studies on DVT screening have not investigated calf vein DVTs (CVDVT) and have not exclusively targeted critically ill patients. Given that current ACCP guidelines recommend treatment of CVDVTs, we investigated the efficacy of duplex ultrasound (DUS) screening in critically ill trauma patients for all LEDVTs, including CVDVT, regardless of injury pattern, risk factors, or pharmacologic prophylaxis. Methods Medical records of 264 intensive care unit trauma patients who received DUS screening for LEDVT were retrospectively examined for the presence of injuries conferring high risk for LEDVT, patient specific DVT risk factors, and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) prophylaxis. Results Forty (15.2%) patients had LEDVTs found on DUS screening, 24 (60%) were CVDVT, and 30% of all DVTs were diagnosed within 1 week of admission. Patients without high-risk injuries receiving LMWH had a 13.5% DVT rate, which did not differ significantly from the 19.7% DVT rate in high-risk injury patients not receiving LMWH (P = .667). Conclusions Lower extremity DVT is common in critically ill trauma patients, particularly in the first week following injury, regardless of injury pattern, DVT risk factors, or pharmacologic prophylaxis. Previous studies have underestimated DVT rates by not investigating CVDVTs and not exclusively targeting critically ill patients. We recommend early and continued DUS DVT screening of all critically ill trauma patients.
Advanced Applications of Structural Equation Modeling in Counseling Psychology Research

Structural equation modeling (SEM) is a data-analytic technique that allows researchers to test complex theoretical models. Most published applications of SEM involve analyses of cross-sectional recursive (i.e., unidirectional) models, but it is possible for researchers to test more complex designs that involve variables observed at multiple points in time or variables implicated in reciprocal feedback loops (i.e., bidirectional models). Given SEM’s popularity among counseling psychology researchers, this article aims to introduce three SEM designs not often seen in the counseling psychology literature: cross-lagged panel analyses, latent growth curve modeling, and nonrecursive mediated model analysis. For each design, the authors provide a brief rationale regarding its purpose, procedures for specifying a model to test the design, and a worked illustration.
Elimination of limit cycles due to two's complement quantization in normal form digital filters

Normal form digital filters are attractive due to their desirable properties when implemented in finite wordlength arithmetic. These filters are free from all overflow limit cycles and quantization limit cycles when magnitude truncation is used. However, when two's complement truncation (TCT) quantization is used, limit cycles can still exist. It is shown that when block structures are used, normal form digital filters can be made free of limit cycles due to TCT quantization. It is shown that this can be done with a small block size. An algorithm is also presented to find the minimum block size required for a given filter. Some examples are given to illustrate the results.
RSC regulates nucleosome positioning at Pol II genes and density at Pol III genes

Nucleosomes can restrict the access of transcription factors to chromatin. RSC is a SWI/SNF-family chromatin-remodeling complex from yeast that repositions and ejects nucleosomes in vitro. Here, we examined these activities and their importance in vivo. We utilized array-based methods to examine nucleosome occupancy and positioning at more than 200 locations in the genome following the controlled destruction of the catalytic subunit of RSC, Sth1. Loss of RSC function caused pronounced and general reductions in new transcription from Pol I, II, and III genes. At Pol III genes, Sth1 loss conferred a general reduction in RNA Pol III occupancy and a gain in nucleosome density. Notably at the one Pol III gene examined, histone restoration was partly replication-dependent. In contrast, at Pol II promoters we observed primarily single nucleosome changes, including movement. Importantly, alterations near the transcription start site were more common at RSC-occupied promoters than at non-occupied promoters. Thus, RSC action affects both nucleosome density and positioning in vivo, but applies these remodeling modes differently at Pol II and Pol III genes.
The case for a single-chip multiprocessor

Advances in IC processing allow for more microprocessor design options. The increasing gate density and cost of wires in advanced integrated circuit technologies require that we look for new ways to use their capabilities effectively. This paper shows that in advanced technologies it is possible to implement a single-chip multiprocessor in the same area as a wide issue superscalar processor. We find that for applications with little parallelism the performance of the two microarchitectures is comparable. For applications with large amounts of parallelism at both the fine and coarse grained levels, the multiprocessor microarchitecture outperforms the superscalar architecture by a significant margin. Single-chip multiprocessor architectures have the advantage in that they offer localized implementation of a high-clock rate processor for inherently sequential applications and low latency interprocessor communication for parallel applications.
Subsurface storage capacity influences climate–evapotranspiration interactions in three western United States catchments

In the winter-wet, summer-dry forests of the western United States, total annual evapotranspiration (ET) varies with precipitation and temperature. Geologically mediated drainage and storage properties, however, may strongly influence these relationships between climate and ET. We use a physically based process model to evaluate how plant accessible water storage capacity (AWC) and rates of drainage influence model estimates of ET–climate relationships for three snow-dominated, mountainous catchments with differing precipitation regimes. Model estimates show that total annual precipitation is a primary control on inter-annual variation in ET across all catchments and that the timing of recharge is a second-order control. Low AWC, however, increases the sensitivity of annual ET to these climate drivers by 3 to 5 times in our two study basins with drier summers. ET–climate relationships in our Colorado basin receiving summer precipitation are more stable across subsurface drainage and storage characteristics. Climate driver–ET relationships are most sensitive to subsurface storage (AWC) and drainage parameters related to lateral redistribution in the relatively dry Sierra site that receives little summer precipitation. Our results demonstrate that uncertainty in geophysically mediated storage and drainage properties can strongly influence model estimates of watershed-scale ET responses to climate variation and climate change. This sensitivity to uncertainty in geophysical properties is particularly true for sites receiving little summer precipitation. A parallel interpretation of this parameter sensitivity is that spatial variation in storage and drainage properties are likely to lead to substantial within-watershed plot-scale differences in forest water use and drought stress.
Predictors of Complications of Tonsillectomy With or Without Adenoidectomy in Hospitalized Children and Adolescents in the United States, 2001-2010 A Population-Based Study

Outcomes of tonsillectomy (with or without adenoidectomy [w/woA]) in hospitalized children are unclear. We sought, to describe the characteristics of hospitalized children who underwent tonsillectomy (w/woA), to estimate the prevalence of complications and to evaluate the relative impact of different comorbid conditions (CMC) on the risk of occurrence of common complications following these procedures. All patients aged ≤21years who underwent a tonsillectomy (w/woA) were selected from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS 2001-2010). The associations between several patient/hospital-level factors and occurrence of complications were generated using multivariable logistic regression models. Over a decade, a total of 141 599 hospitalized patients underwent tonsillectomy (w116 319; woA 25 280). A total of 58.1% were males. Majority of the procedures were performed in teaching hospitals (TH, 73.7%), in large (bed-size) hospitals (LH, 57.8%), and in those who were electively admitted (EA, 67.3%). Frequently present CMC in patients included obstructive sleep apnea (OSA, 26.4%), chronic pulmonary disease (CPD, 14.6%), neurological disorders (ND, 6.7%), and obesity (4.8%). Majority of patients were discharged routinely (98%). Overall complication rate was 6.4% with common complications being postoperative pneumonia (2.3%), bacterial infections (1.4%), respiratory complications (1.3%), and hemorrhage (1.2%). All-cause mortality included a total of 60 patients. Patients in TH (odds ratio [OR] = 0.72, 95%CI = 0.62-0.85), LH (OR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.69-0.93), and those who had the procedures during EA (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.56-0.74) had significantly lower odds of complications compared with their counterparts. CMC such as anemia, CPD, coagulopathy, HT, ND, and fluid/electrolyte disorders were independent predictors of significantly higher complication risk (P < .05). In conclusion, hospitalized children who underwent tonsillectomy (w/woA) in large or teaching hospitals, or during elective admissions had lower risk of complications. Comorbidity is an important independent predictor of complications in this cohort.
Fair Tax - Not Ready for Prime Time

H.R. 25, the Fair Tax, is a proposal to eliminate federal income, payroll, and estate taxes and replace them with a national retail sales tax of 30 percent. The proposal requires the creation of sales tax administrating authorities in every state, the annual registration of every legal resident, and delivery of a monthly check by the federal government to every household in the United States where there is a legal resident.The consequences of H.R. 25 would include significant effects on the after-tax purchasing power of each taxpayer, including the double taxation of previously taxed income, significant impacts on the U.S. economy, dramatic changes to the calculation of Social Security benefits for the self-employed, the probable replacement of state income taxation with additional state taxes, and the creation of very large statewide entities to implement the proposal.
Character of Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation in the tangent cylinder: Evidence from the Chukchi Sea

Abstract We have carried out a paleomagnetic study on three deep-sea cores from the Chukchi Sea (72°N) in order to characterize the Holocene paleomagnetic secular variation (PSV) in this high-latitude region. The Chukchi Sea lies within the geomagnetic-field tangent cylinder and PSV variability in this region might be expected to have a different pattern than PSV at sites located outside the tangent cylinder at lower latitudes. We have recovered correlatable directional PSV records and relative paleointensity records from all three cores. 15 radiocarbon dates were used to develop a chronostratigraphy for the PSV records. These records constitute the highest-resolution full-vector PSV records ever recovered from such high latitudes. We have compared our results with other previous studies from the region and find that our overall PSV is consistent with these other studies, although there are sometimes age differences up to 1000 years between correlatable PSV features. Our statistical PSV characteristics indicate that field variability (VGP angular dispersion) is lower than in regions just south of the Chukchi Sea and outside the tangent cylinder, but our records are probably not long enough to completely characterize PSV. However, our results are consistent with the only other published VGP angular dispersion results from inside the tangent cylinder (Antarctica, 79°S).
Personal Computer Based Clinical Systems: A Goal Oriented Case Management Model

This paper presents the author's research on designing, developing, ana testing a computerized case management system aimed at enhancing the employability of physically disabled adults engaged in v...
The Andean Paepalanthus pilosus complex (Eriocaulaceae): a revision with three new taxa.

A herbarium-based revision is provided for Paepalanthus pilosus and allies, five commonly confused species of cushion plants native to Andean paramo. These are placed in the recircumscribed Paepalanthus subsect. Cryptanthella Suess. The group includes Paepalanthus pilosus, Paepalanthus dendroides, and Paepalanthus lodiculoides. An additional two species and one variety are newly described: Paepalanthus caryonauta, Paepalanthus huancabambensis, and Paepalanthus pilosus var. leoniae. The latter two are Peruvian endemics, while Paepalanthus caryonauta is known from four countries, and has long been confused with other species. An additional, possibly undescribed taxon is noted from the Serrania de Perija, Colombia. Five new synonyms and three lectotypes are proposed, and the common misapplication of some names is noted. Within the Paepalanthus pilosus complex, species differences were found in timing of peduncle elongation, sex ratio, and leaf, perianth, diaspore and nectary morphology. Ecological differences are suggested by specimen data and a review of ecological literature. Descriptions, photographs and maps are provided for all species, as is a key to the groups of eriocaulaceous cushion plants from Andean South America.
Impact of two ambulatory care training programs on smoking-cessation activities.

Background Tobacco use causes significant morbidity and mortality. Resident physicians at the George Washington University Medical Center are trained to counsel patients to stop smoking. Methods I retrospectively reviewed charts of 300 patients treated by resident physicians in the Department of Medicine (200) and the Department of Health Care Sciences (100). Results In the 200 patients cared for by resident physicians in the traditional internal medicine training program, a smoking history was obtained in 93 (47%). Forty-seven patients (51%) smoked, and 7 smokers (15%) were counseled to stop smoking. In 100 patients cared for by resident physicians in the primary care internal medicine training program, a smoking history was obtained in 94 patients (94%). Twenty-three patients (24%) smoked, and 11 (48%) were counseled to stop smoking. Conclusion Resident physicians in the primary care training program obtained more smoking histories and counseled more patients to stop smoking. Further study is necessary to evaluate strategies that can be used in residency training to encourage smoking-cessation counseling.
Women in Politics in the American City by Mirya R. Holman

Mirya R. Holman’s Women in Politics in the American City is a welcome addition to the literature on women elected officials in the United States. Holman tackles the formidable empirical challenge o...
The investigation of sleep disordered breathing: seeing through a glass, darkly?

Timely diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in childhood is important to prevent morbidity and increased healthcare utilisation.1 In this issue, Burke et al 2 highlight an important clinical question—how to best diagnose OSA in children, asking the question: is one night of oximetry enough? They note the limited availability of polysomnography, the international gold standard diagnostic test3 for OSA and that pulse oximetry is widely available. However, widespread availability of oximetry risks widespread misinterpretation. It is crucial to understand that not all oximeters are ‘born equal’ and the technology available may have significant limitations. The diagnostic yield of any oximeter will depend crucially on the device used and its settings, the scoring criteria applied to the trace, alongside the clinical interpretation of the data. Modern oximeters are able to detect and remove motion artefact, which is critical in restless young children (figure 1). Oximeters need to be set with short averaging times (usually maximum 3 s) to avoid smoothing out of brief desaturation events (figure 2). McGill scoring criteria are recommended with a score >1 (three or more clusters of desaturation events ≥4% and at least three desaturations to <90%) being indicative of OSA,3 but as noted by Burke and colleagues, …
Fluorine atom influence on intramolecular hydrogen bonding, isomerization and methyl group rotation in fluorinated acetylacetones

Abstract 1-Fluoro-pentane-2,4-dione (monofluoroacetylacetone, MFAA) is an asymmetric β-diketone with a strong intramolecular hydrogen bond similar to acetylacetone (AA) and its fluorinated analogs 1,1,1-trifluoro-(TFAA), and 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoroacetylacetone (HFAA). The presence of a fluorine atom in MFAA has the potential to open an HF elimination channel in its gas-phase photochemistry motivating this study of MFAA hydrogen bonding by computer modeling using Density Functional Theory (DFT). As a context, we also report DFT modeling of AA and selected fluorinated acetylacetones: 1,1-difluoro-pentane-2,4-dione (difluoroacetylacetone, DFAA), TFAA, and HFAA. The most stable molecular structure for all three asymmetric β-diketones (MFAA, DFAA and TFAA) is the isomer with the fluoromethyl group proximal to the carbonyl carbon; in comparison to the proton transfer isomer, which has the fluoromethyl group proximal to the hydroxyl carbon, the carbonyl isomer is lower in energy by 5.1–5.5 kJ mol−1 (B3LYP/cc-pVTZ) and 2.1–3.7 kJ mol−1 (MP2/Aug-cc-pVTZ). We also report hydrogen bond strengths, barriers to proton transfer interconversion and barriers to rotation of the methyl/fluoromethyl groups. Our study, the first to report molecular structure information on MFAA and DFAA, indicates that the most stable chelated isomer of MFAA is not the structure with the strongest hydrogen bond as conventionally determined. Our modeling also reveals a coupling between proton transfer isomerization and methyl group rotation, and an unexpected double-minimum potential for the rotation of the fluoromethyl group of MFAA.