cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cost-benefit analysis of patient education

As the growth of healthcare continues to outpace inflation, health policy makers are increasingly concerned with cost containment. This article summarizes studies of the cost-benefit of patient education studies in managed care and other settings, including comprehensive approaches to healthcare delivery that emphasize education. On the average, for every dollar invested in patient education, $3-4 were saved. The article concludes with recommendations for healthcare policy makers and administrators.
Morpholino oligonucleotide knockdown of the extracellular calcium-sensing receptor impairs early skeletal development in zebrafish.

Abstract The complex vertebrate skeleton depends on regulated cell activities to lay down protein matrix and mineral components of bone. As a distinctive vertebrate characteristic, bone is a storage site for physiologically-important calcium ion. The extracellular calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is linked to homeostatic regulation of calcium through its expression in endocrine glands that secrete calcium homeostatic hormones, in Ca 2 + - and ion-transporting epithelia, and in skeleton. Since CaSR is restricted in its presence to the chordate–vertebrate evolutionary lineage, we propose there to be important functional ties between CaSRs and vertebrate skeleton in the context of that group's characteristic form of calcium-mineralized skeleton. Since little is known about CaSR in the skeletal biology of non-mammalian vertebrates, reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were applied to adult and embryonic zebrafish to reveal CaSR transcript and protein expression in several tissues, including, among these, chondrocytes and developing bone and notochord as components in skeletal development. Morpholino oligonucleotide (MO) knockdown technique was used to probe CaSR role(s) in the zebrafish model system. By RT-PCR assessment, injection of a splice-inhibiting CaSR MO reduced normally-spliced Casr gene transcript expression measured at 2 days postfertilization (dpf). Corresponding to the knockdown of normally-spliced mRNA by the CaSR MO, we observed a morphant phenotype characterized by stunted growth and disorganization of the notochord and axial skeleton by 1 dpf. We conclude that, like its critically important role in normal bone development in mammals, CaSR is essential in skeletogenesis in fishes.
From 'omes to biology.

Summary Technologies that have emerged from the genome project have dramatically increased our ability to generate data on the way in which organisms respond to their environments, how they execute their programmes of development and growth, and how these are altered in the development of disease states. However, our ability to analyse these large datasets has not kept pace with our ability to generate them and consequently new strategies must be developed to address the issues associated with their analysis. One approach that we have employed quite successfully is to look at data from microarrays (or proteomics or metabolomics experiments) not as independent datasets, but rather as elements of a much larger body of biological information across various scales that must be integrated with, and interpreted within, the context of such ancillary data. Here we outline the general approach and provide three examples from published studies of the way in which we have applied this strategy.
Effects of enamel matrix derivative on gene expression of primary osteoblasts.

Abstract Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) on gene expression of collagen α1 (I), osteocalcin, prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PGHS-2), interleukin-6, and insulin-like growth factor I in primary mouse osteoblasts. Study Design. Primary osteoblasts were digested from 6- to 8-day-old mouse calvaria. Cells were divided into 4 groups and cultured for 24, 48, and 72 hours with a serum-free modified eagle medium as negative control, modified eagle medium with 25 μg/mL EMD, modified eagle medium with 100 μg/mL EMD, and modified eagle medium plus 10% fetal bovine serum as positive control. Gene expression was determined by Northern blot and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. Result. EMD enhanced collagen I, interleukin-6, and PGHS-2 expression and did not stimulate the expression of osteocalcin and IGF-I. Conclusion. These results indicate that EMD might regulate certain gene expression during periodontal tissue regeneration. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2001;91:95-100)
The NDCX-II engineering design

Abstract The Neutralized Drift Compression Experiment (NDCX-II) is a user facility located at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory which is uniquely designed for ion-beam-driven high energy density laboratory physics and heavy ion fusion research. Construction was completed in March 2012 and the facility is now in the commissioning phase. A significant amount of engineering was carried out in order to meet the performance parameters required for a wide range of target heating experiments while making the most cost-effective use of high-value hardware available from a decommissioned high current electron induction accelerator. The technical challenges and design of this new ion induction accelerator facility are described.
A system of boundary integral equations for the transmission problem in acoustics

In this paper, we reduce the classical two-dimensional transmission problem in acoustic scattering to a system of coupled boundary integral equations (BIEs), and consider the weak formulation of the resulting equations. Uniqueness and existence results for the weak solution of corresponding variational equations are established. In contrast to the coupled system in Costabel and Stephan (1985) [4], we need to take into account exceptional frequencies to obtain the unique solvability. Boundary element methods (BEM) based on both the standard and a two-level fast multipole Galerkin schemes are employed to compute the solution of the variational equation. Numerical results are presented to verify the efficiency and accuracy of the numerical methods.
The mechanism of iodide accumulation by the brown sea weed Laminaria digitata. II. Respiration and iodide uptake.

Iodide absorption by fresh, summer Laminaria digitata frond was accompanied by about a fivefold increase in the rate of oxygen consumption. Between approximately 3 and 6 molecules of O$_{2}$ were consumed for each iodide ion absorbed by the tissue and the respiratory quotient, whether measured in the presence or absence of iodide, lay between 0$\cdot $9 and 1$\cdot $1 (mean 0$\cdot $94). It is argued that: (1) The iodide-stimulated respiration must occur principally near the surface of the frond, though this localization is not due to the limited diffusibility of oxygen. (2) Iodide absorption is connected with the oxidation of a carbohydrate-like compound or compounds. (3) The absorption of iodide is associated with a rate-limiting process for the oxidation of the compound or compounds. (4) Between one and two iodide ions are absorbed for each six-carbon unit oxidized. (5) Probably only one or two reactions in the oxidation of each six-carbon unit is involved in iodide absorption, one of these reactions being the rate limiting process governing the oxidation.
Belief in an Unjust World: When Beliefs in a Just World Fail

Belief in a just world, where people get what they deserve, has been hypothesized to underlie a variety of psychological phenomena (Lerner, 1965). Close inspection of individual difference measures of this belief, however, has indicated repeatedly that just world beliefs are not a unidimensional construct. The purpose of this investigation was to elaborate upon the conceptualization of unjust world beliefs as a related but separate construct from just world beliefs. In two studies, the Unjust World Views scale (UJVS) was developed and its reliability and validity examined. The UJVS demonstrated acceptable reliability and validity and accounted for more variability in related outcomes than just world beliefs. Further, belief in an unjust world was related to defensive coping, anger, and perceived future risk. These findings contribute to theory development and suggest that a belief in an unjust world may serve a self-protective function. Clinical implications are discussed as unjust world views also were found to be potentially maladaptive.
Metallic neurosurgical implants: evaluation of magnetic field interactions, heating, and artifacts at 1.5-Tesla.

The purpose of this study was to use ex vivo testing to determine the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) safety aspects for seven different metallic neurosurgical implants in association with the 1.5-T MR environment. Ex vivo testing was performed using previously-described techniques for the evaluation of magnetic field interactions (deflection angle and torque), heating (gel-filled phantom and fluoroptic thermometry; 15 minutes of MRI at a specific absorption rate [SAR] of 1.4 W/kg), and artifacts (using T1-weighted, spin-echo and gradient-echo pulse sequences). None of the metallic implants displayed interactions with the magnetic field. The highest temperature change was +0.6°C for the representative implant that was evaluated. Artifacts were relatively minor. The lack of magnetic field interactions and negligible heating indicate that MR procedures may be conducted safely in patients with these neurosurgical implants using MR systems with static magnetic fields of 1.5-T or less. Furthermore, these implants may be considered for use in interventional MR procedures insofar as the MR safe qualities and relatively small artifacts would likely be desirable for such procedures. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2001;14:295–299. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The relationship between interpersonal communication apprehension and self‐efficacy

This study examined whether interpersonal communication apprehension (ICA) was more closely related to the self‐efficacy or self‐worth dimensions of self esteem. A much stronger inverse relationship appeared between self‐efficacy and ICA than self‐worth and ICA, suggesting that anxiety may be related to feelings of powerlessness.
The Four Paradoxes of Nuclear Strategy

The nuclear age has ushered in a novel period of history, as distinct from the age that preceded it as the modern age has been from the Middle Ages or the Middle Ages have been from antiquity. Yet while our conditions of life have drastically changed under the impact of the nuclear age, we still live in our thoughts and act through our institutions in an age that has passed. There exists, then, a gap between what we think about our social, political, and philosophic problems and the objective conditions which the nuclear age has created.This contradiction between our modes of thought and action, belonging to an age that has passed, and the objective conditions of our existence has engendered four paradoxes in our nuclear strategy: the commitment to the use of force, nuclear or otherwise, paralyzed by the fear of having to use it; the search for a nuclear strategy which would avoid the predictable consequences of nuclear war; the pursuit of a nuclear armaments race joined with attempts to stop it; the pursuit of an alliance policy which the availability of nuclear weapons has rendered obsolete. All these paradoxes result from the contrast between traditional attitudes and the possibility of nuclear war and from the fruitless attempts to reconcile the two.
Distinct inhibition of voltage-activated Ca2+ channels by δ-opioid agonists in dorsal root ganglion neurons devoid of functional T-type Ca2+ currents

Both mu- and delta-opioid agonists selectively inhibit nociception but have little effect on other sensory modalities. Voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels in the primary sensory neurons are important for the regulation of nociceptive transmission. In this study, we determined the effect of delta-opioid agonists on voltage-activated Ca(2+) channel currents (I(Ca)) in small-diameter rat dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons that do and do not bind isolectin B(4) (IB(4)). The delta-opioid agonists [d-Pen(2),d-Pen(5)]-enkephalin (DPDPE) and deltorphin II produced a greater inhibition of high voltage-activated I(Ca) in IB(4)-negative than IB(4)-positive neurons. Furthermore, DPDPE produced a greater inhibition of N-, P/Q-, and L-type I(Ca) in IB(4)-negative than IB(4)-positive neurons. However, DPDPE had no significant effect on the R-type I(Ca) in either type of cells. We were surprised to find that DPDPE failed to inhibit either the T-type or high voltage-activated I(Ca) in all the DRG neurons with T-type I(Ca). Double immunofluorescence labeling showed that the majority of the delta-opioid receptor-immunoreactive DRG neurons had IB(4) labeling, while all DRG neurons immunoreactive to delta-opioid receptors exhibited Cav(3.2) immunoreactivity. Additionally, DPDPE significantly inhibited high voltage-activated I(Ca) in Tyrode's or N-methyl-d-glucamine solution but not in tetraethylammonium solution. This study provides new information that delta-opioid agonists have a distinct effect on voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels in different phenotypes of primary sensory neurons. High voltage-activated Ca(2+) channels are more sensitive to inhibition by delta-opioid agonists in IB(4)-negative than IB(4)-positive neurons, and this opioid effect is restricted to DRG neurons devoid of functional T-type Ca(2+) currents.
Canonical circuits of the cerebral cortex as enablers of neuroprosthetics.

“. . . each technical advance over the past century has reaffirmed that repeated patterns of structure and function are seen at every level, from molecule to cell to circuit, and that many of these patterns are common across cortical areas and species. In this context, the concept of a canonical circuit, like the concept of hierarchies of processing, offers a powerful unifying principle that links structural and functional levels of analysis across species and different areas of the cortex” (Douglas and Martin, 2010, p. 20).
SRRM2, a potential blood biomarker revealing high alternative splicing in Parkinson's disease.

Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects about five million people worldwide. Diagnosis remains clinical, based on phenotypic patterns. The discovery of laboratory markers that will enhance diagnostic accuracy, allow pre-clinical detection and tracking of disease progression is critically needed. These biomarkers may include transcripts with different isoforms. Methodology/Principal Findings We performed extensive analysis on 3 PD microarray experiments available through GEO and found that the RNA splicing gene SRRM2 (or SRm300), sereine/arginine repetitive matrix 2, was the only gene differentially upregulated among all the three PD experiments. SRRM2 expression was not changed in the blood of other neurological diseased patients versus the healthy controls. Using real-time PCR, we report that the shorter transcript of SRRM2 was 1.7 fold (p = 0.008) upregulated in the substantia nigra of PDs vs controls while the longer transcript was 0.4 downregulated in both the substantia nigra (p = 0.03) and amygdala (p = 0.003). To validate our results and test for the possibility of alternative splicing in PD, we performed independent microarray scans, using Affymetrix Exon_ST1 arrays, from peripheral blood of 28 individuals (17 PDs and 11 Ctrls) and found a significant upregulation of the upstream (5′) exons of SRRM2 and a downregulation of the downstream exons, causing a total of 0.7 fold down regulation (p = 0.04) of the long isoform. In addition, we report novel information about hundreds of genes with significant alternative splicing (differential exonic expression) in PD blood versus controls. Conclusions/Significance The consistent dysregulation of the RNA splicing factor SRRM2 in two different PD neuronal sources and in PD blood but not in blood of other neurologically diseased patients makes SRRM2 a strong candidate gene for PD and draws attention to the role of RNA splicing in the disease.
A proposed model for safety assessment of macronutrient substitutes.

Abstract Restriction of fatty foods is an effective means of reducing caloric intake and is consistent with public health goals to reduce the risk of chronic diseases. Compliance with low-fat diets is enhanced by the substitution of foods with the same organoleptic properties as fat, namely flavor, texture, and mouth-feel. Fat substitutes could replace a significant proportion of dietary fat and as such become macronutrient substitutes. The safety of these materials must be established prior to introduction into the food supply. As their use increases so will concerns about their safety. Appropriate methods of safety evaluation must be used. Traditional methods for the safety evaluation of food additives are inappropriate, since concentrations of the test materials high enough to provide a 100-fold safety factor cannot be used. An approach that recognizes the unique nature of macronutrient substitutes and includes the use ofin vitro,whole-animal, and human studies and nutritional, physiological, and toxicological end points is proposed. Evaluations in humans are conducted early in this program but only when the animal data adequately support these studies. Human data will complement the animal data and may eliminate the need for some animal studies. The introduction of postmarketing surveillance will identify consumption patterns, associated adverse reactions, and potentially sensitive segments of the population and will ensure the continued safety of macronutrient substitutes.
Analytical methods for planning educational facilities in an era of declining enrollments

Abstract With declining enrollments, metropolitan school districts are faced with problems of property disposition. A school facilities planning and management model utilizing a linear programming approach enables assessment of alternative uses for school facilities. The objective in this study is to minimize expenditures subject to constraints which include a limit to distance traveled, racial ethnic quotas, and overhead costs, such as transportation, maintenance and energy. An economic post-optimal cost sensitivity analysis of the proposed options is presented and also a comparison of this approach to school management with others found in the literature.
Constancy of cell buoyant density for cultured murine cells

The relationship between cell cycle and cell density was determined for three different lines of mouse cells by equilbrium centrifugation of suspension cultures. The mean cell densities of the three lines differed significantly, with values of 1.0622, 1.0678, 1.0540 gm/ml for 70Z/3, S 107, and ABE 8, respectively. However the density distributions within each of the three lines were indistinguishable, with an average coefficient of variation about 5% of the mean reduced density. Quantitative DNA analysis of the cells separated by density showed that the proportion of cells in G1, S, and G2 + M phase of the cell cycle changed very little or not at all with cell density. In addition, cells separated by size using velocity sedimentation had the same means and distributions of densities. These results indicate that there is little or no changes in cell density as the cells traverse the life cycle and that buoyant density appears to be a constant property of a cell type. 12 references, 4 figures, 2 tables.
Effect of sample storage on quantitation of lipoprotein(a) by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

This study evaluated the effect of storage on the quantitation of lipoprotein (Lp)(a) in 25 serum samples. Aliquots of serum were stored for up to three years at either −20°C or−70°C and Lp(a) subsequently analyzed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Concentrations of Lp(a) declined during storage, and the temperatures employed elicited significantly different (P<0.05) values within 12 mon which further diverged during three years of storage. Compared to baseline values, significant decreases (P<0.05) in Lp(a) levels were evident after six months of storage at−20°C with apparent losses (geometric mean) reaching 36.9% (95% confidence interval: 30.9%, 42.9%) after three years. Similarly, significantly lower (P<0.05) Lp(a) values were recorded after six months of storage at−70°C and at three years the decrease (geometric mean) was 19.1% (95% confidence interval: 14.3%, 24.0%). The losses, after three years, in terms of the arithmetic mean were 53.5 and 26.2% at−20 and−70°C, respectively. Phenotype analysis suggested that large isoforms are more susceptible to degradation than smaller moieties. This may be related to the observation that apparent losses are reduced in samples containing over 8 mg/dL Lp(a). Nevertheless, Lp(a) levels in stored samples retained a strong correlation with the baseline values. These results must be considered specific for the storage conditions and analytical procedures employed.
Comparison of residual microstructures for 304 stainless steel shock loaded in plane and cylindrical geometries: Implications for dynamic compaction and forming

Abstract Utilizing a cylindrically symmetric explosive geometry capable of producing definable pressure regimes ranging from about 20–120 GPa (1.2Mbar) in 304 stainless steel rounds, residual α′-martensite volume fractions exceeding 70% were measured and compared with volume fractions not exceeding 8% over the same pressure range for plane-wave shock compression. Observations by transmission electron microscopy showed the α′-martensite to be strain-induced. The implications of these results are that the cylindrical explosive loading involves a triaxial strain state which is conducive to the production of strain induced α′-martensite; and that interpolations or extrapolations for optimizing powder compaction or other forming processes based upon planar shock geometries or gun fired projectile compaction experiments must be carefully considered, especially if α′-martensite can be formed. The fact that high volume fractions of α′-martensite can be produced in shock deformed type 304 stainless steel for complex strain states could explain high-rate forming performance differences such as cracking and extrusion difficulties. These results are indicative of the extremely rapid production of high volume fractions of α′-martensite even after very small strain in dynamic (shock) extrusion.
Congruence of mossy fiber and climbing fiber tactile projections in the lateral hemispheres of the rat cerebellum.

We have examined the spatial relationship between the mossy fiber and climbing fiber projections to crus IIa in the lateral hemispheres of the rat cerebellum. Experiments were performed in ketamine/xylazine anesthetized rats using extracellular recordings and high-density micromapping techniques. Responses were elicited using small, tactile stimuli applied to the perioral and forelimb regions at a rate of 0.5 Hz. In our first series of experiments we demonstrate that the primary (i.e., strongest) receptive field for a single Purkinje cell's complex spike is similar to the primary receptive field of the granule cells immediately subjacent to that Purkinje cell. In our second series of experiments we demonstrate that the granule cell region most strongly activated by a particular peripheral stimulus is immediately subjacent to the Purkinje cells whose complex spikes are also activated most strongly by the same stimulus. The region of climbing fibers activated by a localized peripheral stimulus is "patchy"; it clearly does not conform to the notion of a continuous microzone. These results support original observations first reported in the 1960s using evoked potential recording techniques that the mossy fiber and climbing fiber pathways converge in cerebellar cortex. However, we extend this earlier work to show that the two pathways converge at the level of single Purkinje cells. Many cerebellar theories assume that mossy fiber and climbing fiber pathways carry information from different peripheral locations or different modalities to cerebellar Purkinje cells. Our results appear to contradict this basic assumption for at least the tactile regions of the lateral hemispheres.
A quality of service (QoS) implementation of Internet cache coherence

Caching has long been employed in computer system architectures to improve performance in terms of reduced memory access times and latencies and hence, to improve throughput at the expense of additional complexity in memory organization and of managing multiple copies of shared data. In traditional large-scale computer architectures, the cache coherency schemes developed permit very large, cache-coherent non-uniform memory access (CC-NUMA) to shared memory spaces. However, these approaches fail when applied to the vastness of the Internet and the growing complexities introduced by mobility. While caching has been successfully employed in specific, limited applications in modern Internet implementations, there has been no general-purpose approach to cache coherency on the Internet. A quality-of-service (QOS) approach is ideally suited for such a general-purpose cache coherence protocol, providing strong consistency for those data items that require it while permitting weaker consistency for less critical data. A statistical analysis of the read/write behavior of typical Internet data is used to suggest a low overhead, inexpensive QOS solution to cache coherency issues on the Internet. An experimental framework studies and verifies the potential of the proposed scheme as a viable solution to cache coherence on both wired and wireless Internet applications.
Fairness issues for mixed TCP/OSI internets

The author focuses on experiments and simulations designed to examine the difficulties in providing a fair communication service in an internet carrying traffic from the transport control protocol (TCP) and open systems interconnection (OSI) applications. Fairness between connections that compete for resources is a goal of congestion control schemes that have been developed for both protocol suites. The slow start congestion control mechanism is now fairly standard for TCP, and the DEC-bit approach to congestion avoidance is widely accepted for OSI networks with a connectionless network layer. Unfortunately, these two approaches have evolved independently and are not designed to provide fairness between protocol suites. The network experiments and simulations reported examined the extent of fairness problems to be expected in a mixed TCP/OSI environment and the effects of a simple router-based measure to limit unfairness between protocol suites. >
The effect of race in older adults presenting for chronic pain management: A comparative study of black and white Americans

In an aging society, chronic pain will increasingly have a significant impact on successful aging. Chronic pain may further differentially affect racial and ethnic minorities while diminishing their health and quality of life. This study addresses the potential differential effects of chronic pain cross-culturally in older Americans. A retrospective analysis of a group of subjects presenting for chronic pain management in a tertiary care multidisciplinary pain center was performed. This comparative study of black and white American adults (N [equals] 2040) was done to determine whether there were differences in (1). psychologic functioning, (2). pain characteristics, (3). pain disability, and (4). comorbidities. The black American population had more depressive symptoms and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder when compared with the white Americans. These results suggest that chronic pain adversely affects the quality of life and health status of black Americans to a greater extent than white Americans before initial presentation for treatment at a multidisciplinary pain center. This study of older Americans with chronic pain showed significant differences in pain and health status based on race. It further demonstrates a difference in the chronic pain experience based on race in older Americans.
Omental Vein Catheter Thrombolysis for Acute Porto-Mesenteric Vein Thrombosis

Mesenteric venous thrombosis (MVT) is an uncommon clinical condition with potential high morbidity. We report here a patient who presented with acute-onset MVT and bowel infarction, which was successfully ameliorated with intramesenteric vein thrombolytic therapy.
Generative phonology in the late 1940s

This paper offers a careful reading of an article published by Rulon Wells in Language in 1949 on the subject of automatic alternations in phonology. Read with a modern eye, it reveals that phonologists were exploring the value and use of phonological derivations, including both abstract representations and intermediate representations, in the late 1940s. Contrary to what has been suggested in the literature, Bloomfield's explorations in rule ordering published in 1939 were not isolated and without influence. Our conclusion is the null hypothesis: that there is an intellectual continuity from the work of Sapir and Bloomfield, through that of Wells and Harris, to that of Chomsky & Halle. We conclude by offering some suggestions as to why this is not widely recognised in the field.
Design and implementation of a balancing controller for two-wheeled vehicles using a cost-effective MCU

In this paper, we present our first trial of developing a tiny-sized and low-cost self-balancing two-wheel vehicle where we mainly focus on design of the sensing and control board and the balancing controller. With the considerations of cost-efficiency, we integrate the sensory systems and the balancing control systems by utilizing an embedded system based on the SUNPLUSTM SPCE061A EMU board and a CPLD, Altera EPM7128SLC84. There are three goals for our design. First, since the system is unstable in nature, it can be used as a teaching aid in the control-related courses to demonstrate the de-sign of various control schemes. Second, motion with the self-balancing capability is novel and interesting and has potential to be a toy. In addition, this trial can provide a prototype to verify the techniques and allow the possibility for further development of a commercial two-wheel vehicle in the future.
Dynamics and response of polymer-coated acoustic devices

The authors consider the dynamic behavior and the electrical response of a thickness-shear mode resonator with a polymer film coating one face. With glassy polymers this film tends to move synchronously with the oscillating resonator surface, while with rubbery polymers the upper portions of the film lag behind the driven resonator/film interface, causing shear deformation of the film. This dynamic behavior influences the electrical response of the resonator due to the coupling between shear displacement and electric field in the piezoelectric quartz. The film behavior trends were demonstrated by measuring the electrical characteristics of a polyisobutylene-coated resonator as a function of frequency and at several temperatures. It is shown how these changing film dynamics can he correlated with changes in the measured electrical response. >
Using the Constructive Narrative Perspective to Understand Physical Activity Reasoning Schema in Sedentary Adults

We used the Constructive Narrative Perspective (CNP), a three-level, progressively complex reasoning schema, to examine how individuals perceive barriers to physical activity. Sedentary adults (N = 23) aged 50 years and older (M = 65.23; SD = 6.03) participated in semi-structured interviews regarding their reasons for physical inactivity. The results provided initial support for using the CNP framework. Level II (self-relevant) and Level III (cognitive-affective schema-related) reasons were most commonly reported. Level I (evidence-based) reasons were less commonly reported. The CNP framework could become a useful tool in tailoring intervention strategies based upon progressively more complex reasoning schema.
Toward a Metatheory of Learning Disabilities

The present article provides a rationale for basic research and metatheory development in the field of learning disabilities (LD). A major assumption of the article is that basic research contributes to metatheory development, which in turn (a) allows for the development of a genuine (mature) science, (b) prevents the practice of data collection that does not contribute to an understanding of events, (c) provides an understanding of the complexity and subtlety of simple events, and (d) organizes existing research. Factors that prevent basic research and metatheory development are related to (a) the field's status as a science, (b) the role of theory in directing instructional practice, and (c) the criteria used by researchers for problem selection. At present, LD theory reflects the status of a second (conceptual) language, or at best an intuition. The poor integration of theory and practice is attributed to the field's perception of problem solvability, methodological pluralism, and consumerism. A model ...
An alternative method to assess 24-h ruminal in vitro neutral detergent fiber digestibility.

Abstract Interassay error caused by the inconsistent nature of rumen fluid inoculum confounds comparisons of forage in vitro neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestibility (NDFD) analyzed in different repetitions or laboratories. Our objective was to determine if priming rumen fluid and allowing it to produce a standard amount of gas before inoculating samples improved assay repeatability. In 2 experiments, we compared interassay error of NDFD estimates between several in vitro assays. In both experiments, dried, ground (1mm) alfalfa samples (0.5g) sealed in bags were placed in 125-mL Erlenmeyer flasks and incubated with in vitro media and 10mL of rumen fluid. In experiment A, rumen fluid was collected from a cannulated cow fed a high forage diet and prepared one of 2 ways; rumen fluid was either used immediately after it was collected and strained through cheese cloth (GVA), or strained fluid was combined with buffer, reducing solution, and 12.5mg of cellulose/mL of rumen fluid and allowed to produce a consistent amount of gas before inoculation (RPA). The assay was repeated 5 times, with 13 samples per method. In experiment B, inoculum was prepared one of 3 ways; RPA, GVA except rumen fluid was collected and pooled from 2 cows (GVB), or RPA with fluid pooled from 2 cows. The in vitro assays were repeated 5 times with 8 samples per method. Neutral detergent fiber was analyzed using a forage fiber analyzer and 24-h NDFD was determined as: NDFD (% of NDF)=100×[(NDF 0h −NDF residue )/(NDF 0h )]. Data for each experiment were analyzed using a mixed model procedure and repetition sum of squares for each technique was determined and compared with an F-test to assess technique interassay error. In both experiments, rumen fluid priming significantly reduced repetition sums of squares, 51.2 versus 503 and 23.3 versus 164, compared with the respective GVA or GVB. However, priming significantly decreased NDFD values, 22.5 versus 24.8 and 23.9 versus 26.6%, compared with GVA and GVB, respectively. Priming rumen fluid with cellulose improved in vitro NDFD assay precision, but depressed in vitro NDFD.
Wavelength matching and tuning in green laser packaging using second harmonic generation

Short wavelength laser sources, such as green laser sources, have found increased applications. Laser wavelengths, such as green light, which cannot be generated by a single native semiconductor laser source, can be obtained using the nonlinear susceptibility of many optical materials. For green laser sources capable of high speed modulation, the combination of a quasi-phase-matched second harmonic generation (SHG) waveguide device and a single-wavelength distributed-Bragg-reflector (DBR) laser diode is promising. The wavelength conversion efficiency of a SHG is strongly dependent on the wavelength matching between the DBR laser diode and the SHG device, posing a significant challenge in green laser packaging. It is desired that the wavelength matching is achieved at high efficiency and thus low power consumption. In this paper, the wavelength matching between a DBR laser diode and a SHG device is discussed and thermal wavelength tuning of both laser and SHG device is designed and studied.
Automatic non-rigid registration of 3D dynamic data for facial expression synthesis and transfer

Automatic non-rigid registration of 3D time-varying data is fundamental in many vision and graphics applications such as facial expression analysis, synthesis, and recognition. Despite many research advances in recent years, it still remains to be technically challenging, especially for 3D dynamic, densely-sampled facial data with a large number of degrees of freedom (necessarily used to represent rich and subtle facial expressions). In this paper, we present a new method for automatic non-rigid registration of 3D dynamic facial data using least-squares conformal maps, and based on this registration method, we also develop a new framework of facial expression synthesis and transfer. Nowadays more and more 3D dynamic, densely-sampled data become prevalent with the advancement of novel 3D scanning techniques. To analyze and utilize such huge 3D data, an efficient non-rigid registration algorithm is needed to establish one-to-one inter frame correspondences. Towards this goal, a non-rigid registration algorithm of 3D dynamic facial data is developed by using least-squares conformal maps with additional feature correspondences detected by employing active appearance models (AAM). The proposed method with additional, interior feature constraints guarantees that the non-rigid data will be accurately registered. The least-squares conformal maps between two 3D surfaces are globally optimized with the least angle distortion and the resulting 2D maps are stable and one-to-one. Furthermore, by using this non-rigid registration method, we develop a new system of facial expression synthesis and transfer. Finally, we perform a series of experiments to evaluate our non-rigid registration method and demonstrate its efficacy and efficiency in the applications of facial expression synthesis and transfer.
The Effects of Hardness Variation on a CMP Model of Copper thin Films

With the rapid change of materials systems and decreased feature size, thin film microstructure and mechanical properties have become critical parameters for microelectronics reliability. An example of a major driver of this new technology is the data storage community who is pushing for 1 Terabit/square inch on its magnetic disk hard drives. This requires inherent knowledge of the mechanical properties of materials and in depth understanding of the tribological phenomena involved in the manufacturing process. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is a semi-conductor manufacturing process used to remove or planarize ultra-thin metallic, dielectric, or barrier films (copper) on silicon wafers. The material removal rate (MRR), which ultimately effects the surface topography, corresponding to CMP is given by the standard Preston Equation, which contains the load applied, the velocity of the pad, the Preston coefficient which includes chemical dependencies, and the hardness of the material. Typically the hardness, a bulk material constant, is taken as a constant throughout the wafer and thereby included in the Preston coefficient. Through metallurgy studies, on the micro and nano scale, it has been proven that the hardness is dependent upon grain size and orientation. This research served to first relate the crystallographic orientation to a specific hardness value and secondly use the hardness variation in the previously developed particle augmented mixed-lubrication (PAML) model to simulate the surface topography and MRR during CMP. Recent test and results show that currently there is no empirical formula to relate the crystallographic orientation and thereby a critically resolved shear stress (CRSS) to a specific hardness value. The second part of this investigation utilized the variation in hardness values from the initial study and incorporated these results into the PAML numerical model that incorporates all the physics of chemical mechanical polishing (CMP). Incorporation of the variation of hardness resulted in a surface topography with a difference in roughness (Ra) from the bulk constant hardness value of 60 nm. The material removal rate (MRR) of the process differs by 2.17 μm3/s.
ARID1A and TERT promoter mutations in dedifferentiated meningioma.

Unlike patients with World Health Organization (WHO) grade I meningiomas, which are considered benign, patients with WHO grade III meningiomas have very high mortality rates. The principles underlying tumor progression in meningioma are largely unknown, yet a detailed understanding of these mechanisms will be required for effective management of patients with these high grade lethal tumors. We present a case of an intraventricular meningioma that at first presentation displayed remarkable morphologic heterogeneity—composed of distinct regions independently fulfilling histopathologic criteria for WHO grade I, II, and III designations. The lowest grade regions had classic meningothelial features, while the highest grade regions were markedly dedifferentiated. Whereas progression in meningiomas is generally observed during recurrence following radiation and systemic medical therapies, the current case offers us a snapshot of histologic progression and intratumoral heterogeneity in a native pretreatment context. Using whole exome sequencing and high resolution array-based comparative genomic hybridization, we observed marked genetic heterogeneity between the various areas. Notably, in the higher grade regions we found increased aneuploidy with progressive loss of heterozygosity, the emergence of mutations in the TERT promoter, and compromise of ARID1A . These findings provide new insights into intratumoral heterogeneity in the evolution of malignant phenotypes in anaplastic meningiomas and potential pathways of malignant progression.
Romiplostim in the management of the thrombocytopenic surgical patient.

BACKGROUND Thrombopoietin receptor agonists increase platelet (PLT) counts and are approved for the treatment of chronic immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). These agents may also be useful for the management of thrombocytopenia in patients requiring surgical procedures. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We conducted a retrospective review of patients with thrombocytopenia (baseline PLT count, <150 × 10(9) /L) who received romiplostim before planned operative procedures. We characterized patient demographics, dosing and duration of romiplostim use, success in achieving PLT counts high enough for surgery, and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Eighteen patients underwent a total of 22 operative procedures, including three Jehovah's Witnesses who underwent five procedures. Etiologies of thrombocytopenia included mild ITP (not on romiplostim at baseline), liver disease, hematologic malignancy, and drug-related thrombocytopenia. Median PLT count at romiplostim initiation was 47 × 10(9) /L (range, 11 × 10(9) -120 × 10(9) /L). All patients experienced a PLT count increase over a median of 4 weeks; median PLT count at surgery was 144 × 10(9) /L (range, 28 × 10(9) -370 × 10(9) /L). PLT counts increase to more than 150 × 10(9) /L in four of five Jehovah's Witness patients by the time of surgery. There were no surgical delays or cancellations due to thrombocytopenia. Four bleeding events occurred; none were fatal and none occurred at a PLT count of fewer than 80 × 10(9) /L. No definitive thromboembolic events occurred. CONCLUSION Romiplostim successfully increased preoperative PLT counts allowing operative interventions, was well tolerated, did not lead to any significant thromboembolic events, and avoided the need for transfusion. Romiplostim may be of clinical utility in the preoperative management of thrombocytopenic patients, especially those unable to receive or unresponsive to PLT transfusion.
An analysis of cache performance for a hypercube multicomputer

Multicomputer cache simulation results derived from address traces collected from an Intel iPSC/2 hypercube multicomponent are presented. The primary emphasis is on examining how increasing the number of processor nodes executing a parallel application affects the overall multicomputer cache performance. The effects on multicomputer direct-mapped cache performance of application-specific data partitioning, data access patterns, communication distribution, and communication frequency are illustrated. The effects of system accesses on total cache performance are explored, as well as the reasons for application-specific differences in cache behavior for system and user accesses. Comparing user code results with full user and system code analysis reveals the significant effect of system accesses, and this effect increases with multicomputer size. The time distribution of an application's message-passing operations is found to more strongly affect cache performance than the total amount of time spent in message-passing code. >
Genome Sequences of Three Novel Bacillus cereus Bacteriophages.

ABSTRACT The Bacillus cereus group is an assemblage of highly related firmicute bacteria that cause a variety of diseases in animals, including insects and humans. We announce three high-quality, complete genome sequences of bacteriophages we isolated from soil samples taken at the bases of fruit trees in Utah County, Utah. While two of the phages (Shanette and JL) are highly related myoviruses, the bacteriophage Basilisk is a siphovirus.
Adaptation of polynomial trajectory segment models for large vocabulary speech recognition

Segment models are a generalization of HMMs that can represent feature dynamics and/or correlation in time. We develop the theory of Bayesian and maximum-likelihood adaptation for a segment model characterized by a polynomial mean trajectory. We show how adaptation parameters can be shared and adaptation detail can be controlled at run-time based on the amount of adaptation data available. Results on the Switchboard corpus show error reductions for unsupervised transcription mode adaptation and supervised batch mode adaptation.
Introducing decorated HODs: modelling assembly bias in the galaxy–halo connection

The connection between galaxies and dark matter halos is often inferred from data using probabilistic models, such as the Halo Occupation Distribution (HOD). Conventional HOD formulations assume that only halo mass governs the galaxy-halo connection. Violations of this assumption, known as galaxy assembly bias, threaten the HOD program. We introduce decorated HODs, a new, exible class of models designed to account for assembly bias. Decorated HODs minimally expand the parameter space and maximize the independence between traditional and novel HOD parameters. We use decorated HODs to quantify the inuence of assembly bias on clustering and lensing statistics. For SDSS-like samples, the impact of assembly bias on galaxy clustering can be as large as a factor of two on r 200 kpc scales and 15% in the linear regime. Assembly bias can either enhance or diminish clustering on large scales, but generally increases clustering on scales r . 1 Mpc. We performed our calculations with Halotools, an open-source, community-driven python package for studying the galaxy-halo connection (http://halotools.readthedocs.org). We conclude by describing the use of decorated HODs to treat assembly bias in otherwise conventional likelihood analyses.