cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Productivity Convergence: The Productivity Slowdown

The Earlier Literature on the Productivity Slowdown The slowdown in the rate of productivity growth that occurred from about 1965 to 1979 in the United States spawned a considerable literature and was also a major focus of policy debate. Because of its enormous implications for the improvement of per capita well-being, a whole host of possible causes were diagnosed and a corresponding menu of remedies proposed. It should be noted at the outset there were wide differences of opinion both on the identity of the relevant factors and on their likely quantitative importance. A few words should be said at this point about some of the causes of the productivity slowdown of the 1965–79 period. The main candidates, in the case of the United States, have included the following five factors: (1) slowdown in the rate of capital formation, (2) changes in the composition of the labor force, (3) energy price shocks, (4) declines in R&D spending (and/or the productivity of R&D), and (5) changes in the composition of output (mainly, the shift to services). The next part of this chapter (Section 8.2) considers some measurement issues involved in the definition of productivity since this is germane to understanding some of the differences between the various studies. Section 8.3 presents estimates of the magnitude of the productivity slowdown both for the economy as a whole and for individual industrial sectors. Section 8.4 surveys much of the earlier literature on the subject. Section 8.5 considers more recent literature. Section 8.6 evaluates the relative merits of the arguments on the causes of the productivity slowdown put forth in the early literature on the subject and presents an evaluation of the later literature in light of the earlier research.
Conjugate conformal prediction for online binary classification

Binary classification (rain or shine, disease or not, increase or decrease) is a fundamental problem in machine learning. We present an algorithm that can take any standard online binary classification algorithm and provably improve its performance under very weak assumptions, given the right to refuse to make predictions in certain cases. The extent of improvement will depend on the data size, stability of the algorithm, and room for improvement in the algorithms performance. Our experiments on standard machine learning data sets and standard algorithms (k-nearest neighbors and random forests) show the effectiveness of our approach, even beyond what is possible using previous work on conformal predictors upon which our approach is based. Though we focus on binary classification, our theory could be extended to multiway classification. Our code and data are available upon request.
Effects of chronic hypertonic stress on regulatory volume increase and Na-K-2Cl cotransporter expression in cultured corneal epithelial cells.

The optical and barrier properties of the corneal epithelium, which are essential for normal vision, depend on the maintenance of epithelial membrane integrity and tight junctional continuity between neighboring cells. Changes in tear film osmolality can occur in daily living (e.g., wind exposure, or swimming in fresh or salt water) and lead to alterations in epithelial cell volume that could affect epithelial topography and tight junction continuity. If these changes are uncompensated, they could compromise the corneal epithelial optical and barrier function. In some other cells, compensation includes reswelling to their isotonic volume through an appropriate regulatory volume increase (RVI). Frequently, this response is dependent on the activity of the bumetanide-sensitive, ouabaininsensitive Na-K-2Cl cotransporter.1
Using Biosocial Criminology to Understand and Improve Treatment Outcomes

Research has extensively cataloged the types of interventions that prevent and treat antisocial behavior across the life course. Despite our knowledge of which interventions “work,” there is a limited understanding of why these practices are effective and who does (or does not) benefit from traditional evidence-based practices (EBPs). The current study reviews the literature on the biopsychological mechanisms and moderators of EBPs across the life course, and it provides recommendations to clinicians and program developers based on these findings. The literature typically shows that EBPs may reduce antisocial behavior because these programs alter clients’ biological systems responsible for stress response and self-regulation. Similarly, individuals who receive fewer benefits from EBPs have weaker stress responses, difficulty processing punishment, increased reward sensitivity, and problems with attention, self-regulation, and cognitive flexibility. The implications of these findings are discussed for each...
Multifarious Functions of the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein

Fragile X syndrome (FXS), a heritable intellectual and autism spectrum disorder (ASD), results from the loss of Fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). This neurodevelopmental disease state exhibits neural circuit hyperconnectivity and hyperexcitability. Canonically, FMRP functions as an mRNA-binding translation suppressor, but recent findings have enormously expanded its proposed roles. Although connections between burgeoning FMRP functions remain unknown, recent advances have extended understanding of its involvement in RNA, channel, and protein binding that modulate calcium signaling, activity-dependent critical period development, and the excitation–inhibition (E/I) neural circuitry balance. In this review, we contextualize 3 years of FXS model research. Future directions extrapolated from recent advances focus on discovering links between FMRP roles to determine whether FMRP has a multitude of unrelated functions or whether combinatorial mechanisms can explain its multifaceted existence.
0137 Exposure-lag-response in occupational epidemiology: application of distributed non-linear lag models in a cohort of diatomaceous earth workers exposed to crystalline silica

Occupational exposures extending over a long working life can have complex relationships with health outcomes, as timing, duration, and intensity of exposure are all potentially relevant. Simple measures of cumulative, or average intensity of exposure typically considered in occupational studies may not fully capture these relationships. We applied distributed non-linear lag models to examine the association of crystalline silica exposures with mortality from lung cancer and non-malignant respiratory disease. We fitted Cox proportional hazard models for each cause of interest to data from a cohort study of 2342 California diatomaceous earth workers exposed to crystalline silica. Our models combined various functions for exposure-response and lag-response including linear, piece-wise constant and spline functions. Models with a spline function for exposure-response and a constant term for the lag-response appeared to have the best fit for lung cancer, while models with spline functions for both exposure-response and lag-response had the best fit for non-malignant respiratory disease. Hazard ratios (HR) from these best fitting models corresponding to average daily exposures of 275 µg/m3 during lag years 11–40 prior to the age of observed cases were 1.96 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95–4.06) and 2.01 (95% CI: 1.02–3.97) for the two outcomes respectively. HRs from simple models with linear exposure-response and constant lag-response terms for the same exposure scenario were 1.15 (95% CI: 0.88–1.49) and 1.21 (95% CI: 1.01–1.44) respectively. Occupational studies of longitudinal cohorts with detailed exposure histories could benefit from methods allowing for non-linearities and the disentanglement of intensity, duration and timing of exposure.
Comparative rearing parameters for bisexual and genetic sexing strains of Zeugodacus cucurbitae and Bactrocera dorsalis (Diptera: Tephritidae) on an artificial diet

Abstract The Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) is an important component of area wide programs to control invading or established populations of pestiferous tephritids. The SIT involves the production, sterilization, and release of large numbers of the target species, with the goal of obtaining sterile male x wild female matings, which yield infertile eggs. A major advance in SIT involved sex-linked, genetic manipulations that allowed the production and release of male-only strains (also termed genetic sexing strains, GSS). The use of GSS avoids matings between sterile males and females, which may divert males from seeking and mating with wild females, and studies show that male-only releases result in greater suppression of wild populations than standard bisexual releases (i.e., those including both males and females). GSS based on sex-linked pupal color exist for Zeugodacus cucurbitae (Coquillett) and Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel), two important agricultural pest species, but their rearing characteristics have not been documented in detail. The goal of the present study was to compare the pupal color sexing and bisexual strains for each of these species with respect to important rearing parameters, including egg production and eclosion of larvae from eggs (egg hatch), pupal recovery, and weight, emergence rate, and flight ability. In both species, most of these parameters were significantly greater for the bisexual strain than the GSS, and, for a given number of eggs, the production of flight-capable adults was approximately 2 times greater in the bisexual strains of both species. The potential usefulness of GSS in SIT against Z. cucurbitae and B. dorsalis is assessed based on these findings.
Electrowetting Using a Microfluidic Kelvin Water Dropper

The Kelvin water dropper is an electrostatic generator that can generate high voltage electricity through water dripping. A conventional Kelvin water dropper converts the gravitational potential energy of water into electricity. Due to its low current output, Kelvin water droppers can only be used in limited cases that demand high voltage. In the present study, microfluidic Kelvin water droppers (MKWDs) were built in house to demonstrate a low-cost but accurately controlled miniature device for high voltage generation. The performance of the MKWDs was characterized using different channel diameters and flow rates. The best performed MKWD was then used to conduct experiments of the electrowetting of liquid on dielectric surfaces. Electrowetting is a process that has been widely used in manipulating the wetting properties of a surface using an external electric field. Usually electrowetting requires an expensive DC power supply that outputs high voltage. However, in this research, it was demonstrated that electrowetting can be conducted by simply using an MKWD. Additionally, an analytic model was developed to simulate the electrowetting process. Finally, the model’s ability to well predict the liquid deformation during electrowetting using MKWDs was validated.
Implementing Stay, Play, Talk with Children who use AAC

Withdrawal and multitreatment single subject research designs were used to evaluate the effectiveness of stay-play-talk (SPT) interventions on social behaviors of preschool-aged peers to children w...
In the Beginning Was the Word and the Word Was … DNA

The ancient Egyptians believed their royal families were the descendants of a god. To keep that divine inheritance intact, the Egyptian royal family practiced incest between brother and sister and father and daughter. Four thousand years later, Dr. Svaante Paabo, a scientist at the University of Uppsala in Sweden, wondered if traces of the divine inheritance could still be detected in their mummified earthly remains. Using the latest techniques of genetic research Paabo was able to extract a tiny bit of intact immortality from a royal corpse. In this hodgepodge of 4000-year-old DNA, he discovered a gene sequence that we share with the kings and queens of ancient Egypt.
Draft Genome Sequence of Acidobacteria Group 1 Acidipila sp. Strain EB88, Isolated from Forest Soil.

ABSTRACT Here, we present the genome sequence of a member of the group I Acidobacteria, Acidipila sp. strain EB88, which was isolated from temperate forest soil. Like many other members of its class, its genome contains evidence of the potential to utilize a broad range of sugars.
Evaluation of rituximab infusion therapy in patients with recalcitrant pemphigus vulgaris

The usual approach is to treat pemphigus vulgaris by corticosteroids and in some cases, immune suppressive agents may be indicated. The response is often satisfactory to the patient and acceptable clinically; however, the use of such agents is not free of side effects. Adverse effects associating the use of corticosteroids and immune-suppressing agents are numerous, but the principal side effects are those of fatal infections and neoplastic disorders. Therefore, the search for other forms of treatment modalities has been proven necessary, especially in resistant and recalcitrant types of the disorder. A number of studies have shown role Rituximab in the treatment of pemphigus vulgaris; however, results were conflicting. Therefore we planned and conducted the current study to assess the efficacy of this drug in the treatment of recalcitrant cases of pemphigus vulgaris in a sample of Iraqi patients in the Mid-Euphrates region. to assess the efficacy of Rituximab in the treatment of recalcitrant cases of pemphigus vulgaris in a sample of Iraqi patients in the Mid-Euphrates region. The current cohort study included 10 patients with pemphigus vulgaris. Those patients were selected from the pool of patients visiting the dermatology consultation unit at Al-Diwaniyah teaching hospital, Al-Diwaniyah Province, Iraq during the period from January 2017 through June 2019. Age, gender, duration of disease, previous treatment, and maintenance treatment were the main variables included in the study; the outcome was a response to treatment classified as satisfactory, partially satisfactory and unsatisfactory. All patients were given an intravenous infusion of Rituximab in a dose of a 375 mg/m2 in a weekly basis. The patients were followed for a minimum of 6 months. All patients were treated by intravenous rituximab and followed for a period of 6 up to 18 months, mean of 11.30 ±3.83 months. Four (40.0 %) patients developed a satisfactory response, 5 (50.0 %) had partial satisfaction, and a single patient had an unsatisfactory response. Response to treatment was no significantly correlated to patients' age, gender or duration of disease; however, there was a significant positive correlation between duration of treatment and response to it. Good rate of satisfaction can be obtained following the use of weekly based intravenous retuximab in patients with recalcitrant pemphigus vulgaris.
Brief Report: Frailty and HIV Disease Severity Synergistically Increase Risk of HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders.

Author(s): Sun-Suslow, Ni; Paolillo, Emily W; Morgan, Erin E; Letendre, Scott; Iudicello, Jennifer; Moore, David J | Abstract: BACKGROUND:Frailty disproportionally affects people with HIV (PWH) and increased frailty in this already vulnerable population is associated with worse neurocognitive functioning. Whether frailty interacts with current and modifiable markers of HIV disease severity to synergistically increase risk for HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders (HAND), however, is unknown and important for informing the clinical care of aging PWH. SETTING:UC San Diego's HIV Neurobehavioral Research Program METHODS:: Participants were 178 people with HIV (PWH) evaluated between 2014 and 2019. HIV disease severity was measured by current CD4 count and plasma HIV RNA. HAND diagnoses were made according to the Frascati criteria using a seven-domain neuropsychological battery and the Fried Phenotype criteria was used to assess frailty syndrome (0 to 5 symptoms). The independent and interactive effects of frailty and current HIV disease severity (i.e., CD4 count and plasma HIV RNA) on HAND were examined using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS:There was an interaction between CD4 count and frailty on HAND. Simple slopes showed that CD4 count and the likelihood of HAND were negatively associated at g1.25 symptoms of frailty, and conversely, that frailty and HAND were negatively associated at 642 or less cells/mm. There was no significant independent or interactive effects of plasma HIV RNA and frailty on the likelihood of HAND. CONCLUSIONS:In addition to monitoring CD4 count, assessing for frailty may be critical in older adults with HIV to potentially mitigate poor neurobehavioral outcomes. Longitudinal follow-up studies are needed to determine the directionality of these findings.
Advances in light-emitting metal-halide perovskite nanocrystals

Metal-halide perovskites, in particular their nanocrystal forms, have emerged as a new generation of light-emitting materials with exceptional optical properties, including narrow emissions covering the whole visible region with high photoluminescence quantum efficiencies of up to near-unity. Remarkable progress has been achieved over the last few years in the areas of materials development and device integration. A variety of synthetic approaches have been established to precisely control the compositions and microstructures of metal-halide perovskite nanocrystals (NCs) with tunable bandgaps and emission colors. The use of metal-halide perovskite NCs as active materials for optoelectronic devices has been extensively explored. Here, we provide a brief overview of recent advances in the development and application of metal-halide perovskite NCs. From color tuning via ion exchange and manipulation of quantum size effects, to stability enhancement via surface passivation, new chemistry for materials development is discussed. In addition, processes in optoelectronic devices based on metal-halide perovskite NCs, in particular, light-emitting diodes and radiation detectors, will be introduced. Opportunities for future research in metal-halide perovskite NCs are provided as well.
Power and Voltage regulation of a Solid-State Transformer based Quad-Active Bridge DC–DC Converter using Adaptive Linear Quadratic Regulator and Nonlinear Model Predictive Control

Solid-state transformer (SST) has gained increasing attention in the electrical grid. One of the SST architectures is a three stages SST where quadrable active bridge (QAB) can be used in the isolation stage. This work investigates power and voltage regulation of the QAB module-based SST design under unbalanced loading conditions. The proposed control system applied in the QAB implements an adaptive linear quadratic regulator (ALQR) and nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) to achieve the regulation. The dynamic performance of the QAB based SST is proven analytically and supported by simulation results.
Hydrophone Spatial Averaging Correction for Acoustic Exposure Measurements From Arrays—Part I: Theory and Impact on Diagnostic Safety Indexes

This article reports underestimation of mechanical index (MI) and nonscanned thermal index for bone near focus (TIB) due to hydrophone spatial averaging effects that occur during acoustic output measurements for clinical linear and phased arrays. TIB is the appropriate version of thermal index (TI) for fetal imaging after ten weeks from the last menstrual period according to the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine (AIUM). Spatial averaging is particularly troublesome for highly focused beams and nonlinear, nonscanned modes such as acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) and pulsed Doppler. MI and variants of TI (e.g., TIB), which are displayed in real-time during imaging, are often not corrected for hydrophone spatial averaging because a standardized method for doing so does not exist for linear and phased arrays. A novel analytic inverse-filter method to correct for spatial averaging for pressure waves from linear and phased arrays is derived in this article (Part I) and experimentally validated in a companion article (Part II). A simulation was developed to estimate potential spatial-averaging errors for typical clinical ultrasound imaging systems based on the theoretical inverse filter and specifications for 124 scanner/transducer combinations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) 510(k) database from 2015 to 2019. Specifications included center frequency, aperture size, acoustic output parameters, hydrophone geometrical sensitive element diameter, etc. Correction for hydrophone spatial averaging using the inverse filter suggests that maximally achievable values for MI, TIB, thermal dose ( ${t} _{{43}}$ ), and spatial-peak-temporal-average intensity ( ${I} _{\text {spta}}$ ) for typical clinical systems are potentially higher than uncorrected values by (means ± standard deviations) 9% ± 4% (ARFI MI), 19% ± 15% (ARFI TIB), 50% ± 41% (ARFI ${t} _{{43}}$ ), 43% ± 39% (ARFI ${I} _{\text {spta}}$ ), 7% ± 5% (pulsed Doppler MI), 15% ± 11% (pulsed Doppler TIB), 42% ± 31% (pulsed Doppler ${t} _{{43}}$ ), and 33% ± 27% (pulsed Doppler ${I} _{\text {spta}}$ ). These values correspond to frequencies of 3.2 ± 1.3 (ARFI) and 4.1 ± 1.4 MHz (pulsed Doppler), and the model predicts that they would increase with frequency. Inverse filtering for hydrophone spatial averaging significantly improves the accuracy of estimates of MI, TIB, ${t} _{{43}}$ , and ${I} _{\text {spta}}$ for ARFI and pulsed Doppler signals.
Electrophysiological Analysis of Brain Organoids: Current Approaches and Advancements

Brain organoids, or cerebral organoids, have become widely used to study the human brain in vitro. As pluripotent stem cell-derived structures capable of self-organization and recapitulation of physiological cell types and architecture, brain organoids bridge the gap between relatively simple two-dimensional human cell cultures and non-human animal models. This allows for high complexity and physiological relevance in a controlled in vitro setting, opening the door for a variety of applications including development and disease modeling and high-throughput screening. While technologies such as single cell sequencing have led to significant advances in brain organoid characterization and understanding, improved functional analysis (especially electrophysiology) is needed to realize the full potential of brain organoids. In this review, we highlight key technologies for brain organoid development and characterization, then discuss current electrophysiological methods for brain organoid analysis. While electrophysiological approaches have improved rapidly for two-dimensional cultures, only in the past several years have advances been made to overcome limitations posed by the three-dimensionality of brain organoids. Here, we review major advances in electrophysiological technologies and analytical methods with a focus on advances with applicability for brain organoid analysis.
Patient-important outcomes to inform shared decision making and goal setting for diabetes treatment.

Abstract Objective Despite well-established treatment guidelines, diabetes is difficult to manage for many individuals. The importance of using shared decision making to optimize diabetes treatment is recognized, yet what matters most to individuals with diabetes is not well established. Our goal was to identify patients’ goals and priorities for diabetes management. Methods We engaged 141 participants through interviews and group concept mapping to identify patient-important outcomes (PIOs) for diabetes care. We generated a master list of PIOs by aggregating interview data coded to “goals” and ideas brainstormed during concept mapping, and then a patient advisory board sorted the PIOs into higher-level domains. Results We identified 41 PIOs sorted into 7 broad domains: optimize daily self-care, optimize long term health, learn about diabetes, achieve measurable goals, manage medications, manage diet and best utilize medical / professional services. Conclusions Most (4/7) of PIO domains focused on personal and life goals, not medically-oriented goals. Use of these PIOs and domains may facilitate more effective SDM discussions for patients with diabetes. Practice implications Use of PIOs from this work can enable the empowerment of patients to voice their priorities during SDM conversations, thus facilitating development of truly individualized diabetes treatment plans.
Revelations from the Clinic: Protective Behaviors and Perceptions among People at High Risk for Severe Illness from COVID-19.

ObjectivesThe CDC has warned of increased risk for severe COVID-19 illness among those with certain preexisting conditions. Protective behaviors such as social distancing and mask-wearing have been...
Methane Hydrate Crystallization on Sessile Water Droplets

This paper describes a method to form methane hydrate shells on water droplets. In addition, it provides blueprints for a pressure cell rated to 10 MPa working pressure, containing a stage for sessile droplets, a sapphire window for visualization, and temperature and pressure transducers. A pressure pump connected to a methane gas cylinder is used to pressurize the cell to 5 MPa. The cooling system is a 10 gallon (37.85 L) tank containing a 50% ethanol solution cooled via ethylene glycol through copper coils. This setup enables the observation of the temperature change associated with hydrate formation and dissociation during cooling and depressurization, respectively, as well as visualization and photography of the morphologic changes of the droplet. With this method, rapid hydrate shell formation was observed at ~-6 °C to -9 °C. During depressurization, a 0.2 °C to 0.5 °C temperature drop was observed at the pressure/temperature (P/T) stability curve due to exothermic hydrate dissociation, confirmed by visual observation of melting at the start of the temperature drop. The "memory effect" was observed after repressurizing to 5 MPa from 2 MPa. This experimental design allows the monitoring of pressure, temperature, and morphology of the droplet over time, making this a suitable method for testing various additives and substrates on hydrate morphology.
Smart Education: Predictive Analytics of Student Academic Performance Using Machine Learning Models in Weka and Dataiku Systems

Smart education and smart universities are based on active use of descriptive, diagnostic, predictive and prescriptive analytics as prescribed by the Gartner’s Data Analytics Ascendancy Model. This paper presents the up-to-date findings and outcomes of the research, design and development project at the InterLabs Research Institute at Bradley University (U.S.A.) aimed at application of a quantitative approach to student academic performance data analytics in general, and innovative Machine Learning (ML) models-based approaches and systems to predictive academic and learning analytics in particular. The goal of this research is to identify the best ML models in the Weka and Dataiku data processing systems based on various forms of student data representation and multiple evaluation criteria for quality of predictive analytics. The analyzed ML models included Support Vector Machine, Naive Bayes, Random Forest, Random Tree, Linear Regression, Logistic Regression, k-Nearest Neighbors, Multilayer Perceptron, J48, and Decision Stump models. The evaluation criteria for predictive analytics included Correlation Coefficient, Mean Absolute Error, Mean Absolute Percentage Error, Root Mean Squared Error, Root Mean Squared Logarithmic Error, R2 Score for regression ML models and Correctly Classified Instances and Incorrectly Classified Instances for classification ML models. The obtained research outcomes provide a well-validated recommendation about what ML models should be used in student academic performance predictive analytics in smart education and smart universities.
HIV transmission through living donor kidney transplant: An 11-year follow-up on the recipient and donor.

HIV transmission via solid organ transplant is a rare but serious complication. Here we describe long term outcomes in a case of living donor derived transmission of HIV in a kidney transplant recipient. After 11 years since transplant surgery, the donor shows no evidence of abnormal renal function while the recipient continues to have a functioning graft. HIV is well controlled both individuals. This single case report highlights the possibility of acceptable long term outcomes in living kidney donors with HIV as well as in donor derived HIV transmission to kidney transplant recipients. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Specific Intensity Direct Current (DC) Electric Field Improves Neural Stem Cell Migration and Enhances Differentiation towards βIII-Tubulin+ Neurons.

Control of stem cell migration and differentiation is vital for efficient stem cell therapy. Literature reporting electric field–guided migration and differentiation is emerging. However, it is unknown if a field that causes cell migration is also capable of guiding cell differentiation—and the mechanisms for these processes remain unclear. Here, we report that a 115 V/m direct current (DC) electric field can induce directional migration of neural precursor cells (NPCs). Whole cell patching revealed that the cell membrane depolarized in the electric field, and buffering of extracellular calcium via EGTA prevented cell migration under these conditions. Immunocytochemical staining indicated that the same electric intensity could also be used to enhance differentiation and increase the percentage of cell differentiation into neurons, but not astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The results indicate that DC electric field of this specific intensity is capable of promoting cell directional migration and orchestrating functional differentiation, suggestively mediated by calcium influx during DC field exposure.
The Mixed-Mode Interface

A major issue in all mixed-mode simulators is the problem of interfacing of two or more simulation modes. This chapter describes the modeling problems of these interfaces and possible solutions. Of course, this problem arises only when elements from different modes of simulation are connected at a common node. There are two possible directions of signal conversion: one from the lower level of simulation (more detailed) to the higher level of simulation (less detailed), and a second going in the opposite direction. For example, logic simulation and electrical simulation require signal conversions from logic to electrical simulation and from electrical to logic simulation. Typically, it is easier to translate a signal from a lower level of simulation to a higher level since the conversion involves removing unnecessary details from the signal. Signal conversions from a higher to a lower level are more difficult since the information required at the lower level is often unavailable at the higher level. In particular, it is the conversion of signals from the logic domain to the electrical domain that is most troublesome. Both types of signal conversions are described in this chapter. A number of examples are used to illustrate potential problems of the various interface models in use today.
Content-based retrieval of functional objects in video using scene context

Functional object recognition in video is an emerging problem for visual surveillance and video understanding problem. By functional objects, we mean objects with specific purpose such as postman and delivery truck, which are defined more by their actions and behaviors than by appearance. In this work, we present an approach for content-based learning and recognition of the function of moving objects given video-derived tracks. In particular, we show that semantic behaviors of movers can be captured in location-independent manner by attributing them with features which encode their relations and actions w.r.t. scene contexts. By scene context, we mean local scene regions with different functionalities such as doorways and parking spots which moving objects often interact with. Based on these representations, functional models are learned from examples and novel instances are identified from unseen data afterwards. Furthermore, recognition in the presence of track fragmentation, due to imperfect tracking, is addressed by a boosting-based track linking classifier. Our experimental results highlight both promising and practical aspects of our approach.
Structure/function of the fourth and fifth EGF domains of thrombomodulin

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses about the structure and function of the essential epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like domains of human thrombomodulin (TM). Both the fourth and fifth domains are necessary and sufficient for TM cofactor activity. The fragment of TM containing only the fifth and sixth EGF-like domains binds to thrombin, but has no cofactor activity. The fifth domain alone inhibits thrombin-induced clotting of fibrinogen and activation of protein C by the thrombin-TM complex, both indicators of thrombin-binding. The results suggest that the fifth domain may bind to thrombin by an induced fit mechanism. However, the fourth domain shows no thrombin binding activity or TM cofactor activity. The fourth domain is rigid and unable to bind without the fifth, and the fifth has non-EGF-like disulfide bonds that give it the flexibility to bind thrombin by an induced fit mechanism. Thus the fourth and fifth domains function together.
Optical memory using an atomic force microscope and a surface micromachined interferometer

Summary form only given. We demonstrate an optical reading technique which uses an atomic force microscope (AFM) and a micromechanically released membrane. Memory optical storage methods involving the AFM or the scanning tunneling microscope (STM) are desirable for their potential applications in extremely high density memory data bit arrays. The densities of bits written using scanning probe microscope tips are more than two orders of magnitude greater than that available with state-of-the-art commercial optical techniques.
High-dose-rate brachytherapy for vaginal rhabdomyosarcoma using a personalized mold in a 20-month old patient

Treatment of vaginal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) with conservative approaches is presently the standard of care. Intravaginal high-dose rate brachytherapy is a very effective treatment while sparing the normal tissue to preserve growth, fertility and prevent organ dysfunction. In this report, we describe the management of an infant with Stage I vaginal RMS, treated with chemotherapy, maximal safe resection and intravaginal brachytherapy using a customized mold and MRI and CT-based three-dimensional (3D) conformal planning, followed by a critical review of the literature. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:531–532. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Quantifying Uncertainty of Digital Elevation Models Derived from Topographic Maps

This paper explores a methodology for quantifying the uncertainty of DEMs created by digitising topographic maps. The origins of uncertainty in DEM production were identified and examined. The uncertainty of DEM data was quantified by computing a vector total of Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) from the source map, sampling and measurement errors, and the interpolation process. Distributional measures including accuracy surfaces, spatial autocorrelation indices, and variograms were also employed to quantify the magnitude and spatial pattern of the uncertainty. The test for this methodology utilises a portion of a 1:24 000 topographic map centred on Stone Mountain in northeastern Georgia, USA. Five DEMs, constructed with different interpolation algorithms, are found to have the total RMSE ranging from 4.39 to 9.82 meters, and a highly concentrated pattern of uncertainty in rugged terrain. This study suggests that the RMSE provides only a general indicator of DEM uncertainty. Detailed studies should use distributional measures to understand how the uncertainty varies over a surface.
Taxol and Anti-Stathmin Therapy: A Synergistic Combination that Targets the Mitotic Spindle

Stathmin is an abundant cytosolic phosphoprotein that plays an important role in the regulation of cellular proliferation. Its major function is to promote depolymerization of the microtubules that make up the mitotic spindle. Taxol is an effective chemotherapeutic agent whose activity is mediated through stabilization of the microtubules of the mitotic spindle. We demonstrate that antisense inhibition of stathmin expression chemosensitizes K562 leukemic cells to the antitumor effects of Taxol and results in a synergistic inhibition of their growth and clonogenic potential. In the presence of stathmin inhibition, exposure to Taxol results in more severe mitotic abnormalities (hypodiploidy and multinucleation). This, in turn, results in increased apoptosis of the aneuploid cells during subsequent cell division cycles. This novel molecular-based therapeutic approach may provide an effective form of cancer therapy that would avoid the severe toxicities associated with the use of multiple chemotherapeutic agents with overlapping toxicity profiles.
PARENTS IN DISTRESS

State legislatures and courts continue to struggle with the issue of providing reunification services to mentally ill parents. Recent case law highlights the lack of uniformity among the states and the courts in establishing a standard for a state's duty to provide reunification services to mentally ill parents. This article examines how inconsistencies among the courts work against mentally ill parents in their pursuit of family reunification. Furthermore, the article discusses the inadequacies of servcies offered to mentally ill parents. The author argues that society and mentally ill parents benefit from imposing a duty on provide reunification services to mentally ill parents.
Mitigation of Inflammation-Induced Mood Dysregulation by Long-Chain Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Although evidence suggests that chronic elevations in immune-inflammatory signaling can precipitate mood symptoms in a subset of individuals, associated risk and resilience mechanisms remain poorly understood. Long-chain omega-3 (LCn-3) fatty acids, including eicosapentaenic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), have anti-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving properties that maintain immune-inflammatory signaling homeostasis. Cross-sectional evidence suggests that the mood disorders major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder are associated with low EPA and/or DHA biostatus, elevations in the LCn-6:LCn-3 fatty acid ratio, and elevated levels of pro-inflammatory eicosanoids, cytokines, and acute-phase proteins. Medications that are effective for reducing depressive symptoms or stabilizing manic depressive oscillations may act in part by downregulating immune-inflammatory signaling and are augmented by anti-inflammatory medications. Recent prospective longitudinal evidence suggests that elevations in the LCn-6:LCn-3 fatty acid ratio are a modifiable risk factor for the development of mood symptoms, including depression and irritability, in response to immune-inflammatory signaling. Together these data suggest that increasing LCn-3 fatty acid intake and biostatus represents a feasible strategy to mitigate the negative impact of elevated immune-inflammatory signaling on mood stability. Key teaching points: • Long-chain omega-3 (LCn-3) fatty acids have anti-inflammatory and inflammation-resolving properties. • Major mood disorders are associated with both LCn-3 fatty acids deficiency and elevated immune-inflammatory signaling. • Prospective evidence suggests that low LCn-3 fatty acid biostatus increases risk for developing inflammation-induced mood dysregulation. • Taken collectively, this evidence suggests that increasing LCn-3 fatty acid intake and biostatus represents a promising strategy to mitigate the detrimental effects of elevated immune-inflammatory signaling on mood.
Improving the performance of out-of-core computations

The difficulty of handling out-of-core data limits the potential of parallel machines and high-end supercomputers. Since writing an efficient out-of-core version of a program is a difficult task and since virtual memory systems do not perform well on scientific computations, we believe that there is a clear need for compiler-directed explicit I/O approach for out-of-core computations. In this paper, we present a compiler algorithm to optimize locality of disk accesses in out-of-core codes by choosing a good combination of file layouts on disks and loop transformations. The transformations change the access order of array data. Experimental results obtained on IBM SP-2 and Intel Paragon provide encouraging evidence that our approach is successful at optimizing programs which depend on disk-resident data in distributed-memory machines.
Comparison of synovial fluid culture and 16S rRNA PCR in dogs with suspected septic arthritis

Objective To prospectively compare the sensitivity and speciﬁc-ity of 16S rRNA PCR with culture for identifying the causative or-ganism in synovial ﬂuid obtained from dogs with suspectedseptic arthritis.Methods Synovial ﬂuid cytology, PCR analysis and aerobic, an-aerobic and Mycoplasma culture of samples from the affectedjoints of 18 dogs presenting with suspected septic arthritis wereperformed. Synovial ﬂuid samples from the corresponding contra-lateral joints of 7 dogs were also analysed as negative controls.Results There was no signiﬁcant difference between the sensi-tivity of bacterial detection via culture (63.2%) versus PCR (73.7%)of synovial ﬂuid (P=0.728) or between culture and combinedPCR and culture (89.5%) of synovial ﬂuid (P=0.124). The speciﬁcityof PCR (42.9%) was signiﬁcantly lower than culture speciﬁcity(100%) (P=0.07).Conclusion Although16SPCRmayhold potentialasanancillarydiagnostic test for identifying the causative organism in dogs withseptic arthritis, our study failed to demonstrate improved accuracycompared with traditional synovial ﬂuid culture.Keywords bacterial culture; cytology; dogs; septic arthritis; syno-vial ﬂuid
Electron-diffraction study of a one-layer free-standing hexatic liquid-crystal film

We report the successful formation of stable one-layer free-standing films of $n{\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{y}\mathrm{l}\ensuremath{-}4}^{\ensuremath{'}}\ensuremath{-}n\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{y}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{x}\mathrm{y}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{i}\mathrm{p}\mathrm{h}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{y}\mathrm{l}\ensuremath{-}4\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{r}\mathrm{b}\mathrm{o}\mathrm{x}\mathrm{y}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{a}\mathrm{t}\mathrm{e}$ on which structural measurements have been made using electron diffraction. We show that the scaling relation among the $6n$-fold bond-orientational order parameters in the single-domain hexatic-$B$ phase in a one-layer film is identical to that reported earlier in a two-layer film. This implies that a two-layer film indeed approaches the two-dimensional limit.
Fracture permeability and water–rock interaction in a shallow volcanic groundwater reservoir and the concern of its interaction with the deep geothermal reservoir of Mt. Amiata, Italy

Abstract The study of core samples and in-hole data of a 545 m deep well drilled in Mt. Amiata extinct volcano allowed a better characterization of the shallow volcanic reservoir, which is exploited for domestic utilization. The new discovery is that: 1) the water table level is at a depth of 302 m b.g.l. (783 m a.s.l.), in agreement with recent magnetotelluric surveys, and in disagreement with previous hydrogeological models; 2) there is no evidence of present or past interaction with geothermal fluids, the alteration minerals being present only in fractures within the volcanic rocks and indicating fluids of low temperature and relatively low pH due to gas inlets in the volcanic reservoir; and 3) the volcanic reservoir is characterized by fracture permeability, as shown by the fracture system along the well. On the base of these new data the previous geological and hydrogeological models of Mt. Amiata should be revised. In particular, the hypothesis of a catastrophic lowering of the water table in a short time span is unlikely.
A resource-allocation mechanism for multiagent networks

The nature of computer networks and the manner in which network services are provided are changing dramatically. Network architectures that employ virtual mobile agents to provide services are under development. We describe Price Propagation, which is based on pricing in market economies. It is a decentralized adaptive mechanism for regulating agent behavior, with the goal of allocating computational resources optimally.
Purification and partial characterization of the enzyme for the hydroxylation of proline in protocollagen

A 200-fold purification was obtained for the enzyme which hydroxylates proline residues in protocollagen, the polypeptide precursor of collagen. Essentially all of the enzymic activity was recovered in the soluble protein fraction of chick embryo homogenates. Ferrous iron, ascorbate, and α-ketoglutarate were cofactors for the reaction with purified enzyme. The enzyme did not hydroxylate free proline, and it did not hydroxylate either the tripeptide, glycyl-l-prolyl-l-proline, or poly-l-proline II with a molecular weight of about 15,000. The synthetic polytripeptide, (14C-l-prolylglycyl-l-prolyl)n, with a molecular weight of about 4000 was hydroxylated, and the results indicated that the enzyme is specific for proline in the second position after glycine, the position in which the hydroxyproline in collagen is found. A 30-fold purified preparation of the enzyme also hydroxylated lysine residues in protocollagen, and the cofactor requirements were similar to those for the hydroxylation of proline-labeled protocollagen. The question of whether a single enzyme performs both hydroxylations was not resolved, but the general characteristics of the enzyme or enzymes suggest that it might be appropriate to call them protocollagen hydroxylases.
Employee Involvement to Improve Safety in the Workplace: An Ethical Imperative

Companies in general have not lived up to their ethical responsibility in assisting workers in decreasing workrelated accidents and illnesses. This paper presents a systematic four‐stage employee involvement model that was successful in transforming a company’s culture to become a model for preserving workers’ rights to safe working conditions. By changing the prevailing management ideology on safety, the model offers a positive solution to improving workplace safety and morale, while preserving the workers’ rights to be involved in decisions that affect the quality of their lives.
Autothermal reactors with internal heat exchang—I Numerical and experimental studies in the multiple steady-state region

Abstract Detailed numerical and experimental studies in the multiple steady-state region of an autothermal reactor with internal countercurrent heat exchange were conducted. The mildly exothermic water-gas shift reaction was used in the studies. In this distributed-parameter system multiple steady states were found experimentally. Although significant radial and longitudinal temperature gradients exist, one-dimensional (radially-lumped) simulations predict mean behavior quite well. For two-dimensional simulations, Legendre polynomial trial functions give faster convergence than Jacobi polynomials when using orthogonal collocation methods. Inflections in the radial temperature gradients were measured near the hot spot although not predicted by the simulations. Significant temperature jumps at the inner wall upstream of the hot spot were also measured. Production of hydrogen could be conducted at surprisingly mild conditions if the reactor could be controlled in a stable mode essentially identical to the middle unstable steady state.