cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Late Pliocene climatic change and the onset of Northern Hemisphere glaciation as recorded in the northeast Atlantic Ocean

The relative abundances of planktonic Foraminifera, oxygen-isotope values of benthic Foraminifera, and the sedimentology of 156 samples from Deep Sea Drilling Project–International Phase of Ocean Drilling Site 548 in the northeast Atlantic Ocean, have been analyzed for the time span from about 3.5 to 2.0 m.y. B.P. The planktonic assemblage at Site 548 in the late Pliocene consisted mainly of subpolar to temperate species; warm-water species were rare. The planktonic record shows that waters in the northeast Atlantic were warm-temperate before 3.4 m.y. ago and gradually changed to subpolar, through a series of steps, by 2.0 m.y. B.P. An initial cooling event occurred between about 3.4 and 3.1 m.y. B.P. The beginning of this cooling event preceded the global benthic isotopic shift at 3.2 to 3.1 m.y. B.P., but the isotopic shift correlates to a marked change in the planktonic assemblage, suggesting that the cause of the shift also affected northeast Atlantic surface circulation. Following the 3.4 to 3.1 m.y. B.P. cooling event, the assemblages at Site 548 indicate a return of temperate waters. At this time, however, the assemblages also became quite variable with a clear cyclicity. From about 2.6 m.y. B.P. onward, there is a progressive cooling recorded at Site 548, leading to marked glaciations beginning at about 2.4 m.y. B.P. About 2.0 m.y. B.P. the planktonic assemblages were dominated by cold-water species and became quite stable, contrasting markedly with the immediately preceding interval of glaciation and extreme variability. The cyclicity seen in the faunal data after about 3.1 m.y. B.P. is principally of one period, with a cycle length closest to that of the Earth9s obliquity and its influence on global insolation. The effect of obliquity on the Earth9s insolation is most strongly felt at high latitudes, and so the cyclicity at Site 548 indicates that conditions in the Arctic have exerted an influence on the northeast Atlantic since at least 3 m.y. ago. Calculation of global insolation fluctuations for the late Pliocene shows that the major changes in the planktonic record at Site 548 cannot be explained by insolation variation, except for the period of stability at 2.0 m.y. B.P., which corresponds to a time of stable insolation. The planktonic data, however, do contain cyclicity that can be related to the periodicity of the Earth9s orbital elements.
Instruction sets and their implementations

A view of some of the major issues facing architects and designers in the nineties is presented. For example, as processor cycles shorten the number of cycles per instruction increases, since cache/memory access time does not scale with processor speed. Thus, the kind of tradeoffs applicable in the eighties may be quite different in the nineties. >
A Runway Configuration Management (RCM) model with marginally decreasing transition capacities

The Runway Configuration Management (RCM) problem governs what combinations of airport runways are in use at a given time, and to what capacity. These are defined in terms of configurations (groupings of runways), operating under Runway Configuration Capacity Envelopes (RCCEs) which limit arrival and departure capacities. The RCCE identifies unique capacities constraints based on which tarmacs are used for arrivals, departures, or both, and their direction of travel. When switching between RCCEs, some decrement in arrival and departure capacities is incurred by the transition. Previous RCM models [1] have accounted for this cost through a required period of inactivity. In this paper, we instead focus on the introduction and assessment of a model capable of marginally decreasing RCCE capacities during configuration transitions. A transition penalty matrix is introduced, specifying the relative costs (in terms of accepted arrival and departure capacities) for switching between RCCEs i and j as a p ij entry in the matrix. Although incurring inherent computational costs, this new model benefits from allowing customizable transition penalties which more closely represent real world conditions, and thereby increases model accuracy.
Self-Expandable Metallic Airway Stents and Flexible Bronchoscopy: Long-term Outcomes Analysis

Study objectives To report and analyze our 6-year experience with implanting 112 self-expandable metallic stents (SEMSs) using flexible bronchoscopy (FB). Design and setting Retrospective study, tertiary-care hospital. Patients and methods The studied population consisted of 82 patients (mean age, 59.1 years; range, 37 to 83 years), who received SEMSs from 1995 to 2001 using Wallstent (Boston Scientific; Galway, Ireland) or Ultraflex (Boston Scientific) stents. Results The indications for stent placement were airway obstruction caused by neoplasia (lung carcinoma [CA], n = 50), airway complications of lung transplantation (LTx) [n = 11], and miscellaneous benign conditions (BCs) [n = 21]. The most frequent clinical presentations for the airway obstruction were moderate-to-severe dyspnea (80%) and coughing (45%). The median follow-up duration for the CA group was 42.0 days (range, 1 to 672 days), 329.0 days (range, 35 to 1,540 days) for patients receiving LTx, and 336.0 days (range, 7 to 2,184 days) for the patients with miscellaneous BCs. The observed complications included infection (15.9%), obstructive granulomas (14.6%), and migration (4.7%). The incidence of granulomas was significantly lower in the patients with CA (4.0%) vs LTx and BC groups (17.3% and 33.3% respectively; p = 0.002). All other assessed variables showed no difference between the three analyzed groups. No cases of mucus plugging or fatal hemoptysis were observed. Forty-four patients (53.7%) had no complications related to the SEMS. The incidence of complications was not related to the type of stent (Wallstent or Ultraflex) or SEMS version (covered or uncovered). Fourteen of the 16 patients (87.5%) who were receiving mechanical ventilation could be weaned after the procedure. There were no deaths related to SEMS placement. Conclusions An SEMS is a safe and effective modality for malignant as well as selected benign airway obstruction. An SEMS is an acceptable therapeutic alternative in patients with central airway obstruction who are not considered good surgical candidates and are receiving mechanical ventilation. Careful patient selection is of outmost importance for a good outcome after airway stenting. Insertion using FB adds to the ease of the procedure.
The folate receptor as a molecular target for tumor-selective radionuclide delivery

The cell-membrane folate receptor is a potential molecular target for tumor-selective drug delivery, including radiolabeled folate-chelate conjugates for diagnostic imaging. We review here some background on the folate receptor as tumor-associated molecular target for drug delivery, and briefly survey the literature on tumor-targeting with radiolabeled folate-chelate conjugates.
Unraveling the effects of multiple life changes. A reanalysis.

A previous article demonstrated the importance of considering life changes that occur at or near the time of retirement when examining the effects of retirement. Specifically, it was shown that fai...
Anticholinesterase (DFP) toxicity antagonism by chronic donepezil: A potential nerve agent treatment

Animal studies exploring the antagonism of irreversible cholinesterase inhibitors (i.e. nerve agents) such as soman and sarin have shown that pretreatment with the reversible centrally acting cholinesterase inhibitor, physostigmine, alone or in conjunction with the centrally acting anticholinergic drug, scopolamine, antagonizes the lethality and toxicity of these agents. This study evaluated the effects of pretreatment with the oral cholinesterase inhibitor and anti-Alzheimer's agent, donepezil (Aricept) on the hypokinetic, hypothermic and diarrhea-inducing effects of the irreversible long-acting cholinesterase inhibitor, diisopropylfluorophosphate (DFP) in adult Sprague-Dawley rats. Donepezil (2 mg/kg), given acutely (30 min pretreatment) or chronically (10 daily treatments), significantly antagonized the hypothermia, hypoactivity and diarrhea induced by DFP (1.25 mg/kg) administration. The effects were most prominent 4 and 6 h after the injection of DFP and some protection was observed even when the last treatment of the chronic donepezil protocol was given 24 h before the DFP injection. Although these phenomena are not the same as lethality, they may be parallel phenomena, and our results may have therapeutic implications for the treatment of nerve agent toxicity.
A Method for Estimating Planetary Boundary Layer Heights and Its Application over the ARM Southern Great Plains Site

AbstractA new objective method to determine the height of the planetary boundary layer (PBL) is presented here. PBL heights are computed using the statistical variance and kurtosis of dewpoint and virtual potential temperature differences measured from radio soundings at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) program at the Southern Great Plains (SGP) site. These heights are compared with those derived from lidar, also on the site, and with gridded model data from the North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR). A climatology of mean heights in the early (1800 UTC) and late (0000 UTC) afternoon from 2002 to 2010 is presented to show the effectiveness of the method. Future work using the new method include producing an observational climatology of PBL heights and understanding the aerosol loading within the PBL as well as a better understanding of the coupling between the surface and free atmosphere.
Growth of an urban economy

The growth path of a small urban economy is considered producing a single good with capital and labor. Factors move between the urban economy and the rest of the nation in response to wage and rental rate differentials. In the case of agglomeration economies a minimum urban threshold size is shown to exist below which the local economy will decay and above which it will grow.
SAW resonator design and fabrication for 2.0, 2.6 and 3.3 GHz

Direct-write electron-beam lithography has been used to fabricate surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) resonators in quartz at 2.05, 2.60, and 3.30 GHz. Typical 2.05-GHz devices show unloaded Q factors of about 2700 and insertion losses of about 9 dB. The best 2.60-GHz devices have unloaded Q of about 2000 with insertion losses less than 11 dB. Preliminary 3.3-GHz devices have shown unloaded Q of about 1600 and insertion losses of 17 dB. These results are for devices tested in chip form in a 50- Omega system. The fabrication of a fundamental-mode resonator with center frequency exceeding 2.6 GHz is claimed to be unmatched in the literature. These results are due in part to improvements in design and electron-beam direct-write capabilities. Design and fabrication of SAW resonators above 2 GHz are described, test results for several wafers including preliminary phase noise measurements for devices at 2 GHz are reported, and problems associated with testing these devices are discussed. >
Improved Techniques for Making P+-I-N+ Diode Detectors

Techniques for achieving a thin dead layer exhibiting low sheet resistance on the n+ side of a p+-i-n+ diode made by the lithium drift process have been developed. A controlled quantity of lithium was diffused through a 1-to 2-micron phosphorus doped layer on the silicon diode. The phosphorus doped layer provided low sheet resistance. Because most of the lithium diffused layer was drifted into the bulk material, dead layers of less than 7 microns thickness were achieved. Detectors made by this technique have given 23 kev (fwhm) resolution for gamma rays and monoenergetic electrons at room temperature limited by diode noise. Detectors cooled to 78°-195°K gave 6.5 kev resolution for Cs137 conversion electrons (625, 655 kev) and Pb207 x-rays (74, 90 kev). Detectors stored without bias voltage at room temperature did not change performance over a four-month period. An analysis of the drift parameters has shown that the lithium drift rate depended upon the power dissipated in the diode during drift. An automatic control system was developed which allows the lithium drift operation to proceed at power dissipations in excess of 50 watts.
Optical performance monitoring of data degradation by evaluating the deformation of an asynchronously generated I/Q data constellation

We present a technique of using asynchronously generated constellation pattern to simultaneously monitor CD and first order PMD in DQPSK systems. By characterizing deformations in the patterns, the amount of accumulated CD and PMD can be estimated.
RTComposer: a framework for real-time components with scheduling interfaces

We present a framework for component-based design and scheduling of real-time embedded software. Each component has a clearly specified interface that includes the methods used for sensing, computation, and actuation, along with a requirement given as a regular set of macro-schedules. Each macro-schedule is an infinite sequence that specifies, for every time slot, the set of component methods invoked in that slot. The macro-scheduler composes the specifications of all the components, along with the platform specification that constrains which methods can be executed within a single slot, to generate a feasible macro-schedule. Within a slot, we use logical execution time semantics, and this micro-scheduling is implemented on top of a native priority-based scheduler. With this approach, each component can be specified and analyzed in a platform-independent way, and at the same time, the performance can vary with changing load and changing processing speed. We describe an implementation using Real-Time Java. Scheduling specifications can be given as periodic tasks, or using temporal logic, or as omega-automata. Components can be added dynamically, and non-real-time components are allowed. We demonstrate the benefits of the approach using case studies.
On the broadband continuous excitation of surface-plasmon-polariton waves in an amorphous silicon solar cell (Presentation Recording)

Currently, the surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) waves can be excited only at certain wavelength and certain incidence angle. It is remarkably noticed that the wavenumber of the SPP waves decreases as the incident wavelength increases. This stands against the continuous excitation of SPP waves at certain incidence angle using a practical grating configuration. We hypothesized that the theoretical modeling of SPP waves guided by the interface of a dielectric grating and a metal will help to solve that problem. The aim of the study is to prove that the proposed grating/metal configuration has propensity of guiding SPP waves of relative wavenumber that increases as the incident electromagnetic wavelength increases. This may enable the continuous excitation of SPP waves. The successful attempt of proving the aim of this study will validate the excitation of SPP waves at certain incidence angle but at wider range of incident wavelength. This result will have a great impact on the communication and energy harvesting applications. The rigorous coupled wave analysis (RCWA) is used to solve the Maxwell equations in its differential form. The Newton-Raphson method is used to solve the dispersion equation at the grating/metal interface for the SPP wavenumber. This provides the wavenumber of the SPP waves that can propagate at the grating metal interface. A study for the SPP wave energy decay will also be made through the calculation of the Poynting vector, and show that the propagating SPP waves decay away from the grating/metal interface, which infers the surfacing property of the propagating waves.
Dual Modulation of Nociception and Cardiovascular Reflexes during Peripheral Ischemia through P2Y1 Receptor-Dependent Sensitization of Muscle Afferents

Numerous musculoskeletal pain disorders are based in dysfunction of peripheral perfusion and are often comorbid with altered cardiovascular responses to muscle contraction/exercise. We have recently found in mice that 24 h peripheral ischemia induced by a surgical occlusion of the brachial artery (BAO) induces increased paw-guarding behaviors, mechanical hypersensitivity, and decreased grip strength. These behavioral changes corresponded to increased heat sensitivity as well as an increase in the numbers of chemosensitive group III/IV muscle afferents as assessed by an ex vivo forepaw muscles/median and ulnar nerves/dorsal root ganglion (DRG)/spinal cord (SC) recording preparation. Behaviors also corresponded to specific upregulation of the ADP-responsive P2Y1 receptor in the DRGs. Since group III/IV muscle afferents have separately been associated with regulating muscle nociception and exercise pressor reflexes (EPRs), and P2Y1 has been linked to heat responsiveness and phenotypic switching in cutaneous afferents, we sought to determine whether upregulation of P2Y1 was responsible for the observed alterations in muscle afferent function, leading to modulation of muscle pain-related behaviors and EPRs after BAO. Using an afferent-specific siRNA knockdown strategy, we found that inhibition of P2Y1 during BAO not only prevented the increased mean blood pressure after forced exercise, but also significantly reduced alterations in pain-related behaviors. Selective P2Y1 knockdown also prevented the increased firing to heat stimuli and the BAO-induced phenotypic switch in chemosensitive muscle afferents, potentially through regulating membrane expression of acid sensing ion channel 3. These results suggest that enhanced P2Y1 in muscle afferents during ischemic-like conditions may dually regulate muscle nociception and cardiovascular reflexes. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Our current results suggest that P2Y1 modulates heat responsiveness and chemosensation in muscle afferents to play a key role in the development of pain-related behaviors during ischemia. At the same time, under these pathological conditions, the changes in muscle sensory neurons appear to modulate an increase in mean systemic blood pressure after exercise. This is the first report of the potential peripheral mechanisms by which group III/IV muscle afferents can dually regulate muscle nociception and the exercise pressor reflex. These data provide evidence related to the potential underlying reasons for the comorbidity of muscle pain and altered sympathetic reflexes in disease states that are based in problems with peripheral perfusion and may indicate a potential target for therapeutic intervention.
Identification of endogenous substrates of orphan cytochrome P450 enzymes through the use of untargeted metabolomics approaches.

Metabolomics provides an invaluable means to interrogate the function of “orphan” enzymes, i.e., those whose endogenous substrates are not known. Here we describe a high performance liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS)-based metabolomics approach to identify an endogenous substrate of an orphan cytochrome P450.
Electrical Analysis and Modeling of 3D Through-Strata-Vias (TSVs) and Pads

Through-strata-via (TSV) is one of the most attractive3D integration solutions in that it offers a massive number of short interstrata connects, high data bandwidth, reduced delay and power consumption, small footprint, improved yield, heterogeneous integration and reduced volume-production cost. This work attempts to investigate the TSV signal integrity and, particularly, compares the performance among different TSV and pad combinations. Transient analysis, eye diagram and bathtub curves show a good behavior of TSV signal integrity in the time domain. Regarding to frequency response, the set of circular TSV and circular pad offers a slightly better performance than other shapes. When a misalignment is so large that the TSV does not land completely within the pad, the TSV frequency response is affected considerably. A big pad size degrades performance and decreases trace density, while a thinner pad would enhance process throughput and reduce cost. Simulation results also indicate that rather than using m...
Hydrodynamic Memory Effect on Stability, Bifurcation, and Chaos of Two-Point Mooring Systems

The stability properties of two-point mooring systems governed by their slow horizontal motions are studied theoretically. The often-neglected memory effect due to hydrodynamic wave loads change-in some cases critically-the stability boundaries in the system design space. The third-order maneuvering equations and a nonlinear elastic spring model are used to describe the dynamics of the moored vessel and the mooring lines, respectively. The resulting model accurately represents a two-point mooring system and can be used for stability analysis in the sense of Lyapunov. The stability charts of mooring systems with memory effects exhibit considerable differences from systems without memory in local regions of bifurcation diagrams. Further, the pattern of these changes of stability boundaries varies with the hydrodynamic properties of the moored vessel and/or the environmental conditions. The findings of this study suggest that the number of influencing design parameters can be much more than the present stability theory of dynamical systems can handle. They prove, however, that neglecting the memory effect may result in selecting unsafe configurations of two-point mooring systems.
Growth and Texture of Polycrystalline Thin Films

Two dimensional non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations are performed to study microstructural evolution during the growth of polycrystalline thin films. Attention is focused on the interaction between grain boundaries and voids which form during deposition, and on the development of a preferred, crystallographic texture during film growth. In an intermediate temperature regime, where the film is cold enough to allow void formation but hot enough to allow grain boundary motion, boundaries move such as to attach themselves to voids as the voids form from depressions in the film surface. At lower temperatures, the boundaries have insufficient mobility to migrate toward the voids. At higher temperatures, films grow in the absence of voids. At low deposition kinetic energies, there is no tendency for polycrystalline films to develop a preferred texture. At moderate or high energy deposition kinetic energies, however, as in the case of magnetron sputtering, significant texture formation can result due to preferential (re)sputtering of atoms from the surface of grains with low-binding-energy exposed surfaces. Such preferential (re)sputtering provides a height advantage for grains possessing high-binding-energy exposed surfaces. The taller grains are seen to widen as deposition continues, resulting in the development of a preferred crystallographic orientation.
Adult vaccination: Current recommendations and future prospects

Vaccination of children has had a major impact on the morbidity and mortality of many infectious diseases globally. However, with age, immune responses to vaccines can be less robust, which can be further enhanced by underlying diseases that are common in the older adult. In many countries around the globe booster vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis are recommended for adults. For the older adult, vaccination against pneumococcal diseases, influenza and herpes zoster are also recommended. Despite these recommendations, the widespread use of these vaccines in the adult population clearly lags behind the vaccine uptake and successes documented for pediatric vaccination programs. Furthermore, extensive and sometimes inappropriate use of antibiotics have fostered the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (e.g., methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)) as well as increased susceptibility in the elderly to bacterial species such as Clostridium difficile. Infectious diseases r...
Effect of A1PO4 on antibody response.

SummaryGroups of mice were inoculated once with graded dilutions of either aluminum phosphate adsorbed or aqueous influenza hemagglutinin vaccine containing A2/Taiwan/1/64 as a primary immunization. Sixty days later each group was divided: one half was given aqueous vaccine and the other, aluminum phosphate adsorbed hemagglutinin. The dose was the same strength as the first. The postbooster antibody response was higher in those groups who had received mineral carrier adsorbed vaccine as the first inoculation (p = .01) indicating that aluminum phosphate adsorbed hemagglutinin is a better conditioner for the secondary response than is aqueous vaccine.
7 A RARE CASE OF CHRONIC MENINGITIS IN MISSISSIPPI.

Case Report A 28-year-old Guatemalan male presented with headache, neck stiffness, and fevers without chills. Lumbar puncture was performed and was consistent with viral meningitis. A tuberculin skin test placed was reactive at 48 hours to 16 mm. Multiple sputums for AFB were negative on smear and culture; chest radiography was normal. The patient9s symptoms improved, and he was discharged on isoniazid for latent tuberculosis (TB). The patient returned with worsening headaches, nausea, fevers, confusion, agitation, and gate instability. Repeat lumbar puncture revealed no additional diagnostic information. The patient was again admitted and started empirically on broad-spectrum antibiotics, antiviral agents, and antiTB agents. He continued to deteriorate, with worsening mental status and neurological examination. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed increased intracranial pressure with extensive enhancement in the subarachnoid spaces at the base of the brain and extensive nonenhancing T2 prolongation within the adjacent basal ganglia and capsular region and inferoposterior frontal region consistent with basilar meningoencephalitis. He eventually required intubation with mechanical ventilation. Deterioration continued to the point of clinically evident brainstem herniation and brain death. Autopsy revealed a 1 cm granuloma in the patient9s left lung and thick gelatinous exudates surrounding the brainstem. Microscopic examination revealed multiple nonbudding thick walled spherules of variable diameter containing numerous small nonbudding endospores consistent with coccidiomycosis. Discussion This case appears to be one of the few cases reported in Mississippi. Coccidioidal involvement of the central nervous system frequently causes chronic meningitis. This may be confused with other causes of granulomatous chronic meningitis, such as TB. Symptoms of coccidioidal meningitis differ little from other causes of meningitis. Physical examination does not help differentiate between coccidioidal meningitis and other forms of chronic meningitis. Contrasted MRI early in the course of disease frequently shows the typical basilar cysternal findings associated with coccidiococcal meningitis. These areas of inhancement represent areas of increased localized organisms. Untreated, coccidioidal meningitis is uniformly fatal. Treatment includes antifungal agents such as fluconazole; however, treatment failures do occur. Hydrocephalus may occur regardless of therapy and may require a ventriculoperitoneal shunt procedure; however, this does not necessarily represent treatment failure or a need to change antifungal therapy. The most common cause of death in these patients is vasculitis, leading to cerebral infarction and hemorrhage. Lack of exposure to this disease in the state of Mississippi likely contributed to the difficulty in diagnosing this case.
The use of ionizing radiation in the preservation of food

Publisher Summary This chapter explains food irradiation which is a relatively new and revolutionary process with essentially the same objectives as those of the traditional methods of food preservation which include extending shelf-life and reducing the incidence of food-borne diseases. Radiation-preservation provides a remarkable technological versatility with far reaching implications to the important issues of world hunger, health and disease, and political unrest. The irradiation treatment involves exposure of the food, under controlled conditions, to high speed electrons or X-rays from machine sources or to radiant energy from gamma rays. The irradiation treatment causes minimal changes in appearance and allows good nutrition retention, as it is a “cold” process. Two types of radiation sources are primarily used in food irradiation. They are: radionuclide and machine radiation. There has been a significant increase in the understanding of the chemical, physical and biological effects of ionizing radiation on food and methodology of irradiation detection. Remarkable advances have also been made in industrial irradiation technology, design of food irradiation plants, dosimetry, and commercial applications. Combination of irradiation with heat treatment or with the addition of certain additives like antioxidants is being further explored.
Safe Strategies for Gradual Suspension and Reinstitution of Anticoagulation to Permit Elective Surgery

The suspension of anticoagulation before elective surgery—and its subsequent reinstitution—is a source of great debate in neurosurgery. Limited information is available for neurosurgical patients from high-quality randomized trials. Neurosurgical procedures are typically performed in closed spaces that do not tolerate even small hematoma volumes, and therefore the generalizability of recommendations from other surgical specialties is highly suspect. The field of iatrogenic anticoagulation has changed significantly with the recent emergence of a new generation of oral anticoagulants. The evidence continues to point to improved safety—with comparable or improved efficacy—of these medications. These medications currently do not have readily available antidotes in the case of an acute hemorrhage. Antiplatelet therapy has also expanded with the increased numbers of intracardiac and intracranial stenting procedures. Any elective neurosurgical procedure in the chronically anticoagulated patient must be of clear benefit, and this benefit must outweigh both the risk of thromboembolic complications when patients are taken off these medications as well as the risk of postoperative hematoma when these medications are restarted postoperatively. Patients and families must be thoroughly informed of the risks of a “drug holiday” in this perioperative period.
The Role of Program Directors in Treatment Practices: The Case of Methadone Dose Patterns in U.S. Outpatient Opioid Agonist Treatment Programs.

Objective To describe changes in characteristics of directors of outpatient opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs, and to examine the association between directors’ characteristics and low methadone dosage. Data Source Repeated cross-sectional surveys of OAT programs in the United States from 1995 to 2011. Study Design We used generalized linear regression models to examine associations between directors’ characteristics and methadone dose, adjusting for program and patient factors. Data Collection Data were collected through telephone surveys of program directors. Principal Findings The proportion of OAT programs with an African American director declined over time, from 29 percent in 1995 to 16 percent in 2011. The median percentage of patients in each program receiving <60 mg/day declined significantly, from 48.5 percent in 1995 to 29 percent in 2005 and 23 percent in 2011. Programs with an African American director were significantly more likely to provide low methadone doses than other programs. This association was even stronger in programs with an African American director who served populations with higher percentages of African American patients. Conclusions Demographic characteristics of OAT program directors (e.g., their race) may play a key role in explaining variations in methadone dosage across programs and patients. Further research should investigate the causal pathways through which directors’ characteristics affect treatment practices. This may lead to new, multifaceted managerial interventions to improve patient outcomes.
Leveraging ECC to Mitigate Read Disturbance, False Reads and Write Faults in STT-RAM

Designing reliable systems using scaled Spin-Transfer Torque Random Access Memory (STT-RAM) has become a significant challenge as the memory technology feature size is scaled down. The introduction of a more prominent read disturbance is a key contributor in this reliability challenge. However, techniques to address read disturbance are often considered in a vacuum that assumes other concerns like transient read errors (false reads) and write faults do not occur. This paper studies several techniques that leverage ECC to mitigate persistent errors resulting from read disturbance and write faults of STT-RAM while still considering the impact of transient errors of false reads. In particular, we study three policies to enable better-than-conservative read disturbance mitigation. The first policy, write after error (WAE), uses ECC to detect errors and write back data to clear persistent errors. The second policy, write after persistent error (WAP), filters out false reads by reading a second time when an error is detected leading to trade-off between write and read energy. The third policy, write after error threshold (WAT), leaves cells with incorrect data behind (up to a threshold) when the number of errors is less than the ECC capability. To evaluate the effectiveness of the different schemes and compare with the simple previously proposed scheme of writing after every read (WAR), we model these policies using Markov processes. This approach allows the determination of appropriate bit error rates in the context of both persistent and transient errors to accurately estimate the system reliability and the energy consumption of different error correction approaches. Our evaluations show that each of these policies provides benefits for different error scenarios. Moreover some approaches can save energy by an average of 99.5%, while incurring the same reliability as other approaches.
Numerical Simulation of the Effects of Preheating on Electron Beam Additive Manufactured Ti-6Al-4V Build Plate

In an earlier study, a 3-D thermomechanical coupled finite element model was built and experimentally validated to investigate the evolution of the thermal residual stresses and distortions in electron beam additive manufactured Ti-6Al-4V build plates. In this study, an investigation using this robust and accurate model was focused on an efficient preheating method, in which the electron beam quickly scanned across the substrate to preheat the build plate prior to the deposition. Various preheat times, beam powers, scan rates, scanning paths and cooling times (between the end of current preheat scan/deposition layer and the beginning of the next preheat scan/deposition layer) were examined, and the maximum distortion along the centerline of the substrate and the maximum longitudinal residual stress along the normal direction on the middle cross-section of the build plate were quantitatively compared. The results show that increasing preheat times and beam powers could effectively reduce both distortion and residual stress for multiple layers/passes components.
Drivers of Collective Human Capital Flow: The Impact of Reputation and Labor Market Conditions:

An emerging body of research examines collective human capital flow via context-emergent turnover (CET) theory, which builds on resource-based theory and the literature on human capital. CET theory...
Nuclei Measurements with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station

The exact behavior of nuclei fluxes in cosmic rays and how they relate to each other is important for understanding the production, acceleration and propagation mechanisms of charged cosmic rays. Precise measurements with the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the International Space Station of light nuclei fluxes and their ratios in primary cosmic rays with rigidities from GV to TV are presented. The high statistics of the measurements require detailed studies and in depth understanding of associated systematic uncertainties.
Altitudinal bird migration in North America

ABSTRACT Altitudinal bird migration involves annual seasonal movements up and down elevational gradients. Despite the fact that species from montane avifaunas worldwide engage in altitudinal migration, the patterns, causes, and prevalence of these movements are poorly understood. This is particularly true in North America where the overwhelming majority of avian migration research has focused on obligate, long-distance, temperate–tropical movements. Elsewhere in the world, most altitudinal migrants are partial migrants, making downhill movements to nonbreeding areas. However, spatial and temporal patterns, the prevalence and predictability of migration at individual and population levels, and the ultimate ecological factors selecting for movement behavior vary considerably among taxa and regions. I conducted a systematic survey of the evidence for altitudinal migration to fill gaps in our understanding of this behavior among the landbirds of North America and Hawaii. Altitudinal migration was as prevalent...
Abstracted Random Mediums for Electromagnetic Hotspot Observation in Finite-Difference Time-Domain Simulation

Microwave excitation of energetic materials can remotely incite ignition and deflagration. While this has been experimentally observed, the underlying principles are not well understood due to the complexity of analytical solutions. Further complicating understanding is the sensitivity of the effect to geometry and the difficulty of creating simulation environments representative of realistic materials. Manageable analysis requires abstractions, and here abstractions ranging from regularly arranged spheres and cubes to randomly arranged spheres, cubes, and arbitrarily shaped crystals are examined. The randomly arranged cube model provides acceptable prediction of thermal and peak electric field hotspots while having manageable computational complexity. The hotspots resulting from multiple subwavelength scattering occur inside the body of the energetic material and are localized in time and space having spans that are a few percent or less of the period and wavelength of pulsed electromagnetic excitation.
Post-Status Epilepticus Models: Systemic Kainic Acid

Injection of kainic acid (kainate) into adult rodents leads to status epilepticus, characterized by a period of prolonged and repetitive nonconvulsive and convulsive seizures that together can last tens of minutes to many hours (even days). This review will largely focus on the repeated low-dose kainic acid model. The repetitive seizures from systemic kainate treatment cause neuronal degeneration in several brain regions, particularly in the limbic system. The pattern of neurodegeneration is qualitatively similar to the neuropathology associated with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Long-term, continuous, wireless electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings from adult rats for periods of approximately 3 months have provided detailed information on the pattern of the spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRSs), and thus the life-history of kainate-induced epilepsy. EEG spikes precede the onset of SRSs, and both spikes and SRSs progressively worsen over time, after the kainate-induced status epilepticus. Each SRS lasts from tens of seconds to over a minute in duration, and SRSs often occur in clusters. The neuropathological characteristics of the neural degeneration and the electrographic properties of the seizures show many similarities to TLE, particularly the general type and location of neurons that degenerate and the duration, frequency, and pattern of spikes and seizures. The kainate model therefore has many features that are useful for investigating contemporary problems in experimental epilepsy research, particularly in relation to TLE.
Abstract 19520: Hybrid PET/CT Imaging Five Days After Myocardial Infarction Provides Accurate Assessment of the Ischemic Area at Risk But Overestimates Myocardial Infarct Size in Swine

Introduction: Recent clinical studies suggest that fasting 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging may enable retrospective assessment of the ischemic area at risk (AAR) within the first week afte...
Riluzole synergizes with paclitaxel to inhibit cell growth and induce apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer.

Purpose One in eight women will develop breast cancer, 15–20% of whom will have triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), an aggressive breast cancer with no current targeted therapy. We have demonstrated that riluzole, an FDA-approved drug for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, inhibits growth of TNBC. In this study, we explore potential synergism between riluzole and paclitaxel, a chemotherapeutic agent commonly used to treat TNBC, in regulating TNBC proliferation, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis.
Spectral partially ordered sets

We examine some topics related to (gold)spectral partially ordered sets, i.e., those that are order isomorphic to (Goldman) prime spectra of commutative rings. Among other results, we characterize ...
Place-Making and Communication Practice: Everyday Precarity in a Night Market in Hong Kong:

Drawing insights from the literature around cultural discourse theory, urban informality, and precarity, this article explores how a group of unlicensed hawkers in Hong Kong engage in a place-makin...
Natural and Nature-Inspired Synthetic Small Molecule Antioxidants in the Context of Green Chemistry

Abstract Environmental triggers may aggravate oxidative stress due to an excess accumulation of free radicals in the human body, leading to cellular damage and potentially resulting in pathological conditions. Low-molecular-weight antioxidants, important tools of the biochemical defense system, are discussed in this chapter. The identification of the most common food-derived small molecule antioxidants along with their isolation (with emphasis on green methodologies) and structural characterization are summarized, followed by a listing of the limitations of their use in preventing and/or treating diseases. Finally, recent examples of chemical modifications and formulations to improve the druglike properties and therapeutic potential of the natural antioxidants are introduced.
On Neural Networks, Connectionism and Brain-Like Learning

This paper argues that some of the ideas of connectionism are not only logically flawed, but that they are also inconsistent with some commonly observed human learning behavior. In addition, this paper attempts to define some common, externally observed, properties of the human learning process, properties that are common to all types of human learning. It is expected that any theory of learning should account for these common properties. Characterization of an autonomous learning system such as the brain has been one of the “large” missing pieces in connectionism and other brain-related sciences. The external characteristics of learning algorithms have never been defined in these fields. They largely pursued algorithm development from an “internal mechanisms” point of view. This paper is an attempt to rectify that situation.
A statistical model for streambank erosion in the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal plain.

Abstract Stream restoration practitioners often rely upon empirical models to quantify annual streambank erosion rates and identify streambank erosion hotspots. Such models are designed to be widely applicable by incorporating readily available field measurements, but they must be calibrated to each hydrophysiographic region and may not reflect the dominant streambank erosion processes in a given region. Here, we present statistical models for streambank erosion using physical and environmental data collected at 53 locations throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal plain. The data include channel geometry, bank characteristics, precipitation, above-ground biomass density, and root density, the latter two surveyed using techniques introduced here. We developed a statistical model selection process using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) and repeated cross-validation (CV). Models derived from the literature that were applied a priori were only weak predictors of erosion rate, but AIC-CV model selection identified 3 strong statistical models. The best model according to AIC showed a significant correlation to lateral streambank erosion rates (R2 = 0.54) and included the five strongest covariates of our dataset (bank slope, biomass density, curvature index, BEHI, and understory cover). When volumetric erosion rate (m2/year) was predicted, the fit of this model increased (R2 = 0.65). CV-based selection resulted in a more conservative model with the four strongest covariates and a lower fit (R2 = 0.47). The similarity of the AIC and CV models indicates the stability of the two-tier model selection approach, and suggests it has utility for modeling phenomena with many potential variables. Our models also showcase the ability of our biomass survey to quantify root reinforcement of streambanks. Our approach incorporates measurements familiar to the stream restoration community and can be applied throughout the northern Gulf of Mexico coastal plain, a region characterized by low relief fluvial valleys, unconsolidated alluvium and meandering single thread sand bed channels. The approach, which is based on field observations and robust statistical modeling, offers an alternative for stream restoration practitioners to more traditional streambank erosion prediction methods that underperform in the region, and may have applicability elsewhere.
The Gift of Respect: Tourist Gift Giving and the Construction of Self-Respect Among Authorized Sightseeing Rickshaw Drivers in Bharatpur, India

Tourism workers may actively cultivate relationships with tourists to counter the social and economic marginalization they face by others involved in the tourism economy. In this article I explore the ways in which sightseeing rickshaw drivers use gifts as symbols of these relationships with tourists. I base my analysis on sixteen months of fieldwork that I conducted in 2008–9 with the authorized sightseeing rickshaw drivers at Keoladeo National Park in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, India. I argue that they use gifts, both materially and discursively, to create a space in which they can construct narratives of self-respect.