cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling resting state fMRI data via longitudinal supervised stochastic coordinate coding

Resting state fMRI (rsfMRI) has been used widely to explore intrinsic brain activities and networks. Although there are a large number of model-driven and data-driven methods that have been employed to model rsfMRI data, it is challenging to model longitudinal rsfMRI data given the time gaps. Currently, sparse dictionary learning (SDL) method has already shown great promise and attracted increasing attention in the rsfMRI research field. The vital advantage of this SDL methodology is that it can identify concurrent brain networks efficiently and systematically. However, the current SDL is not directly applicable to longitudinal rsfMRI data with multiple time points. In response, we propose a longitudinal supervised stochastic coordinate coding (LSSCC) algorithm for longitudinal rsfMRI data analysis. At the first time point, concurrent brain networks are learned and approximated based on the spatial network templates by SDL with l 2 norm. Then, the learned networks at the first time point are transferred to the following time points and the LSSCC is employed to conduct the approximations of functional networks longitudinally. The application of LSSCC on the ADNI-2 longitudinal rsfMRI datasets has shown the effectiveness of our proposed methods.
Human chorionic gonadotropin levels in conception cycles after uterine and tubal embryo transfer

Objective To describe the rate of rise of β -hCG levels in normal single gestations after uterine and tubal embryo transfer. Design A prospective study from 1991 through 1992 in which infertility patients who conceived after ovulation induction and ET were monitored with serum β -hCG levels. Setting Infertility unit at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Patients Ninety-eight women conceived after ovarian stimulation and ET. This study included only patients who conceived after uterine ET (n=12) and tubal ET (n=25) and had an exponential rise of β -hCG levels and sonographic evidence of an intrauterine gestation. Results The rate of rise of mean β -hCG levels after ET preceded that of tubal ET by 24hours until day 14 when the two approximate each other. Conclusion There appears to be a unique interaction between the trophoblast and endometrial surface that may account for the early detection of β -hCG after uterine versus tubal ET.
Antimicrobial Peptide-Conjugated MoS2-Based Nanoplatform for Multimodal Synergistic Inactivation of Superbugs

Development of new antibacterial therapeutic materials is becoming increasingly urgent due to the huge threat of superbugs, which are responsible for more than half of a million deaths each year in this world. Here, we report the development of a novel nanobiomaterial based on a melittin antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-attached transition metal dichalcogenide MoS2-based theranostic nanoplatform. The reported nanoplatform has a capability for targeted identification and synergistic inactivation of 100% multidrug-resistant superbugs by a combined photo thermal therapy (PTT), photodynamic therapy (PDT), and AMP process. A novel approach for the design of a melittin antimicrobial peptide-attached MoS2-based nanoplatform is reported, which emits a very bright and photo stable fluorescence. It also generates heat as well as reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the presence of 670 nm near-infrared light, which allows it to be used as a PTT and PDT agent. Due to the presence of AMP, multifunctional AMP exhibits a signifi...
Influence of size, species and damage on shell selection by the hermit crab Pagurus longicarpus

Shell preferences were examined inPagurus longicarpus Say, collected from Wakulla Beach, Florida, USA in 1987. Relative shell size was a more important shell characteristic in shell selection than either shell species or shell damage. Hermit crabs rarely selected relatively large shells but often selected relatively small shells over damaged shells. Preferences for a particular shell species were offset by varying the relative size or condition of the preferred shell species. Because specific environmental pressures are linked to particular shell characteristics, an assessment of the importance of various shell features may indicate which environmental pressures are ameliorated via the gastropod shell. Predation and desiccation are linked to relatively small shells and particular shell species; these stresses may be minimized by alternative behavioral mechanisms.
BEYOND H 0 AND q 0: COSMOLOGY IS NO LONGER JUST TWO NUMBERS

For decades, H 0 and q 0 were the quest of cosmology, as they promised to characterize our "world model" without reference to a specific cosmological framework. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that q 0 cannot be directly measured using distance indicators with both accuracy (without offset away from its true value) and precision (small error bar). While H 0 can be measured with accuracy and precision, to avoid a small bias in its direct measurement (of order 5%) we demonstrate that the pair H 0 and Ω M (assuming flatness and w = –1) is a better choice of two parameters, even if our world model is not precisely ΛCDM. We illustrate this with analysis of the Constitution set of supernovae and indirectly infer q 0 = –0.57 ± –0.04. Finally, we show that it may be possible to directly determine q 0 with both accuracy and precision using the time dependence of redshifts ("redshift drift").
Optimal Design of Megahertz $LLC$ Converter for 48-V Bus Converter Application

Intermediate bus architecture employing 48-V bus converters is widely used in power supply applications. With the rapid increase of demanded power by these loads, higher efficiency and power density are driving better performance power management solutions. In this article, a Gallium Nitride (GaN) based design of a two-stage solution is proposed. The first stage is a multi-phase Buck for regulation. The second stage is an LLC converter with a fixed switching frequency for isolation. The detailed design and optimization of the LLC converter are studied. To achieve high power density and high efficiency, the transformer design becomes critical at megahertz frequency. The matrix transformer concept is applied and a merged winding structure is used for flux cancellation, which effectively reduces the ac winding losses. A novel primary termination and via structure is proposed, resulting in a great loss reduction. In addition, to study the current sharing of parallel winding layers, a 1-D analytic model is proposed, and a symmetrical winding layer scheme is used to balance the current distribution. Finally, the prototype for the two-stage bus converter is developed, with a peak efficiency of 96% and a power density of 615 W/in3.
Upper versus lower airway microbiome and metagenome in children with cystic fibrosis and their correlation with lung inflammation.

Objective Airways of children with cystic fibrosis (CF) harbor complex polymicrobial communities which correlates with pulmonary disease progression and use of antibiotics. Throat swabs are widely used in young CF children as a surrogate to detect potentially pathogenic microorganisms in lower airways. However, the relationship between upper and lower airway microbial communities remains poorly understood. This study aims to determine (1) to what extent oropharyngeal microbiome resembles the lung microbiome in CF children and (2) if lung microbiome composition correlates with airway inflammation. Method Throat swabs and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were obtained concurrently from 21 CF children and 26 disease controls. Oropharyngeal and lung microbiota were analyzed using 16S rRNA deep sequencing and correlated with neutrophil counts in BAL and antibiotic exposure. Results Oropharyngeal microbial communities clustered separately from lung communities and had higher microbial diversity (p < 0.001). CF microbiome differed significantly from non-CF controls, with a higher abundance of Proteobacteria in both upper and lower CF airways. Neutrophil count in the BAL correlated negatively with the diversity but not richness of the lung microbiome. In CF children, microbial genes involved in bacterial motility proteins, two-component system, flagella assembly, and secretion system were enriched in both oropharyngeal and lung microbiome, whereas genes associated with synthesis and metabolism of nucleic acids and protein dominated the non-CF controls. Conclusions This study identified a unique microbial profile with altered microbial diversity and metabolic functions in CF airways which is significantly affected by airway inflammation. These results highlight the limitations of using throat swabs as a surrogate to study lower airway microbiome and metagenome in CF children.
An Investigation of Different Methodologies for Rating Product Satisfaction

Usability researchers and product designers stand to benefit by minimizing costs (e.g., time, overhead, recruitment costs) related to usability research. Several potential discount methods for coll...
A correlated uniqueness model of service quality measurement among users of cloud-based service platforms

Abstract This research furthers understanding of whether consumers of cloud-based service platforms can distinguish between gap theory dimensions (i.e., expectation and performance) on these platforms. We build upon and extend the work of (Natesan and Aerts, 2016) by applying confirmatory factor analysis on gap scores from survey data to develop and test an improved approach of measuring service system quality in cloud-based service platforms. Using the IS-adapted SERVQUAL instrument, we apply the correlated uniqueness model, which is part of the multitrait-multimethod (MTMM) framework, to evaluate the validity of using GAP scores and account for the effect of the method. There is significant support for method effects as shown by our suggested model paths in the trait convergent validity model with medium-large factor coefficients. Additionally, the fit of the correlated uniqueness model indicates respondents can distinguish between the gap theory dimensions of the IS-adapted SERVQUAL instrument. The praxis of service quality measurement could benefit by using our measurement approach of incorporating error correlations.
Computational fluid dynamics modeling of ventilation and hen environment in cage-free egg facility

Poultry facilities are going through an evolution in design due to growing demands for cage-free eggs and egg products without unified guidelines to accommodate these transitions. The goal of this study was to help builders and egg producers assess current ventilation design within cage-free production facilities for conditions that impact hen comfort and welfare. The method of evaluation was simulation of the indoor environment of a hen house via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling with individual hens modeled at a typical stocking density. This paper describes the development of a three-dimensional model of a commercial floor-raised cage-free hen house that is cross-ventilated to document current environmental conditions. A one-eighth section of the barn was modeled at full-scale using existing ventilation schemes with each bird represented by a hen-shaped, heated, solid body. A conventional top-wall inlet, side-wall exhaust (TISE) ventilation configuration was modeled for this study. The simulated ventilation rate for the hen house was approximately 3 m3/h (1.77 ft3/min) per hen resulting in 7092 m3/h (4174 ft3/min) for the 2365 birds, which falls at the higher end of the desired cold weather (0 °C) ventilation range. Contours of airflow, temperature, and pressure were generated to visualize results. Three two-dimensional planes were created at representative cross-sections to evaluate the contours inside and outside the barn. Five animal-occupied zones within each of the model planes were evaluated for practical hen comfort attributes. The simulation output suggested the TISE standard ventilation system could limit air speed to a comfortable average of 0.26 m/s (51 ft/min) and the temperature could be maintained between 18 and 24 °C on average at the bird level. Additionally, the indoor static pressure difference was very uniform averaging -25 Pascal (0.1 inches of water), which falls in the normal range for a floor-raised hen house with negative-pressure ventilation during cold weather conditions. Findings confirmed that CFD modeling can be a powerful tool for studying ventilation system performance at the bird level, particularly when individual animals are modeled, to assure a comfortable indoor environment for animal welfare in poultry facilities.
The Tandem Occlusion

Depending on the population studied, large vessel anterior circulation acute ischemic strokes with concomitant extracranial internal carotid artery tandem occlusions constitute 10–25% of cases presenting for consideration for endovascular therapy. Leaving them untreated or treating them with IV-tPA only portends to poor clinical outcomes for this subset of acute stroke patients. As for intracranial large vessel occlusions, the best outcomes are achieved through endovascular therapies that revascularize the occluded vessels in a timely manner. Using case examples, various treatment strategies for addressing tandems occlusions are discussed. The pros and cons of these treatment options are detailed to inform and assist the interventionalist in determining the best course of action when confronted with this clinical scenario.
Pain in Axial Spondyloarthritis: More to It Than Just Inflammation.

The conceptual paradigm of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has evolved and now comprises an expanded spectrum that includes more females and patients with little or no radiographic changes in sacroiliitis or syndesmophyte formation in the spine.1 This broadened paradigm is often, but not always, characterized by an inflammatory magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signature.
Abstract PO-005: Proteome profiling of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) primary tumors in Caucasian, African American and Latinx patients

The clinical management of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) faces difficult challenges due to its aggressive metastatic potential, complex microenvironment, and lack of targeted therapies. Health disparities also exacerbate these challenges. For instance, African and African Americans have higher incidence rates and worse clinical outcomes than Whites even when socioeconomic and tumor stages are controlled. To advance the understanding of the biological differences across the racial groups, the PDAC primary tumors collected from 30 Caucasian, 12 African American (AA) and 3 Latinx patients were analyzed by quantitative proteomics. In collaboration with the IDeA National Resource for Quantitative Proteomics, 5820 proteins were identified and quantified using data-independent acquisition (DIA) in the tumor proteome. Comparing the Latinx and the Caucasian tumor proteome, 120 and 95 proteins were found up- and down-regulated in the Latinx proteome. Proteins involved in the fatty acid metabolism, urea cycle, bile acid and bile salt metabolism were found enriched among the upregulated proteins. 108 and 75 proteins were found up- and down-regulated in African American tumor proteome over the Caucasians. The 108 upregulated proteins were submitted for Reactome Pathway Analysis. Pathways such as the complement cascade, extracellular matrix organization and ECM proteoglycans were found enriched. Haptoglobin-related protein (HPR) was one of the 108 upregulated proteins in the AA tumor proteome, which is also observed at the transcript level in the TCGA data. The HPR is known for its trypanolytic function and gene amplifications are observed in those of African descent. HPR works with haptoglobin (HP) to clear the free hemoglobin in blood to prevent oxidative damage. We believe that the proteins overexpressed, and the biological processes activated are contributing to the PDAC disparities observed in the African descendants. Therefore, the characterization of the PDAC proteome is a valuable method to delineate the underlying molecular signatures that may contribute to the health disparities. Citation Format: Henry C. H. Law, Andrea N. Riner, Jose G. Trevino, Nicholas T. Woods. Proteome profiling of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) primary tumors in Caucasian, African American and Latinx patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-005.
Sea Ice Crossing by Migrating Caribou, Rangifer tarandus , in Northwestern Alaska

Long movements across sea ice by Caribou ( Rangifer tarandus ) in Alaska are relatively uncommon and are not well documented. With rapidly diminishing sea ice cover in arctic waters, these movements may cease altogether. On 26 May 2012, a Caribou crossed a long span (57 km) of sea ice off the coast of Alaska. The cow successfully crossed after traveling 66 km on the sea ice and eventually reached the calving grounds. The highly dynamic nature of sea ice, which is driven by oceanic currents and wind during spring break-up, presents inherent hazards different from lake ice. Based on three years of Global Positioning System (GPS) radio-collar data, Caribou routinely crossed long expanses (30 km) of ice covering the brackish Selawik Lake and shorter stretches (<13 km) on Inland Lake during their spring migration north. There was also a single crossing on the ice covering Selawik Lake during the fall migration south to the wintering grounds that took place in early November 2010. Five GPS-collared Caribou crossed the short frozen span (14 km) of Kotzebue Sound between Cape Krusenstern National Monument and the Baldwin Peninsula in the fall of 2011.
Emerging Technologies: Webcams and Crowd-Sourcing to Identify Active Transportation

PA behaviors and the ability to eliminate researcher and respondent bias in assessing post-change environments. A novel transdisciplinary collaboration between public health and computer science is presented here with the goal of automatically analyzing existing public data feeds in innovative ways to quantify BE intervention effectiveness.
Organ pose distribution model and an MAP framework for automated abdominal multi-organ localization

Abdominal organ localization is required as an initialization step for most automated abdominal organ analysis tasks, i.e. segmentation, registration, and computer aided-diagnosis. Automated abdominal organ localization is difficult because of the large variability of organ shapes, similar appearances of different organs in images, and organs in close proximity to each other. Previous methods predicted only the organ locations, but not the full organ poses including additionally sizes and orientations. Thus they were often not accurate enough to initialize other image analysis tasks. In this work we proposed a maximum a posteriori (MAP) framework to estimate the poses of multiple abdominal organs from non-contrast CT images. A novel organ pose distribution model is proposed to model the organ poses and limit the search space. Additionally the method uses probabilistic atlases for organ shapes, and Gaussian mixture models for organ intensity profile. An MAP problem is then formulated and solved for organ poses. The method was applied for the localization of liver, left and right kidneys, spleen, and pancreas, and showed promising results, especially on liver and spleen (with mean location and orientation errors under 5.3 mm and 7 degrees respectively).
Cardiovascular and biochemical effects of infusion of beta hydroxybutyrate into the fetal lamb.

Abstract Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that beta hydroxybutyrate crosses the ovine placenta in small amounts during maternal hyperketonemia and produces significant reductions in fetal Pa O 2 and increased fetal lactate levels. The present study evaluates the effects of fetal hyperketonemia on fetal and maternal cardiovascular and biochemical parameters. Pregnant ewes (110 to 120 days' gestation) were instrumented with catheters in the femoral artery, femoral vein, and uterine veins, and electromagnetic flow probes were placed on the middle uterine arteries. The fetal carotid artery and jugular vein were catheterized, and a catheter and balloon were placed in the amniotic fluid. Beta hydroxybutyrate (0.44 mmole/min) and antipyrine (0.03 mmole/min) were simultaneously infused directly into the fetal jugular vein for 90 minutes. The fetal beta hydroxybutyrate level increased from a baseline of 0.12 ± 0.08 to 6.80 ± 0.46 mmoles/L and was associated with a significant decrease in fetal Pa O 2 (23.7 ± 2.4 to 16.0 ± 0.4 mm Hg) and a large increase in the fetal lactate level (1.85 ± 0.27 to 5.43 ± 0.92 mmoles/L) at 90 minutes. The present results suggest that during fetal hyperketonemia fetal oxygenation is significantly reduced and may contribute to the increased perinatal mortality in the pregnant diabetic patient.
CLINICAL PRACTICE. Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Key Clinical PointsGeneralized Anxiety Disorder Generalized anxiety disorder is characterized by persistent anxiety and uncontrollable worry that occurs consistently for at least 6 months. This disorder is commonly associated with depression, alcohol and substance abuse, physical health problems, or all these factors. In primary care, patients with this disorder often present with physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, gastrointestinal symptoms, back pain, and insomnia. Brief validated screening tools such as the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7 (GAD-7) scale should be used to assess the severity of symptoms and response to treatment. First-line treatments for generalized anxiety disorder are cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacotherapy with a selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) or a serotonin–norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (SNRI), or cognitive behavioral therapy in conjunction with either an SSRI or an SNRI. Pregabalin and buspirone are suitable second-line or adjunctive medicat...
A fast quasi-explicit finite difference method for simulating electrochemical phenomena

Abstract A fast quasi-explicit finite difference (FQEFD) method is developed for the simulation of cyclic voltammetry of electrochemical systems comprising coupled heterogeneous and homogeneous kinetics. The heart of the present approach is the DuFort-Frankel algorithm. The simplicity of formulation of code usually associated with explicit finite difference (EFD) methods is retained. The FQEFD approach is particularly effective for dealing with stiff problems which involve very large values of one or more homogeneous rate constants. For certain problems the enhancement in computational speed of the FQEFD method relative to the EFD method can be many orders of magnitude. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated by simulations of cyclic voltammetry of a simple electron transfer, A+e− ⇌ B, and of a simple electron transfer coupled with a following quasi-reversible first-order homogeneous chemical reaction, B ⇌ C, or with a following quasi-reversible second-order homogeneous chemical reaction, 2B ⇌ C. Simulation results are compared to known, accepted solutions. Quick-Basic programs were executed on an IBM PS2-70 with an 80387 coprocessor, a level of computational power that is adequate for simulating many problems of interest.
ASSURING HOMELAND SECURITY : CONTINUOUS MONITORING, CONTROL AND ASSURANCE OF EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

This paper examines the potential relationships of Auditing and Emergency Preparedness with respect to the domain of the design of Emergency Response Information Systems. It proposes normative objectives for the integration of all these areas in the design of future organizational systems. It also proposes a series of steps to evolve in this direction and create a new interdisciplinary professional community to guide research and development for this field of endeavor.
Magneto-optical phase enantiomeric detector

Summary from only given. We have developed improved techniques for rapidly and sensitively screening potential medicines. These include the Faraday effect using a sinusoidally varying magnetic field, phase-sensitive detection, and optical-heterodyne detection. We call this set of techniques and the resulting device the magneto-optical phase enantiomeric detector (MOPED). Because chiral molecules on average exhibit greater Faraday effect than non-chiral molecules and our two detection methods are extremely sensitive and fast, these techniques provide increased sensitivity and decreased analysis time.
Computing shortest words via shortest loops on hyperbolic surfaces

Given a loop on a surface, its homotopy class can be specified as a word consisting of letters representing the homotopy group generators. One of the interesting problems is how to compute the shortest word for a given loop. This is an NP-hard problem in general. However, for a closed surface that allows a hyperbolic metric and is equipped with a canonical set of fundamental group generators, the shortest word problem can be reduced to finding the shortest loop that is homotopic to the given loop, which can be solved efficiently. In this paper, we propose an efficient algorithm to compute the shortest words for loops given on triangulated surface meshes. The design of this algorithm is inspired and guided by the work of Dehn and Birman-Series. In support of the shortest word algorithm, we also propose efficient algorithms to compute shortest paths and shortest loops under hyperbolic metrics using a novel technique, called transient embedding, to work with the universal covering space. In addition, we employ several techniques to relieve the numerical errors. Experimental results are given to demonstrate the performance in practice. Highlights? We proposed algorithms to compute shortest words in surface homotopy group. ? We utilized hyperbolic metrics on triangulated surfaces. ? Under such a metric, shortest word is equivalent to shortest loop. ? Our algorithms are efficient by using local (transient) embedding. ? We employed several techniques to relieve numerical errors.
Ammonium Ylides as Building Blocks for Alkaloid Synthesis

Q1 A significant number of the organic compounds isolated from Nature consist of nitrogenheterocycles.These compounds represent amajority ofimportantmedicinal agents also found in nature. The development of new synthetic methods for the preparationofsuchheterocyclesandtheapplicationofthesemethods tothesynthesis ofalkaloidscontinuetobeanactiveandexcitingareaofresearchinorganicchemistry. In particular, cyclization and cycloaddition reactions of various ammonium ylides have been used in recent years for the construction of a wide assortment of different alkaloidskeletons.Oneoftheattractivefeaturesofthecycloadditionchemistryisthat there are numerous ylides to employ, and these provide, after reaction with a p-system, a diverse array of substituted heterocycles, often in high yield. Since Huisgen developed the mechanistic understanding and classification of 1,3-dipolar reactions, the number of molecular architectures accessed through these cycloadditions has expanded rapidly. Cycloaddition reactions of ammonium 1,3ylides (i.e., 1,3-dipoles) such as azomethine ylides and mesoionic isom€ betaines, by virtue of allowing the regio- and stereoselective construction of new rings, occupy a leading position among the tools available to the synthetic chemist. From simple pyrrolizidine, indolizidine, and quinolizidine alkaloids to the more complex frameworks found in Erythrina, Aspidosperma, and Amaryllidaceae alkaloids, dipolar cycloadditions have been deployed as a key strategic element in a wide variety of synthetic efforts. The rearrangement of ammonium 1,2-ylides has also proven to be particularly powerful in the synthesis of biologically relevant molecules. Because ammonium 1,2-ylidesareeasilyformedbyavarietyofmethods,thesereactiveintermediateshave been extensively employed for the synthesis of a variety of important alkaloid
Cambodian Refugee Families in the Shadows of Welfare Reform

Provisions in the 1996 Federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act, commonly known as welfare reform, sought to limit refugees and other legal immigrants’ access to government services and assistance. Although the 1997 Balanced Budget Act restored some benefits to those who arrived before the law was passed, little is known about how refugee families navigated the new welfare system. A case in point is Cambodian refugee families who have struggled on the economic margins since their arrival to the United States in the 1980s. Based upon a longitudinal, qualitative study conducted from 1998 to 2007 in Los Angeles County, this article discusses the experiences of Cambodian first and 1.5 generation refugee women and their families as they negotiated shifts in social welfare policy. This article illustrates the long-term consequences of welfare reform and the federal governments’ retreat from humanitarian goals set forth in the Refugee Act of 1980.
Clinical spectrum of chronic interstitial lung disease in children

To describe the clinical spectrum of interstitial lung disease in children, we reviewed our experience with 48 patients during a 12-year period. Most patients initially had typical findings of restrictive lung disease and hypoxemia. Growth failure or pulmonary hypertension or both were found in more than one third. Specific diagnosis, made in 35 patients (70%), most often required invasive studies, particularly open lung biopsy. Although the diagnostic yield from open lung biopsy was high, the diagnosis of many patients remained uncertain. Many different disorders were encountered. The response to corticosteroids, bronchodilators, and chloroquine was inconsistent. Six patients died, five within 1 year after the initial evaluation. The spectrum of pediatric interstitial lung disease includes a large, heterogeneous group of rare disorders associated with high morbidity and mortallty rates.
The Readability of Child Personality Assessment Instruments

Rating scales, checklists, and self-report inventories have become favorite methods for screening children with emotional disabilities and behavior problems. Despite their widespread use, there may be some basic flaws in the most widely used objective child behavior inventories. Some of these inventories may be too difficult for individual respondents to read. The purpose of this study was to analyze the readability of some of the most frequently used child personality scales using a computerized reading analysis. Four different readability indices are presented for 18 tests analyzed. Results are discussed in reference to the validity of child personality assessment, and suggestions are given for test developers to improve the readability of instrumentation. Strategies that examiners can use to quickly test the readability of a personality assessment are also proposed.
A National Survey of Academic-Advisor Job Satisfaction

Presented analyses regarding academic-advisor job satisfaction are based on data from a survey administered to NACADA members in July 2005. Advisor job satisfaction in various environments and differences in satisfaction across personal demographics were studied. Academic advisors report high satisfaction overall as well as with student and supervision aspects of the job. Advisors are most satisfied with work variety, job benefits, and teamwork, and they are least satisfied with salary, recognition, and support for career opportunity. Environment variables most strongly related to job satisfaction were variety, empowerment, and teamwork. Advisors were least happy with the environment element of salary. Of the advisor variables, years of experience and advising style showed the strongest relationship with satisfaction. Relative Emphasis: practice, research, theory
Ferrate(VI) Oxidation of Aqueous Phenol: Kinetics and Mechanism

Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for ferrate(VI) oxidation of phenol have been measured in isotopic solvents, H2O and D2O, using ambient and high-pressure stopped-flow UV−visible spectroscopy. An increase (fast stage) and then a decrease (slow stage) in absorbance at 400 nm are observed when potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) and aqueous phenol solutions are mixed rapidly. This suggests that small amounts of unstable intermediate 4,4‘-biphenoquinone are produced during this redox process. An electron paramagnetic resonance signal for the reaction mixture of ferrate and phenol trapped by spin-trap α-(4-pyridyl-1-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone indicates a radical reaction pathway. Gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric measurements show p-benzoquinone is a major organic product, and the red ferric thiocyanate complex formed from addition of potassium thiocyanate to the spent reaction solution indicates that Fe(VI) is reduced to Fe(III). Activation enthalpy, entropy, and volume changes have been determined. There is...
The Liver Meeting 2013: A report from the 64th Meeting of the American Association for the Study of the Liver (November 1-5, 2013 – Washington, D.C., USA).

With over 10,000 attendees from across the U.S. and beyond, the Liver Meeting 2013 was a big success, full of interesting scientific presentations and discussions, many of which directly related to therapies for hepatitis C virus infection. These included new information on drugs currently used for treating this disease, as well as preclinical findings with putative new therapeutics that are expected to improve outcomes for patients in the future. Information was also presented on other hepatic diseases, including hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma, as well as other less common liver diseases. This report briefly reviews many of the new scientific findings coming from clinical and preclinical studies aimed at improving the care of patients suffering from hepatic conditions.
Nodal Tidal Cycle of 18.6 Yr.: Its Importance in Sea-Level Curves of the East Coast of the United States and Its Value in Explaining Long-Term Sea-Level Changes

The 18.6-yr cycle of the Moon's nodes dominates the annual means of high water, low water, and range at Boston and at other East Coast harbors. The maxima and minima of the high-water and range curves agree closely with the 180° and 0° long. yr, respectively, of the Moon's ascending node, and are fairly well accounted for by tide-prediction equations. The curve of annual mean sea level also reflects the cycle, but more weakly. Recognition of the cyclical nature of tidal data both simplifies and clarifies assessments of longer term sea-level trends and points to the need to include only multiples of entire cycles in the computations of these trends. When the curves of mean high water and range are used, it is possible to recognize long-term sea-level trends rapidly and to determine whether these are attributable to tidal or nontidal causes. The data suggest that the secular sea-level rise during the 20th century is tidal in origin and may be caused by vertical movement of the oceanic floor. This has the effect of reducing the volume of ocean basins, and, by changing basin geometry, alters the characteristics of terrestrial tidal constituents (standing waves).
The role of proton donors in SmI2-mediated ketone reduction: new mechanistic insights.

The effects of proton donors (alcohols and water) on the rate of reduction of acetophenone by SmI2 have been examined utilizing stopped-flow spectrophotometric studies. The rate orders with respect to proton source and the kinetic isotope effects were determined as well. The reaction was first-order in phenol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, methanol, and ethanol and zero-order in 2-propanol and 2-methyl-2-propanol when 25 equiv of proton source were used in the reduction. Methanol, ethanol, 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol, and phenol also showed a direct correlation between the pKa of the alcohol and the rate of reduction. Under the same conditions, water had a fractional rate order of 1.4. Further studies showed that water has a rate order of 1 at lower concentrations ( 80 equiv). These results clearly indicate that the nature of the proton donor and its concentration affects the rates of reduction. Water has a high affinity for SmI2 (compared to that of the alco...
On partition algebras for complex reflection groups

Abstract In this paper we study the representation theory of two partition algebras related to complex reflection groups. The colored partition algebras, P k ( n , r ) introduced by Bloss [M. Bloss, G-colored partition algebras as centralizer algebras of wreath products, J. Algebra 265 (2003) 690–710] and the algebras, T k ( n , r ) introduced by Tanabe [K. Tanabe, On the centralizer algebra of the unitary reflection group G ( m , p , n ) , Nagoya Math. J. 148 (1997) 113–126]. In particular, we describe the decomposition of these algebras in terms of irreducible representations.
Membrane changes in polymorphonuclear leukocytes during ionophore (A23187)-induced lysosomal release.

Abstract Micromolar concentrations of the divalent ionophore A23187 and millimolar concentrations of extracellular calcium caused the rapid exocytosis of lysosomes from rabbit polymorphonuclear leukocytes. In control experiments the larger granules remained within the leukocytes while another class of smaller granules fused with the plasma membrane. Whenever membrane fusion and exocytosis occurred intramembranous particle-free regions developed within the plasma membrane at the sites of fusion. Neither a massive aggregation of intramembranous particles (IMPs), nor the formation of highly symmetrical rosette patterns of IMPs was seen in either experimental or control preparations.
Extremely high transconductance Ge/Si/sub 0.4/Ge/sub 0.6/ p-MODFET's grown by UHV-CVD

Ge-channel modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFET's) with extremely high transconductance are reported. The devices were fabricated on a compressive-strained Ge/Si/sub 0.4/Ge/sub 0.6/ heterostructure with a Hall mobility of 1750 cm/sup 2//Vs (30,900 cm/sup 2//Vs) at room temperature (77 K). Self-aligned, T-gate p-MODFET's with L/sub g/=0.1 /spl mu/m displayed an average peak extrinsic transconductance (g(m/sub ext/)) of 439 mS/mm, at a drain-to-source bias voltage (V/sub ds/) of -0.6 V, with the best device having a value of g(m/sub ext/)=488 mS/mm. At 77 K, values as high as g(m/sub ext/)=687 mS/mm were obtained at a bias voltage of only V/sub ds/=-0.2 V. These devices also displayed a unity current gain cutoff frequency (f/sub T/) of 42 GHz and maximum frequency of oscillation (f/sub max/) of 86 GHz at V/sub ds/=-0.6 V and -1.0 V, respectively.
A fault-tolerant strategy for virtualized HPC clusters

Virtualization is a common strategy for improving the utilization of existing computing resources, particularly within data centers. However, its use for high performance computing (HPC) applications is currently limited despite its potential for both improving resource utilization as well as providing resource guarantees to its users. In this article, we systematically evaluate three major virtual machine implementations for computationally intensive HPC applications using various standard benchmarks. Using VMWare Server, Xen, and OpenVZ, we examine the suitability of full virtualization (VMWare), paravirtualization (Xen), and operating system-level virtualization (OpenVZ) in terms of network utilization, SMP performance, file system performance, and MPI scalability. We show that the operating system-level virtualization provided by OpenVZ provides the best overall performance, particularly for MPI scalability. With the knowledge gained by our VM evaluation, we extend OpenVZ to include support for checkpointing and fault-tolerance for MPI-based virtual server distributed computing.
Optimizing closures in O(0) time

The flat-closure model for the representation of first-class procedures is simple, safe-for-space, and efficient, allowing the values or locations of free variables to be accessed with a single memory indirect. It is a straightforward model for programmers to understand, allowing programmers to predict the worst-case behavior of their programs. This paper presents a set of optimizations that improve upon the flat-closure model along with an algorithm that implements them, and it shows that the optimizations together eliminate over 50% of run-time closure-creation and free-variable access overhead in practice, with insignificant compile-time overhead. The optimizations never add overhead and remain safe-for-space, thus preserving the benefits of the flat-closure model.
Comparison of thalamotomy to deep brain stimulation of the thalamus in essential tremor.

OBJECTIVE To compare outcome in Essential Tremor (ET) patients who have undergone either thalamotomy or Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) of the thalamus. BACKGROUND Although both thalamotomy and thalamic DBS are effective surgical treatments of tremor, it is not known if one procedure is superior to the other. DESIGN/METHODS Thirty-five ET patients underwent thalamotomy between 1994-1998. Data on 18 patients were excluded. The remaining 17 patients were matched for age, sex, side of surgery, and tremor severity to 17 ET patients who underwent thalamic DBS. There were nine men and eight women in each group. The mean age of the thalamotomy group was 74.4 years and that of the thalamic DBS group was 73.1 years. RESULTS There were no significant differences between any efficacy outcome variables comparing thalamotomy to DBS of the thalamus at baseline or follow-up visits. The surgical complications were higher for the thalamotomy group as compared to the DBS group. However, a larger number of DBS patients underwent repeat surgeries due to problems with the device and the leads. CONCLUSION Although the efficacy is similar for thalamotomy and DBS of the thalamus for ET, thalamotomy is associated with a higher complication rate. DBS of the thalamus should be the procedure of choice for the surgical treatment of ET in most cases. Mov. Disord. 16:140–143, 2001. © 2001 Movement Disorder Society.
DataBase of Research on Prenatal Cocaine Exposure and Child Outcome † 61

The literature on the effects of prenatal cocaine exposure on child outcome is inconclusive. Thus, we developed a computerized database of the scientific literature to summarize the literature. The method includes a Medline and Psychlit search, review of each article for eligibility based on predefined inclusion criteria, and abstraction of information from each article coded and entered into the database. Defined variables included characteristics of the study or behavioral outcomes. Of 133 studies published between 1985- June 1997, 101 (76%) met inclusion criteria. Of the 101 studies only 12% reported that cocaine was the only drug involved showing that the problem is one of polydrug abuse. Most studies (83%) used multiple methods of drug detection(urine and self-report) with only 4 studies using meconium. Control for SES was reported in 53% and control for medical factors (e.g. gestational age) was reported in 59%. Little is known about long term follow-up: 77% studied infancy, 13% early childhood and 10% school age children. Surprisingly, examiner blindness was only reported in 62% of the studies. In the 101 studies, a total of 1507 behavioral effects were reported. There were 476(32%) adverse cocaine effects. Using meta-analysis techniques, the mean difference in IQ scores between exposed and controls for the 5 studies in which this was available was 3.26 points. However, even this small difference will shift the normal distribution curve resulting in 3.75% rather than 2.28% who will score .75 SD). The IQ difference is an effect size of.27 SD. Language outcome studies show a mean effect size of.53 SD for receptive and.59 SD for expressive language, resulting in a 3.1 (26,550) and a 3.4 (29,737) fold increase in number of children affected, respectively. The yearly costs for special education services would be $168 million for receptive and $188 million for expressive language delays. The literature shows most affects are small to medium. However, in 35% of the studies, the sample size is 80) to detect small effects. However, even small effects can affect large numbers of children resulting in large expenditures for special education services.
‘Un paria par en haut’: noblesse et grâce dans L’émigré de Paul Bourget

As he writes L’emigre (translated as The Weight of the Name) in 1906, Paul Bourget is an author who matters in the French literary landscape. His right wing politics, newfound Catholicism and attachment to the Parisian social elite put him in an ideal position to chronicle the consequences of the separation of Church and State on the French nobility. While L’emigre at first appears to be grounded in current events, it quickly ends up being the portrait of a whole class. In the eyes of Bourget, it seems as if the nobility is about to disappear, and overtaken by a sense of urgency, he makes it his purpose to carefully represent the conservative French nobility of the Belle Epoque. In so doing, he offered his readers one of the most complete and didactic accounts of what constituted the noble habitus.
The Clausewitzian Trinity in the Information Age: A Just War Approach

Abstract Clausewitz's ‘remarkable trinity’ has long been a touchstone for discourse on the military's strategic position relative to other essential elements of Western society. Similarly, the just war tradition has long been a touchstone for moral discourse on war. Although these touchstones represent two intellectual traditions which may appear to have little or nothing in common, the 21st-century strategist or policymaker must take into account the imperatives of both traditions. This is so because, in the Information Age, public reactions to perceived moral shortcomings associated with the decision to go to war, or with perceived moral lapses on the battlefield, can significantly disrupt the balance which the ‘remarkable trinity’ requires. Accordingly, this study takes as its task to propose a model which accommodates the concerns of both traditions. It first examines both formulations of Clausewitz's ‘remarkable trinity’ and then proposes a revised model of the ‘remarkable trinity’ which accommodates...
Characterization of macromolecule resonances in the 1H NMR spectrum of rat brain

The 1H NMR spectrum of the macromolecule fraction of rat brain cytosol was investigated following centrifugation and dialysis to remove low molecular weight metabolites and peptides (< 3500 daltons). At least seven well resolved resonances were detected between 0.9 and 3.0 ppm in the 1H NMR spectrum of rat brain cytosol after dialysis, several of which cannot be observed in vivo due to overlap with N-acetylaspartate, glutamate, glutamine, creatine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid. Several cross-peaks detected in 2D COSY spectra of the cytosolic macromolecule fraction coincided with those measured in a previous study of rat brain tissue in vitro and in situ (K. L. Behar, T. Ogino, Magn. Reson. Med. 17, 285 (1991)). Treatment of the cytosolic macromolecule fraction with a nonspecific protease permitted partial assignments of resonances in the 1H NMR spectrum to specific amino acids. Fractionation of the dialyzed cytosol of rat brain by gel filtration yielded qualitatively similar 1H NMR spectra for elution volumes corresponding to molecular masses from 12.5 kDa to over 100 kDa. The results indicate that many of the background nonmetabolite resonances observed in the 1H NMR spectrum of normal brain tissue arise from cytosolic proteins.
Exploring Regime Instability and Ethnic Violence in Kyrgyzstan

This article explores the causes of Kyrgyzstan's enduring political instability and periodic ethnic violence.