cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Modeling the inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium in juices by pulsed electric fields: The role of the energy density

Abstract This study groups together pulse electric field variables such as electric field intensity, pulse repetition rate, treatment time, and electrical conductivity of food in a single integrated energy density parameter and correlate it with the inactivation rate of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella Typhimurium. A continuous bench scale PEF system (OSU–4H) was used to treat juice samples with the combinations of 5 electric field strengths and 5 pulse repetition rates. Nonlinear survival curves were modeled by numerically solving a differential equation by the Runge-Kutta method. The developed model successfully described the survival kinetics of the involved pathogens. The model was validated with different juices and PEF treatments and demonstrated that it was able to satisfactorily predict the experimental data as well as data from literature. These predictions suggest that the model is suitable for precisely estimating the inactivation rate of foodborne pathogens of concern in juices by PEF processing.
Emoji Prediction: Extensions and Benchmarking.

Emojis are a succinct form of language which can express concrete meanings, emotions, and intentions. Emojis also carry signals that can be used to better understand communicative intent. They have become a ubiquitous part of our daily lives, making them an important part of understanding user-generated content. The emoji prediction task aims at predicting the proper set of emojis associated with a piece of text. Through emoji prediction, models can learn rich representations of the communicative intent of the written text. While existing research on the emoji prediction task focus on a small subset of emoji types closely related to certain emotions, this setting oversimplifies the task and wastes the expressive power of emojis. In this paper, we extend the existing setting of the emoji prediction task to include a richer set of emojis and to allow multi-label classification on the task. We propose novel models for multi-class and multi-label emoji prediction based on Transformer networks. We also construct multiple emoji prediction datasets from Twitter using heuristics. The BERT models achieve state-of-the-art performances on all our datasets under all the settings, with relative improvements of 27.21% to 236.36% in accuracy, 2.01% to 88.28% in top-5 accuracy and 65.19% to 346.79% in F-1 score, compared to the prior state-of-the-art. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of deep Transformer-based models on the emoji prediction task. We also release our datasets at this https URL for future researchers.
Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease: Risk Factors, Their Interactions, and Associated Nonmotor Symptoms.

Background. Freezing of gait (FOG) is a debilitating and incompletely understood symptom in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Objective. To determine the principal clinical factors predisposing to FOG in PD, their interactions, and associated nonmotor symptoms. Methods. 164 PD subjects were assessed in a cross-sectional retrospective study, using the MDS-UPDRS scale, MMSE, and Clinical Dementia Rating Scale. Clinical factors associated with FOG were determined using univariate analysis and nominal logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic curves were computed, to obtain measures of sensitivity and specificity of predictors of FOG. Subgroups of patients with FOG were compared with those without FOG, based on defining aspects of their clinical phenotype. Results. Relative to non-FOG patients, those with FOG had a longer disease duration, higher PIGD and balance-gait score, higher LED, and more motor complications ( ) and were more likely to exhibit urinary dysfunction ( ), cognitive impairment, hallucinations, and psychosis ( ). The balance-gait score and motor complications, at their optimum cutoff values, together predicted FOG with 86% accuracy. Interactions were noted between cognitive dysfunction and both the Bal-Gait score and motor complication status, cognitive impairment or dementia increasing the likelihood of FOG in subjects without motor complications ( ), but not in those with motor complications. Conclusions. Both disease and treatment-related factors, notably LED, influence the risk of FOG in PD, with a selective influence of cognitive dysfunction in patients with balance-gait disorder but not in those with motor fluctuations. These findings may help to inform clinical management and highlight distinct subgroups of patients with PD-FOG, which are likely to differ in their network pathophysiology.
New Kid on the Block? Mentoring Junior Faculty and Dealing with Workplace Bullying

Workplace bullying typically hurts those with the least amount of power. Few employees are more powerless than assistant professors on the tenure track. This research examines how mentorship can help diminish the impact of workplace bullying. Using a multiple regression study, this research confirms the mentor's expertise is an important factor for assistant professor in diminishing the effects of workplace bullying.
Approximate Frank-Wolfe Algorithms over Graph-structured Support Sets.

In this paper, we propose approximate Frank-Wolfe (FW) algorithms to solve convex optimization problems over graph-structured support sets where the \textit{linear minimization oracle} (LMO) cannot be efficiently obtained in general. We first demonstrate that two popular approximation assumptions (\textit{additive} and \textit{multiplicative gap errors)}, are not valid for our problem, in that no cheap gap-approximate LMO oracle exists in general. Instead, a new \textit{approximate dual maximization oracle} (DMO) is proposed, which approximates the inner product rather than the gap. When the objective is $L$-smooth, we prove that the standard FW method using a $\delta$-approximate DMO converges as $\mathcal{O}(L / \delta t + (1-\delta)(\delta^{-1} + \delta^{-2}))$ in general, and as $\mathcal{O}(L/(\delta^2(t+2)))$ over a $\delta$-relaxation of the constraint set. Additionally, when the objective is $\mu$-strongly convex and the solution is unique, a variant of FW converges to $\mathcal{O}(L^2\log(t)/(\mu \delta^6 t^2))$ with the same per-iteration complexity. Our empirical results suggest that even these improved bounds are pessimistic, with significant improvement in recovering real-world images with graph-structured sparsity.
Critical Periods of Neuroendocrine Development: Effects of Prenatal Xenobiotics

It is now generally accepted that the developing fetus may be adversely affected by exposure to drugs and environmental chemicals. The stage of development of the intrauterine host is a major determinant of the resultant drug or chemical action. With rare exception, all foreign compounds are transmitted across the placenta, and depending upon their solubility and chemical structure, achieve varying concentrations in the fetus. Historically, the concept that external agents could adversely effect the fetus was first expounded by Gregg1 in Australia nearly 50 years ago when he demonstrated that rubella infection in the mother could lead to congenital cataracts in the newborn infant. During the several decades following Gregg’s report, most concern regarding drug effects on the fetus had to do with the perinatal period, particularly with the effect of narcotics and analgesics on the ability of the newborn infant to sustain respiration following delivery.
A hybrid peridynamics–SPH simulation of soil fragmentation by blast loads of buried explosive

Abstract In this work, we employ both the state-based peridynamics and the smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) to simulate soil fragmentation/ejection induced by the blast of buried explosives. We use peridynamics representation to model soil medium, and we use SPH representation to model explosive gas. The key of the simulation is the coupling of the two. In the peridynamics–SPH computational domain, there is an interphase zone, in which a peridynamic particle can have SPH particles within its own horizon, while an SPH particle can have peridynamic particles within its supporting domain. The interactions of the peridynamic and SPH particles in this interphase zone are discussed. By assuming the equivalence of the two methods in the current configuration, we study how to choose simulation parameters that can seamlessly couple the two methods. A Drucker–Prager plasticity soil model at finite strain is used for soil medium and a charge model of equation of state is used to model the buried explosive. Numerical examples are carried out to simulate soil fragmentation/ejection induced by the shock waves from the buried explosive. It is shown that the numerical results are in general agreement with that of the experiment.
Effects of Private-Land Use, Livestock Management, and Human Tolerance on Diversity, Distribution, and Abundance of Large African Mammals

Successful conservation of large terrestrial mammals (wildlife) on private lands requires that landowners be empowered to manage wildlife so that benefits outweigh the costs. Laikipia County, Kenya, is predominantly unfenced, and the land uses in the area allow wide-ranging wildlife to move freely between different management systems on private land. We used camera traps to sample large mammals associated with 4 different management systems (rhinoceros sanctuaries, no livestock; conservancies, intermediate stock- ing level; fenced ranches, high stocking level; and group ranches, high stocking level, no fencing, pastoralist clan ownership) to examine whether management and stocking levels affect wildlife. We deployed cameras at 522 locations across 8 properties from January 2008 through October 2010 and used the photographs taken during this period to estimate richness, occupancy, and relative abundance of species. Species richness was highest in conservancies and sanctuaries and lowest on fenced and group ranches. Occupancy estimates were, on average, 2 and 5 times higher in sanctuaries and conservancies as on fenced and group ranches, respectively. Nineteen species on fenced ranches and 25 species on group ranches were considered uncommon (occupancy < 0.1). The relative abundance of most species was highest or second highest in sanctuaries and conservancies. Lack of rights to manage and utilize wildlife and uncertain land tenure dampen many owners' incentives to tolerate wildlife. We suggest national conservation strategies consider landscape-level approaches to land-use planning that aim to increase conserved areas by providing landowners with incentives to tolerate wildlife. Possible incentives include improving access to ecotourism benefits, forging agreements to maintain wildlife habitat and corridors, resolving land-ownership conflicts, restoring degraded rangelands, expanding opportunities for grazing leases, and allowing direct benefits to landowners through wildlife harvesting.
Conformal Mapping Solution for Interdigital Comb Capacitors Between Ground Planes

Capacitance per unit length of wire is an important parameter in the design of interconnections for integrated circuits due to its influence on signal delay, cross-talk, and power dissipation. Exact expressions for capacitance are rarely available for wiring structures of interest in microelectronic applications, however. In general, numerical methods are required but these have systematic errors that can impact performance modeling and verification. This letter derives a conformal mapping solution for capacitance of interdigital comb structures similar to devices used for microelectronic interconnect characterization. Systematic overestimation of capacitance from numerical modeling is illustrated by comparison with results from finite-element modeling.
Hydatidiform Mole Macromolecules Inhibit Interleukin-2-Mediated Murine Lymphocyte Proliferation In Vitro

Macromolecules extracted from hydatidiform mole trophoblast inhibit mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation. To characterize the mechanism of this immunomodulation, we determined the effects of hydatidiform mole vesicle fluid (HMF) and tissue extracts (HME) on lymphokine function in vitro. Utilization of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were determined by using a lymphoma cell line (LBRM-33-1A5) and a murine T cell line (CTLL2), respectively. HMF suppressed (P less than .05) IL-2-dependent CTLL2 cell proliferation at 500 (36.4% of controls) and 50 (74.9% of controls) micrograms/ml. HME also suppressed CTLL2 proliferation (P less than .05) at 500 (46.0% of controls), 100 (67.2% of controls), 50 (71.5% of controls), and 10 (85.4% of controls) micrograms/culture ml. In contrast, HMF exhibited no effect on IL-1-stimulated LBRM-33-1A5 production of IL-2. However, 500 micrograms/ml of HME inhibited (P less than .05) IL-2 production (63.0% of controls) in the IL-1 utilization assay. This suppressive effect was probably due to a carry over of HME from the LBRM-33-1A5 culture to the target cells (CTLL2) used to measure IL-2 production. Molecular weight chromatography of an HME sample eluted an IL-2 inhibitor in a low molecular weight (35-50 kd) and high molecular weight (greater than 250 kd) fraction. These data suggest that one way in which macromolecules derived from hydatidiform mole could interfere with in vitro immunologic responses is by modulating interleukin-2 function.
Evidence that oral and nutrient reinforcers differentially condition appetitive and consummatory responses to flavors.

MYERS, K. P. AND W. G. HALL. Evidence that oral and nutrient reinforcers differentially condition appetitive and consummatory responses to flavors. PHYSIOL BEHAV 64(4) 493–500, 1998.—Rats tend to increase their intake of a flavor that has previously been paired with either sweet taste or with caloric repletion. However, it is unclear whether such a change in intake is caused by changes in appetitive behaviors such as orienting and approach, or changes in consummatory behaviors and oral responsiveness. Also, it is unclear whether oral reinforcers (sweetness) and postingestive reinforcers (nutrients) lead to the same kinds of behavioral change. In the current experiments, weanling rats with oral and gastric cannulas repeatedly experienced a flavor paired with either sweetness, high caloric density, or neither. Rats were then tested for differences in appetitive olfactory orienting and consummatory oral responsiveness elicited by the flavor. Results suggest that oral reinforcement (sweetness) produces conditioning of appetitive responding to the flavor, while postingestive reinforcement produces conditioning of consummatory responding. A second experiment indicates that these behavioral changes are specific increases in responsiveness conditioned by flavor + unconditioned stimulus (US) pairing, and are unlikely to be nonspecific effects of daily unconditioned stimulus exposure.
Industrial MAS for Planning and Control

In this paper, we summarize advantages of using agent technology in the design and operation of industrial control systems. To support appropriate responses to dynamically generated events, we divided the agent operation into two main levels: planning and real-time control. A higher-level software agent covers the planning phase and low-level distributed control agent provides the real-time control. The proposed architecture is targeted on applications where real-time response is essential but also more sophisticated higher-level control mechanisms are needed for efficient control. An implementation of such system is briefly described.
Amorphous Silicon Solar Cells

Solar cells were invented more than 30 years ago, but have not yet achieved the commercial success predicted many times in the past. There is no question that they efficiently convert the eternally available sunlight directly to electricity, they have the reliability inherent in a system with no moving parts, they can be used as either distributed power sources or central power stations, and they yield minimal environmental contamination or safety hazards. However, it is clear that additional criteria must be imposed to guarantee their large-scale commercial utilization, since they must compete successfully with conventional power sources such as coal, gas, oil, and nuclear energy. The only reason for their lack of use prior to now has been the enormous cost of the heretofore conventional technology, that of crystalline-silicon solar cells. This problem is due to the following facts: (1) Crystalline silicon must be 100 µm thick. This intrinsicrequirement cannot be overcome. (2) Crystals are pulled from the melt, which presently limits the diameter of single solar cells to 15 cm. (3) More than half of the material is lost during cutting and polishing.
Degradation kinetics of glass-reinforced polyesters in chemical environments

Glass-reinforced polyesters (GRPs) are attractive in structural applications due to their strength-to-weight ratio and resistance to chemical attack. For marine and processing applications, in particular, GRPs must withstand long-term exposure to brine and either highly acidic or basic aqueous solutions. In this work, we report on the degradation of two GRP laminates, a pultruded isophthalic polyester (IPE) and a hand-moulded vinyl ester (VE), in brine (5% w/v NaCl) and a 10% w/v NaOH(aq) solution over the course of 270 days at 25°C. Tensile and flexural strengths have been measured as a function of immersion time and reveal that the IPE resin is more susceptible to water permeation and fibre-resin debonding than the VE. While the IPE laminate undergoes dramatic tensile strength deterioration in NaOH(aq) within the first 30 days of immersion, the VE resin is far more resistant to degradation in either solution. These measurements are consistent with surface features imaged with electron microscopy. Incorporation of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or C-glass surface veils into these laminates is not generally beneficial for property retention, since the veils produce more interfaces and enhance water absorption through wicking.
Scaling all-to-all multicast on fat-tree networks

In this paper, we study the all-to-all multicast operation. Strategies for all-to-all multicast need to be different for small and large messages. For small messages, the major issue is the minimization of software overhead, where as for large messages, the issue is network contention. Many modern large parallel computers use the fat-tree interconnection topology. We therefore analyze network contention on fat-tree networks and develop strategies to optimize collective multicast using known contention free communication schedules on fat-tree networks in the design of two strategies. We evaluate performance of these strategies with up to 256 nodes (1024 processors) on an alpha cluster. We present schemes that perform well when a contiguous chunk of nodes is not available. For large messages, many of our strategies have two times better throughput than native MPI. We also demonstrate that the software overhead of a collective operation is a small fraction of the total completion time in the presence of the communication coprocessor. We therefore compare the performance of the studied strategies using both metrics (i) completion time, and (it) computation overhead.
Alteration of cotton source–sink relations with plant population density and mepiquat chloride

Abstract Improvements in carbohydrate source–sink relations are needed to improve efficiency of yield formation in cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L.). Most source–sink research has focused on leaf–boll relationships, with little study of vegetative storage reserves. Possible ways of altering the source–sink balance include increasing the plant population density (PPD) and using a plant growth regulator, mepiquat chloride (MC). We evaluated effects of PPD and MC on plant growth and development, stem starch reserves and lint yield in a 3-year field experiment at Milan, Tennessee. Row spacings of 25, 51, and 102 cm averaged 17.6, 13.2, and 8.3 plants m −2 , respectively. Mepiquat chloride rates were 0 and 86 g ha −1 . Higher PPD in narrower rows tended to reduce boll number more than leaf area per plant, reducing the number of bolls per unit leaf area. However, boll distribution was more concentrated, implying more synchronous demand for photosynthate in 25-cm rows than in wider rows. Stem starch concentrations during boll filling were similar to, or slightly lower, in 25-cm rows than in wider rows. Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that availability of photosynthate may limit boll load at higher PPD, despite more leaf area per boll. Application of MC tended to reduce leaf area per plant more than boll load, and to increase the number of bolls per unit leaf area. The MC treatment also concentrated the boll set on lower sympodia, increasing the synchrony of boll maturation and demand for photosynthate. Application of MC increased boll set percentage and decreased stem starch reserves slightly. Lint yields were increased by MC application in finger-stripped 25- and 51-cm rows in 2 of 3 years, by an average of 11%, but not in spindle-picked 51- and 102-cm rows. Findings support the hypothesis that MC benefits boll set and yield formation in narrow-row systems by reducing LAI. Source–sink alteration with PPD and MC may be useful in future research to improve carbohydrate use and yield formation in cotton.
TOTAL NEUTRON CROSS SECTIONS NEAR 14.1 Mev

Total cross sections of C, Ca, Ti, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Gd, Er, Ta, Au, and Pb for neutrons of energies between 13.1 and 15.6 Mev have been measured by the transmission technique with good geometry. The range of neutron energy was achieved by observing neutrons at various angles from thin tritium targets bombarded by deuterons of energy up to 450 kev. Geometry was such that a scattering in the sample of more than about 2\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} removed the neutron from the beam to the stilbene scintillation detector. The total cross section of carbon for neutrons was found to vary from 1.41 barns at 13.1 Mev to a minimum of 1.31 barns at 14.2 Mev to 1.49 barns at 15.6 Mev. Other elements showed smaller cross-section variation with energy.
Lutein, zeaxanthin, and age-related macular degeneration.

Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness among individuals over the age of 75. Lutein and zeaxanthin are two carotenoids among hundreds that exist in nature. These two substances are unique because they are selectively accumulated in the macula of the eye and provide what is known as the macular pigment. It is believed by many that the incidence of age-related macular degeneration is reduced among individuals who consume a lifelong diet rich in these carotenoids. It is believed that singlet oxygen can be produced by ultraviolet light exposure in the eye and that lutein and zeaxanthin can quench these scavengers. Trials have been performed demonstrating that lutein and zeaxanthin obtained from the diet can influence the macular pigment density. Furthermore, it is suggested that individuals with a greater dietary intake of these carotenoids will result in an elevated macular pigment which would reduce the likelihood of age-related macular degeneration.
Illuminating membrane fusion

Membrane fusion is a central event for a wide variety of biological processes, such as transport of cargo through the secretory and endocytic pathways, organelle inheritance, neurotransmission, and viral entry into host cells, among others. Hence, understanding the mechanism(s) of physiological membrane fusion is a subject of wide biological interest, and extensive studies using theoretical and experimental approaches have been devoted to this goal (1). It is generally believed that fusion proceeds through a “stalk intermediate” involving a merger of the proximal leaflets of the two bilayers. This intermediate may lead directly to formation of a fusion pore followed by expansion of the pore, but it may also arrest, at least transiently, to yield what is known as a “hemifusion intermediate.” In addition, electrophysiological studies of neurosecretion have suggested that fusion pores can open and close quickly, a phenomenon called “flickering,” and that fusion pore formation can be followed by fast membrane fission leading to separation of the two membranes (known as “kiss-and-run”) (2). Because of the fleeting nature of these intermediates and events as well as of potential alternative phenomena, their detailed study using defined reconstituted systems is very challenging. An ingenious method described by Yoon et al. (3) in this issue of PNAS now provides a powerful tool that can yield unprecedented information on membrane fusion at the single-vesicle level.
Adjuvant postoperative chemotherapy with 5‐fluorouracil and methotrexate: Effect of schedule of administration on metastasis of 13762 mammary adenocarcinoma

Metastasizing mammary adenocarcinoma 13762 in female Fischer rats has been used as a model for studying postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, using methotrexate (Mtx) and 5-fluorouracil (5FU) either singly or in combinations. All animals that received postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy of 5FU alone, 5FU and Mtx simultaneously, or Mtx followed by 5FU had significant improvement of survivals. Methotrexate alone was ineffective in treating the visceral metastasis. The addition of Mtx at the time of 5FU administration actually decreased the therapeutic effectiveness of 5FU given by itself. Fluorouracil alone improved survival of rats with small or large tumors, whereas Mtx followed by 5FU was better than 5FU alone in rats with smaller tumors. Among all rats treated with chemotherapy, those rats that got Mtx followed by 5FU had the lowest amount of lung metastasis, and concomitant administration of nonspecific BCG immunotherapy delayed death from visceral metastasis only for rats receiving drugs according to this schedule.
Microstructure Characterization of Asphalt Mixtures with 2- and 3-Point Correlation Functions

ABSTRACT The majority of micromechanics models available in the literature to estimate effective properties of asphalt mixtures are based only on the mechanical properties and the volumetric fraction information of its constituents. However, significant improvements in the prediction of these models can be obtained if higher-order microstructural information provided by n-point correlation functions is included. This paper proposes a simplified algorithm to estimate the 2- and 3-point correlation functions of asphalt mixtures microstructures. The proposed algorithm approximates the correlation functions based on Monte Carlo simulations. Analytical solutions for the 2- and 3-point correlation functions of a heterogeneous material made of penetrable spheres are compared with the approximated functions obtained with the proposed method. The approximated correlation functions are in good agreement with the analytical solutions. In this paper, microstructure characterization of asphalt mixtures is obtained by ...
Rain on small tropical islands

[1] A high-resolution rainfall climatology based on observations from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission's Precipitation Radar (PR) instrument is used to evaluate the influence of small tropical islands on climatological rainfall. Islands with areas between one hundred and several thousand km2 are considered in both the Indo-Pacific Maritime Continent and Caribbean regions. Annual mean climatological (1997–2007) rainfall over each island is compared with that over the surrounding ocean region, and the difference is expressed as a percentage. In addition to total rainfall, rain frequency and intensity are also analyzed. Results are stratified into two 12 h halves of the diurnal cycle as well as eight 3 h periods, and also by a measure of each island's topographic relief. In both regions, there is a clear difference between larger islands (areas of a few hundred km2 or greater) and smaller ones. Both rain frequency and total rainfall are significantly enhanced over larger islands compared to the surrounding ocean. For smaller islands the enhancement is either negligibly small, statistically insignificant, or, in the case of Caribbean rain frequency, negative. The enhancement in total rainfall over larger islands is partly attributable to greater frequency and partly to greater intensity. A diurnal cycle in island enhancement is evident in frequency but not intensity, except over small Caribbean islands where the converse is true. For the larger islands, higher orography is associated with greater rainfall enhancements. The orographic effect is larger (percentagewise) in the Caribbean than in the Maritime Continent. Orographic precipitation enhancement manifests more strongly as increased frequency of precipitation rather than increased intensity and is present at night as well as during the day. The lack of a clear diurnal cycle in orographic enhancement suggests that much of the orographic rainfall enhancement is attributable to mechanically forced upslope flow rather than elevated surface heating.
Dynamics of a rod-shell system conveying fluid

Abstract The dynamics of a rod-shell system simulating nuclear reactor fuel rod bundles subjected to a parallel flow is studied analytically. Frequency spectra are presented and the effects of the flow velocity are discussed. It is shown that the natural frequency and critical flow velocity of the coupled rod-fluid-shell system are smaller than those of an isolated rod subjected to an axial flow.
Recording an efficient holographic optical element from computer generated holograms

Abstract A method for recording an efficient transmission holographic optical element from computer generated holograms is presented. It is based on transferring the two-dimensional grating function of the computer generated holograms into a thick emulsion layer, where the volume grating distribution of the final hologram satisfies the Bragg condition over the entire hologram surface. The method is applicable even when the recording wavelength is different from the readout wavelength.
Quantitative assessment of outflow resistance in lower extremity arterial reconstructions.

Abstract Graft patency is thought to correlate with resistance in the runoff bed or outflow resistance. However, accurate measurement of this parameter has been difficult. A simple and reproducible method for direct measurement of outflow resistance following completion of the distal anastomosis of a bypass graft has been developed. This method employs injection of a fixed amount of normal saline through the proximal end of the graft and measurement of the resulting integrated pressure increment by an analog computer. Division of this pressure integral by the volume injected is a measure of the outflow resistance expressed in resistance units (mm Hg/ml/min). The median outflow resistance in 31 femoropopliteal bypasses was 0.29 units with a range of 0.08–1.38 units. The median outflow resistance in 33 femorodistal bypasses was 0.7 units with a range of 0.18–2.34 units. All bypasses with an outflow resistance of 1.1 units or less remained patent for 3 months. There were 51 grafts in this group (30 femoropopliteal; 21 femorodistal) and their outflow resistance ranged from 0.08 to 1.1 units. All bypasses with an outflow resistance of 1.2 units or higher thrombosed within the first postoperative month. There were 13 grafts in this group (1 femoropopliteal; 12 femorodistal) and their outflow resistance ranged from 1.2 to 2.38 units. Eight of the 13 grafts that failed originally were subjected to thrombectomy, which was uniformly unsuccessful. Although this method does not yet allow bypass surgery to be denied to any patient, it does define a group of patients in whom thrombectomy will not be effective and should not be attempted. Moreover, future correlation of preoperative parameters with high outflow resistance as determined by this method may define a group of patients in whom arterial reconstructions have no chance of success.
Toward a definition of a valid model of alcoholism: Multiple animal models for multiple diseases

alcoholism. Alcohol poisoning; the morbid effect of excess in alcoholic drinks. acute a., drunkenness, or the temporary disturbance caused by excessive use of alcohol. chronic a., the state induced by repeated and long-continued excess in the use of alcohol.
Expression of parvovirus LuIII NS1 from a Sindbis replicon for production of LuIII-luciferase transducing virus.

Abstract In order to develop an alternative packaging system for recombinant parvoviruses, the gene for the major nonstructural protein (NS1) of parvovirus LuIII was inserted into a Sindbis replicon vector. Cells infected with recombinant SinNS1 virus produced NS1 RNA from the Sindbis 26S promoter and expressed NS1 protein which was able to transactivate a parvovirus P38 promoter. Co-transfections of Sindbis-NS1 RNA together with a packageable LuIII transducing genome and a coat protein expression plasmid generated detectable levels of LuIII-luciferase transducing virus. These levels could be increased by using a capsid expression plasmid that was also capable of expressing NS2. These results show that a multi-functional parvovirus protein expressed from a Sindbis RNA molecule can be used to produce recombinant parvoviruses.
Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens in North and South America and in the Middle East.

Bacterial leaf streak and black chaff is a seed-transmitted disease of cereals caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. translucens. The bacterium can be identified by its slow growth, slime production, yellow pigment, beta-galactosidase production, and ice nucleation activity. Aspects of resistance, dissemination, symptoms, and distribution are discussed.
EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH) ON SOME ACTIVITIES OF LEUKOCYTES AND LYMPHOCYTES (LY) IN CHILDREN

We have shown in laboratory animals that GH stimulates several mitochondrial processes like protein synthesis, bulk-protein turnover, levels of eytochromes and enzymes, and respiratory activity. We have presently studied respiratory activity (RA) in white cells (WC) and thymidine uptake in LY of children before and after GH therapy. RA (ngm of O2/mg protein or/μg DNA) was measured in WC. prepared by layering whole blood on metrizoate-dextran medium, with a Clark-Oxygen electrode in Krebs-Ringer solution containing glucose. There is significant correlation (r =0.8) between percent increase in respiration due to GH therapy for 1 month and height Rain after 4-8 months of therapy in 16 children. This correlation may have significance in the early prediction of growth-promoting effect during therapy. LY, isolated by layering whole blood over Lymphoprep, showed an increase in WBC, LY count and rosette forming LY in 11-12 children but showed a decrease in 5-6 children. There is a significant decrease in thymidine uptake by unstimulated LY in all 12 children. Therefore, stimulation index (uptake with stimulation by phytohemagglutinim/uptake without stimulation) increased. These results suggest that GH therapy may reduce basal rate of DNA synthesis in LY.
Polygnathus bagialensis, New Name For The Homonymous P. praetrigonicus Savage, 1995, and Polygnathus abbessensis, New Name for the Homonymous P. borealis Savage, 1995 (Conodontes, Polygnathidae)

Savage (1995, p. 550, figure 8.8, 8.9) named a conodont Polygnathus praetrigonicus from the Middle Devonian Wadleigh Limestone, southeastern Alaska. This name is now known to be a junior homonym of Polygnathus praetrigonicus Bardashev (1992, p. 56, 57, pl. 2, figs. 32–34), a taxon from the Middle Devonian of the Zeravshan Range, southern Tien-Shan. The southeastern Alaskan fossil is clearly a different species and I here rename it as Polygnathus bagialensis after Port Bagial, near Alberto Island from where the holotype of the species was collected.
A Real-Time Scheduling Algorithm with Buffer Optimization for Embedded Signal Processing Systems

Embedded signal processing system is a typical type of application in embedded domain. Such systems typically have requirements on high real-time responsiveness and large buffer capacity. In this paper a new scheduling policy for embedded signal processing systems is advanced, which can provide static scheduling for such hybrid systems that contains both data stream processing and independent periodic tasks, and at the same time can minimize buffer consumption.
Absorption effects in photorefractive volume-holographic memory systems. II. Material heating

We consider how absorption-induced material heating alters the phase profile, the scale, the orientation, and the Bragg matching of volume holograms. We derive theoretical equations that consider the prisming, the lensing, and the Bragg mismatching that occur during material heating and compare these with experimental observations. From our Bragg-mismatching considerations we show how both read beam angle and wavelength need to be dithered for proper compensation of volume holograms for material-heating effects. Our results indicate that material heating in volume-holographic memory systems poses a severe threat to system performance. This threat is shown to be very significant in Fourier plane holograms but only moderately significant in image plane holograms.
Guest Editorial: Special Section on Applications of Solar Energy to Power Systems

A special section in this issue of IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy (TSTE) is devoted to Solar Energy. This section of TSTE highlights some of the most recent research that addresses these integration challenges and presents novel solutions for the integration of solar energy into the electric power system. The Special Section in this issue contains nine papers that were selected from the forty-one papers submitted. Four of the papers in this section examine the fact that solar energy is variable in nature and could benefit from integration with energy storage. By using energy storage, solar energy can be stored during periods of high output and then used when needed. Another important aspect of integrating solar energy is the ability to forecast its power output and there are four papers that examine the latest techniques in solar forecasting. A final paper focuses on understanding the impacts of high penetrations of solar on distribution systems and development of solutions to mitigate these issues.
A semantic and logical front-end to a database system

This paper presents an approach to extending the relational system RTMS into one supporting a frame-based knowledge-representation system. A deductive front-end is used for extraction of implicit information from the explicit data stored in RTMS. The proposed extensions to the relational model include the relationships of aggregation and generalization, set-valued attributes, and virtual relations defined using axioms. We will present a query language that takes advantage of these extensions. A user can make a query against virtual relations as well as base relations. The queries can consist of new constructs introduced by the semantic front-end. The system is implemented on TI's Explorer Lisp Machine.
GENERALIZED FAN BEAM RECONSTRUCTION ALGORITHM AND ITS APPLICATIONS

The standard fan beam geometry is extended to a generalized geometry accounting for source, detector, and axis of rotation displacements as well as detector tilting. The standard fan beam convolution backprojection algorithm is modified so as to reconstruct from projections recorded in an arbitrary fan beam geometry. The new generalized fan beam algorithm is applied to various nonideal geometries, such as reconstruction from center-displaced projections, nonredundant single-sided projections, and partially redundant projections. It is shown that the algorithm is capable of reconstructing from truncated and partial projection data and can be applied to tomographic synthetic scanner arrays. A novel method of resolution enhancement in microtomography is presented. The generalized fan beam algorithm is shown to reconstruct from projection data recorded with a tilted detector arbitrarily stretching tiny projection images over a larger portion of the available detector range. Optimal detector use is achieved through horizontal scanner displacement compensating for the asymmetric magnification of fan beam projections onto tilted detectors. It is shown that tilted-detector microtomography possesses a number of desirable properties such as superior signal-to-noise ratio, contrast, stability, and artifact suppression in the reconstructed images. Moreover, the new algorithm substantially reduces blurring artifacts in the presence of penumbral broadening that is due to finite-size point sources. The generalized fan beam algorithm is efficiently implemented, and its run-time performance compares with that of the standard fan beam method.
Biology, Treatment, and Outcome in Very Young and Older Women with DCIS

Background This study examines a modern cohort of women with ductal carcinoma-in-situ (DCIS) in order to identify potential differences in clinical presentation, treatments, and outcome based on age.
Letter by Khandelwal Regarding Article, “Comparison of Clinical Interpretation With Visual Assessment and Quantitative Coronary Angiography in Patients Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Contemporary Practice: The Assessing Angiography (A2) Project”

I read with interest the well-conducted study by Nallamothu and coinvestigators.1 The study is based on the basic assumption that quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) is the gold standard for the assessment of coronary stenosis with which contemporary visual assessment should be compared. However, visual assessment of stenosis severity remains at the heart of decision making for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The benefits of coronary revascularization were proven with mega-trials using visual assessment of coronary angiograms, which dictate current clinical practice. Even current appropriateness use criteria for coronary revascularization also state that evaluation is “by visual …
The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule--Toddler Module: A New Module of a Standardized Diagnostic Measure for Autism Spectrum Disorders.

The Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS; Lord et al., J Autism Dev Disord, 30(3):205-223, 2000) is widely accepted as a "gold standard" diagnostic instrument, but it is of restricted utility with very young children. The purpose of the current project was to modify the ADOS for use in children under 30 months of age. A modified ADOS, the ADOS Toddler Module (or Module T), was used in 360 evaluations. Participants included 182 children with best estimate diagnoses of ASD, non-spectrum developmental delay or typical development. A final set of protocol and algorithm items was selected based on their ability to discriminate the diagnostic groups. The traditional algorithm "cutoffs" approach yielded high sensitivity and specificity, and a new range of concern approach was proposed.
Functional MRI and novel picture-learning among older patients with chronic schizophrenia: abnormal correlations between recognition memory and medial temporal brain response.

The relationship between disordered brain function and learning deficits in chronic schizophrenia is unclear. The authors compared correlations of brain response to picture encoding with subsequent recognition memory between samples of clinically stable patients over age 45 with schizophrenia and demographically similar healthy individuals. Subjects were studied with functional magnetic resonance imaging during novel picture encoding and a control condition. Comparison subjects showed an inverse relationship between subsequent recognition memory and brain response in medial temporal areas. Among schizophrenia patients, brain response in these regions was positively correlated with recognition memory. Brain–behavior relationships during learning were thus found to be qualitatively different between schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects.
Usefulness of arrhythmias as predictors of death and resource utilization in children with myocarditis.

Myocarditis in children can result in significant morbidity and mortality, yet limited prognostic data exist. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that pediatric patients with arrhythmias during hospitalization for acute myocarditis have worse outcomes and increased resource utilization. A retrospective study using the Pediatric Health Information System database was performed to examine the effects of clinically significant arrhythmias on in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and costs per day. Data were obtained for children ≤18 years of age, discharged from January 1, 2004 to March 31, 2013, with a diagnosis of myocarditis. Clinically significant tachyarrhythmia was defined as supraventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation or flutter, or ventricular tachycardia or fibrillation in patients receiving antiarrhythmic medications or cardioversion. Clinically significant bradyarrhythmia was defined as second-degree, complete, or other heart block for which a pacemaker was placed. Multivariable analyses were performed. A total of 2,041 subjects with myocarditis were identified. Tachyarrhythmias were reported in 234 (11.5%) and bradyarrhythmias in 22 (1.1%). Overall mortality was 8.7%. In multivariable analyses, after considering the effects of gender, age at admission, geographic region, year and month of admission, presence of congenital heart disease or an identified virus, and use of steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, or inotropes, and after controlling for clustering by institution, tachyarrhythmias were associated with a 2.3 times increase in the odds of mortality (95% confidence interval 1.6 to 3.3, p
Characteristics and Survival of Patients with End Stage Renal Disease and Spina Bifida in the United States Renal Data System

Purpose: We describe the characteristics, treatments and survival of patients with spina bifida in whom end stage renal disease developed from 2004 through 2008 in the United States Renal Data System.Materials and Methods: We used ICD-9-CM code 741.* to identify individuals with spina bifida using hospital inpatient data from 1977 to 2010, and physician and facility claims from 2004 to 2008. We constructed a 5:1 comparison group of patients with end stage renal disease without spina bifida matched by age at first end stage renal disease service, gender and race/ethnicity. We assessed the risk of mortality and of renal transplantation while on dialysis using multivariate cause specific proportional hazards survival analysis. We also compared survival after the first renal transplant from the first end stage renal disease service to August 2011.Results: We identified 439 patients with end stage renal disease and spina bifida in whom end stage renal disease developed at an average younger age than in patient...
Paleocurrents in part of the Franciscan Complex, California

A folded sequence of Upper Cretaceous Franciscan turbidite graywackes east of San Jose forms the core of the Diablo antiform and structurally underlies Franciscan melange. Measured paleocurrent indicators at 201 outcrops are mostly cross-bedding, parting lineations, and ripple crests. Paleocurrent directions were recovered by stereonet rotations about local fold axes. General flow was toward the southwest, but in detail it bends in individual turbidite channels, and divergence between channel and leveeoverbank flow is discernible. The strata are interpreted as channeled midfan deposits of a subsea fan.
Wavelet-based methods for the prognosis of mechanical and electrical failures in electric motors

The ability to give a prognosis for failure of a system is a valuable tool and can be applied to electric motors. In this paper, three wavelet-based methods have been developed that achieve this goal. Wavelet and filter bank theory, the nearest-neighbour rule, and linear discriminant functions are reviewed. A framework for the development of a fault detection and classification algorithm based on the coefficients calculated from the discrete wavelet transform and using clustering is described. An experimental set-up based on RT-Linux is described and results from testing are presented, verifying the analysis.