cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Residual total protein and total organic carbon levels on reprocessed gastrointestinal (GI) biopsy forceps

Many single-use (disposable) devices are reprocessed between patient uses. In the past, a visual determination was considered the endpoint of "clean" for cleaned reusable devices. In this report, we measured quantitative endpoints by measuring residual total protein and residual total organic carbon before and after cleaning with commercially available cleaners for medical devices on 15 single-use gastrointestinal biopsy forceps inoculated with a three-protein test soil before and after cleaning. Each device was extracted separately and tested using Bradford's reagent for total protein and a direct digestion method for total organic carbon. Data for pre- and post-cleaned devices were generated for all five cleaning cycles. The highest amounts of residual total protein and total organic carbon found on precleaned devices were 61.8 microg/cm(2) and 39.1 microg/cm(2), respectively, on the outer surfaces. The highest amounts of residual total protein and total organic carbon on postcleaned device extracts were 4.0 microg/cm(2) and 2.2 microg/cm(2), respectively, on the outer surfaces. All postcleaned devices were visually clean. Our results provide quantitative total protein and total organic carbon levels for cleaned single-use biopsy forceps.
Modifying the electrochromic properties of some novel non-conjugated polymers with pendant teraryl groups

Abstract A series of N-substituted-2-(5′-vinyl-2′-thienyl)-5-(2″-thienyl)pyrroles were synthesized and their electrochromic properties studied, Ia an attempt to tailor the observed color, copolymers of 5-vinylterthiophene and N-phenyl-2-(5′-vinyl-2′-thienyl)-5-(2″-thienyl) pyrrole were prepared using different stoichiometries. In another approach we synthesized copolymers of (i) N-vinylcarbazole and 5-vinylterthiophene and (ii) N-vinylcarbazole and N-phenyl-2-(5′-vinyl-2′-thienyl)-5-(2″-thienyl)pyrrole.
Invited paper: Prospects for metamaterials

Recent research activities on metamaterials, in particular left-handed materials, have not only demonstrated interesting physical phenomena but have also lead to the realisation of promising new types of high frequency components and devices. It is difficult but interesting to consider the prospects for these materials.
In vivo regulation of phosphorylation level and activity of phosphofructokinase by serotonin in Fasciola hepatica

The level of phosphorylation and activation of phosphofructokinase by serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) was studied in intact liver flukes Fasciola hepatica. The enzyme was immunoprecipitated with antiserum prepared against pure enzyme from the liver flukes. The resuspended immunoprecipitated enzyme retained most of its original activity and its kinetic properties. The level of phosphorylation was determined by a "back phosphorylation" technique. According to this technique, the immunoprecipitated phosphofructokinase was phosphorylated with the catalytic subunit of pure cAMP-dependent protein kinase. Incubation of intact liver flukes with serotonin caused an increase in the level of enzyme phosphorylation which was concomitant with an increase in enzyme activity. The level of phosphorylation was increased by 0.08 mol per protomer as a result of maximal activation by serotonin. It is proposed that phosphorylation plays, at least in part, a functional role in the regulation of phosphofructokinase from the liver fluke F. hepatica under in vivo conditions.
Setting Promotional Goals: A Communications′ Relationship Model

Presents a communications relationship model for setting promotional goals. The model divides promotional objectives into short, mid‐ and long‐range goals and helps present advertising and related promotional tools as an ongoing process. Its focus is primarily on how advertising and related communications engineer situations and the importance of gearing advertisements that maximize subsequent advertisements′ effectiveness. The model has multiple uses and can be used by different advertising stakeholders such as advertising designers, sellers and managers, as well as end users.
Characterization and modeling of domain engineered relaxor ferroelectric single crystals

This work describes a measurement and modeling effort directed at improving our understanding of relaxor single crystals of PZN-xPT and PMN-xPT. Results include electromechanical characterization, crystal variant modeling, and modeling of field induced phase transitions. Key results include reducing high cycle fatigue by elimination of sharp comers on bulk specimens and development of engineered domain states other than [001] in rhombohedral compositions. The latter development coupled with the modeling work has led to identification and characterization of the [001] cut with properties optimized for d 31 and d 32 applications.
A Comparative Study of Overtone CH-Stretching Vibrational Circular Dichroism Spectra of Fenchone and Camphor †

Near-infrared vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) spectra in the region 1500−850 nm are recorded for both enantiomers of camphor and fenchone using a home-built dispersive instrument. Two CH-stretching overtone regions and two CH-stretching/HCH-bending combination regions are investigated. The near-infrared VCD data are examined and compared with the corresponding previously published data of (3R)-(+)-methylcyclopentanone and (3R)-(+)-methylcyclohexanone. The absorption spectra of both the fundamental and overtone regions are also considered, and the fundamental CH-stretching VCD data are taken into account, where possible. An empirical assignment of the spectra is first considered, with special regard to the second CH-stretching overtone region. This region is then investigated by a heuristic approach based on DFT calculations, using the hybrid functional B3LYP at the 6-31G** basis set level. Subsequently rotational strengths have been evaluated by use of a classical model based on the contribution of p...
Determinants of Consumer Influence in a Health Systems Agency

An 18-month study of consumer participation and influence in a Health Systems Agency (HSA) found consumer board members to be less influential than provider board members in agency decision-making. In an effort to investigate causes of the influence deficit experienced by consumer HSA board members three issues were studied: staff attitudes toward consumer participation; board member degree of representative accountability; and board member attitudes concerning commitment to consumer participation, commitment to health planning, health services attitude, and feelings of social powerlessness. Results indicated that staff members were favorable toward the concept of consumer participation. They recognized a lack of low-income minority participation, but they did not provide support or allocate resources to enhance consumers' ability to participate. Providers were less committed to consumer participation, felt more socially powerful, and had greater representative accountability than did consumers. Several s...
Transfer of immunity to Plasmodium berghei by spleen and lymph node immune RNA.

Abstract The RNA from spleens and lymph nodes of Lewis rats immune to Plasmodium berghei protected A/J mice against a lethal challenge of the blood stages of P. berghei , NK65. The RNA was extracted by the hot phenol procedure from freshly removed spleens and lymph nodes. Protection was measured by survival and level of parasitemia as compared to controls. The levels of RNA administered were 10, 50, and 100 μg of RNA. There was observed 100% survival with 50 and 100 μg of immune spleen RNA. The maximum percentage of parasitemia was not reduced below that of the controls in the groups given immune RNA from lymph nodes, but was significantly reduced below that of the controls in the groups given immune RNA from spleens.
Secretin-induced gastric relaxation is mediated by vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and prostaglandin pathways

Secretin has been shown to delay gastric emptying and inhibit gastric motility. We have dem- onstrated that secretin acts on the afferent vagal pathway to induce gastric relaxation in the rat. How- ever, the efferent pathway that mediates the action of secretin on gastric motility remains unknown. We recorded the response of intragastric pressure to graded doses of secretin administered intravenously to anaesthetized rats using a balloon attached to a cath- eter and placed in the body of the stomach. Secretin evoked a dose-dependent decrease in intragastric pressure. The threshold dose of secretin was 1.4 pmol
Surface Modification Studies of Polyimide Films Using Rutherford Backscattering and Forward Recoil Spectrometry

We followed the surface imide ring hydrolysis of fully imidized polyimide films by aqueous base solutions using Rutherford backscattering spectrometry. The hydrolysis reaction was studied using several different polyimide films including spuncast and thermally imidized PMDA-ODA, Kapton-H, and Upilex-S films. The boundary between the modified layer at the surface and the underlying film is a sharp front behind which the conversion of the polyimide into poly(amic acid) is complete and ahead of which there is almost no hydrolysis. The modified layer grows linearly with the time it is exposed to the basic solution. The growth velocity increased strongly with increases in the temperature of the basic solution. Under the reasonable hypothesis that the growth of the modified layer is controlled by the kinetics of the hydrolysis of the imide ring at the interface, we extract an activation energy for this process in Kapton-H films of 60 kJ/mol as compared to 68 kJ/mol for Upilex-S. Using forward recoil spectrometr...
“I Am a Blood Sugar Checker”: Intervening Effects of Self-as-doer Identity on the Relationship between Self-efficacy and Diabetes Self-care Behaviors

The mechanisms by which self-efficacy contribute to improved diabetes self-care behaviors are poorly understood. We propose that the ‘‘self-as-doer’’ identity might help explain the relationship between behavioral self-efficacy and health behavior enactment. Adults with diabetes (type I ¼ 200, type II ¼ 130) completed self-report measures assessing diabetes management-specific self-efficacy, self-as-doer, and self-care behaviors. We tested the intervening effects of the ‘‘self-as-doer’’ identity on the relationship between self-efficacy and diabetes self-care behaviors. For persons with type I diabetes, self-as-doer was a significant intervening variable for all self-care behaviors. Significant indirect effects of self-as-doer were found for exercise, diet, and blood glucose monitoring for persons with type II diabetes. Implications and recommendations for interventions are discussed.
The impact of assumptions about founder relationships on the effectiveness of captive breeding strategies

Many breeding programs managed by zoos and aquariums employ strategies that minimize mean kinship as a way of retaining genetic diversity (MK strategies). MK strategies depend on accurate and complete pedigrees, but population founders are generally assumed to be unrelated and not inbred. This assumption was historically necessitated by the unavailability of data on founder relationships, but with DNA techniques it is sometimes now possible to estimate those relationships. We used computer simulations to investigate the impact of founder assumptions on the effectiveness of MK strategies. Individuals with known pedigrees were managed in groups of 10, 30, and 100 founders at two different rates of reproduction and two different degrees of founder relationship. The impact of assuming founders were unrelated was quantified by calculating the differences in gene diversity and inbreeding that were observed between simulations that used known relationships and simulations that assumed founders were unrelated. Results indicated that utilizing known relationships retained 0–2% more gene diversity over ten generations than assuming founders were unrelated, with specific results dependent on the conditions of a given scenario. Similar results were observed for inbreeding, with long-term levels of inbreeding being 0–2% lower when relationships were known. There were higher benefits to knowing founder relationships as reproductive rate increased, as well as when full-siblings were included in small groups of founders. Overall, however, long-term benefits gained from knowing founder relationships were generally small. Therefore, MK strategies probably often produce near optimal results when standard founder assumptions are made.
Mountain waves over the Hohe Tauern: Influence of upstream diabatic effects

The structure and intensity of large-amplitude trapped lee waves over the Hohe Tauern range of the Alps on 20 September 1999 are investigated through the analysis of in situ aircraft observations, airborne lidar, Global Positioning System dropsondes, rapid-scan satellite imagery, and a suite of linear and nonlinear model simulations. Observations indicate that the lee waves attained a maximum vertical velocity of more than 9 m s−1, potential-temperature perturbations greater than 10 K, and a horizontal wavelength of approximately 12–15 km. High-resolution nonlinear simulations accurately capture the trapped-wave evolution and characteristics. Blocking of the southerly flow upstream of the Hohe Tauern decreases the depth of the layer that ascends the mountain crest, and modulates the wave response. Vertically propagating waves are partially ducted into a train of lee waves as a result of weak stability aloft, which forms due to diabatic processes associated with precipitation upstream of the Hohe Tauern crest. Linear analytic solutions confirm the importance of the weak-stability layer in the upper-troposphere for the development of the non-hydrostatic evanescent waves. Results from idealized two-dimensional nonlinear simulations suggest that the vertical depth of diabatic heating associated with the upstream precipitation is important. In this case, latent heating over a relatively shallow depth tunes the atmosphere for a nonlinear resonance that leads to strong descent in the lee and reinforcement of the lee waves. Copyright © 2003 Royal Meteorological Society.
Convolution using the undecimated discrete wavelet transform

Convolution is one of the most widely used digital signal processing operations. It can be implemented using the fast Fourier transform (FFT) with a computational complexity of O (N log N). The undecimated discrete wavelet transform (UDWT) is linear and shift invariant, so it can also be used to implement convolution. We propose a scheme to implement the convolution using the UDWT, and study its advantages and limitations.
Statistical Prediction of Cyclostationary Processes

Considered in this study is a cyclostationary generalization of an EOF-based prediction method. While linear statistical prediction methods are typically optimal in the sense that prediction error variance is minimal within the assumption of stationarity, there is some room for improved performance since many physical processes are not stationary. For instance, El Nino is known to be strongly phase locked with the seasonal cycle, which suggests nonstationarity of the El Nino statistics. Many geophysical and climatological processes may be termed cyclostationary since their statistics show strong cyclicity instead of stationarity. Therefore, developed in this study is a cyclostationary prediction method. Test results demonstrate that performance of prediction methods can be improved significantly by accounting for the cyclostationarity of underlying processes. The improvement comes from an accurate rendition of covariance structure both in space and time.
Dynamically scaling system area networks

New network components joining running system area networks can require communication path reconfigurations. We present a novel efficient algorithm to dynamically reconfigure the network with an arbitrary topology, for the case of newly joining node. We define a restoration graph which overcomes the restriction of the up/down algorithm. We obtain an upper bound in terms of the number of messages generated in order to reconfigure the network. The termination and the liveness properties of the proposed algorithm are proven. The validation and performance improvement of the system area network (SAN) with the proposed algorithm in comparison to the up/down algorithm is presented.
A Multiplexed Control System for the NAL Main Accelerator

The control system for the NAL Main Accelerator Ring is based on a distributed multiplex technique which uses serial transmission of digital data to link 24 service buildings to a central computer system. Each service building contains logic for conversion of serial data to parallel format and parallel to serial. Data transmission cables form a large loop that extends around the four mile circumference of the accelerator so that data transmitted from a central communications controller goes to each service building sequentially and is then returned to the central controller. The communications controller is an integral part of the interface electronics for a MAC-16 minicomputer which serves as a real-time controller for ring subsystems. The MAC-16 is connected to control console electronics and to a second minicomputer used for Main Ring power supply fine control. In the near future, the MAC-16 will be linked to an XDS Sigma II computer that serves as a central controller for the entire complex.
Range extension via surrogate satellite

The author develops this paper to initiate actions through the concept based requirements system (CBRS) which are intended to lead to the ultimate fielding of a critically needed capability for signal support of Airland Operations concepts. It is based on considerations of ongoing basic research and development as well as technological developments and forecasts in a number of disciplines that, judiciously guided, managed, and funded, can culminate in a cost effective and timely resolution of specific Airland Operations signal support deficiencies. This applies equally to follow-on concepts. In addition to signal support utilization, this technology initiative points out important applications to other Army and sister service functional areas. >
Inhibition of caspase activation and a requirement for NF-κB function in the Toxoplasma gondii-mediated blockade of host apoptosis

Mammalian cells infected with the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii are resistant to many apoptotic stimuli transmitted along both the mitochondrial and death receptor pathways. Apoptosis, and its inhibition in infected cells, was examined using multiple morphological, molecular and biochemical approaches. The data strongly indicate manipulation of the host apoptotic machinery at multiple levels, focusing on the inhibition of host caspases. Activation of the pro-apoptotic caspase family of proteases is a biochemical hallmark of apoptosis. Caspase activation occurs in a highly ordered cascade triggered by the initiator caspases 8 and 9, which activate the executioner caspase, caspase 3. Our findings indicate a profound blockade of caspase activation and activity as the molecular basis for the inhibition of apoptosis in T.-gondii-infected cells. Caspase inhibition was demonstrated using multiple intrinsic and synthetic substrates. Although the specific inhibitory molecule remains to be identified, data indicate an absolute requirement for the host transcription factor NF-κB and, by extension, genes regulated by it. We propose that T. gondii activates the host survival response, thereby increasing the overall resistance of infected cells to apoptotic stimuli.
Depletion of inflammatory dendritic cells with anti-CD209 conjugated to saporin toxin

Monocytes rapidly infiltrate inflamed tissues and differentiate into CD209+ inflammatory dendritic cells (DCs) that promote robust immunity or, if unregulated, inflammatory disease. Previous studies in experimental animal models indicate that inflammatory DC depletion through systemic elimination of their monocyte precursors with clodronate-loaded liposomes ameliorates the development of psoriasis and other diseases. However, translation of systemic monocyte depletion strategies is difficult due to the importance of monocytes during homeostasis and infection clearance. Here, we describe a strategy that avoids the monocyte intermediates to deplete inflammatory DCs through antibody-loaded toxin. Mice with an abundance of inflammatory DCs as a consequence of lipopolysaccharide exposure were treated with anti-CD209 antibody conjugated to saporin, a potent ribosome inactivator. The results demonstrate depletion of CD209+ DCs. This strategy could prove useful for the targeted reduction of inflammatory DCs in disease.
Coarse Particulate Matter Air Pollution and Hospital Admissions for Cardiovascular and Respiratory Diseases Among Medicare Patients

Context Health risks of fine particulate matter of 2.5 μm or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM 2.5 ) have been studied extensively over the last decade. Evidence concerning the health risks of the coarse fraction of greater than 2.5 μm and 10 μm or less in aerodynamic diameter (PM 10-2.5 ) is limited. Objective To estimate risk of hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases associated with PM 10-2.5 exposure, controlling for PM 2.5 . Design, Setting, and Participants Using a database assembled for 108 US counties with daily cardiovascular and respiratory disease admission rates, temperature and dew-point temperature, and PM 10-2.5 and PM 2.5 concentrations were calculated with monitoring data as an exposure surrogate from January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2005. Admission rates were constructed from the Medicare National Claims History Files, for a study population of approximately 12 million Medicare enrollees living on average 9 miles (14.4 km) from collocated pairs of PM 10 and PM 2.5 monitors. Main Outcome Measures Daily counts of county-wide emergency hospital admissions for primary diagnoses of cardiovascular or respiratory disease. Results There were 3.7 million cardiovascular disease and 1.4 million respiratory disease admissions. A 10-μg/m 3 increase in PM 10-2.5 was associated with a 0.36% (95% posterior interval [PI], 0.05% to 0.68%) increase in cardiovascular disease admissions on the same day. However, when adjusted for PM 2.5 , the association was no longer statistically significant (0.25%; 95% PI, −0.11% to 0.60%). A 10-μg/m 3 increase in PM 10-2.5 was associated with a nonstatistically significant unadjusted 0.33% (95% PI, −0.21% to 0.86%) increase in respiratory disease admissions and with a 0.26% (95% PI, −0.32% to 0.84%) increase in respiratory disease admissions when adjusted for PM 2.5 . The unadjusted associations of PM 2.5 with cardiovascular and respiratory disease admissions were 0.71% (95% PI, 0.45%-0.96%) for same-day exposure and 0.44% (95% PI, 0.06% to 0.82%) for exposure 2 days before hospital admission. Conclusion After adjustment for PM 2.5 , there were no statistically significant associations between coarse particulates and hospital admissions for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
Abundance and distribution of major groups of diazotrophic cyanobacteria and their potential contribution to N2 fixation in the tropical Atlantic Ocean

The abundances of six N₂-fixing cyanobacterial phylotypes were profiled at 22 stations across the tropical Atlantic Ocean during June 2006, and used to model the contribution of the diazotrophs to N₂ fixation. Diazotroph abundances were measured by targeting the nifH gene of Trichodesmium, unicellular groups A, B, C (UCYN-A, UCYN-B and UCYN-C), and diatom-cyanobiont symbioses Hemiaulus-Richelia, Rhizosolenia-Richelia and Chaetoceros-Calothrix. West to east gradients in temperature, salinity and nutrients [NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻, PO₄³⁻, Si(OH)₄] showed the influence of the Amazon River plume and its effect on the distributions of the diazotrophs. Trichodesmium accounted for more than 93% of all nifH genes detected, dominated the warmer waters of the western Atlantic, and was the only diazotroph detected at the equatorial upwelling station. UCYN-A was the next most abundant (> 5% of all nifH genes) and dominated the cooler waters of the eastern Atlantic near the Cape Verde Islands. UCYN-C was found at a single depth (200 m) of high salinity and low temperature and nutrients, whereas UCYN-B cells were widespread but in very low abundance (6.1 × 10¹ ± 4.6 × 10² gene copies l⁻¹). The diatom-cyanobionts were observed primarily in the western Atlantic within or near the high Si(OH)₄ input of the Amazon River plume. Overall, highest diazotroph abundances were observed at the surface and declined with depth, except for some subsurface peaks in Trichodesmium, UCYN-B and UCYN-A. Modelled contributions of Trichodesmium, UCYN-B and UCYN-A to total N₂ fixation suggested that Trichodesmium had the largest input, except for the potential of UCYN-A at the Cape Verde Islands.
Early science results from the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph

The Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) is an ultraviolet spectrograph installed on the Hubble Space Telescope during Servicing Mission Four. COS covers 1150–3200 A at spectral resolutions up to R∼18,000. COS is the most sensitive UV spectrograph to have flown on HST. In this paper, I present science results from the first nine months of COS science operations, focusing on how COS has enabled probes of cosmic origins, from star and planet formation to the large scale structure of the modern universe.
Benign paroxysmal vertigo of childhood.

• Thirty-three cases of benign paroxysmal vertigo in childhood have been seen at our institution since the disorder was recognized ten years ago. Progression from paroxysmal torticollis of infancy to paroxysmal vertigo of childhood is documented. Ear infections and allergy appeared causative in a few, but not most, of the cases. The most important consideration for the pediatrician is to rule out epilepsy and brain tumor. Parents should be reassured that the condition is benign, and that the attacks will cease in a few months or years. (Am J Dis Child130:1099-1100, 1976)
Reductions in incident coronary heart disease risk above guideline physical activity levels in men

Background One-half of Americans currently meet guideline physical activity levels. For these individuals, exceeding guideline levels may provide additional health benefits.
Language Usage and Social Action in the Psychoanalytic Encounter: Discourse Analysis of a Therapy Session Fragment

A fragment of a therapy session is discussed using some of the tools of discourse analysis in an effort to demonstrate how speech acts serve as vehicles for the negotiation of roles and the transmittal of emotional/relational messages in the therapeutic dyad. In particular, issues of power asymmetry, proper function of the therapist, patient autonomy, and emotional attachment are subtextually communicated about through types of speech acts such as propositional triggers and utterances that are ambiguous as to their illocutionary and perlocutionary forces. The analysis of the speech acts in the session provides a microscopic identification of the expression of macro-level theoretical phenomena such as transference and counter-transference.
Magnetic properties of dendrimer-encapsulated iron nanoparticles containing an average of 55 and 147 atoms

The synthesis, characterization and magnetic properties of Fe nanoparticles containing an average of 55 and 147 atoms are described. The nanoparticles are prepared using dendrimer templates, and therefore they are nearly size-monodisperse. In the absence of oxygen and water, the Fe nanoparticles are stable, but they decompose quickly when exposed to air. Magnetic analysis indicates that the 55-atom nanoparticles are superparamagnetic, but the 147-atom materials undergo a transition to ferromagnetic at 6 K. Both materials exhibit suppression of the magnetic saturation compared to bulk Fe.
Smooth flexible models of nonhomogeneous poisson processes using one or more process realizations

We develop and evaluate a semiparametric method to estimate the mean-value function of a nonhomogeneous Poisson process (NHPP) using one or more process realizations observed over a fixed time interval. To approximate the mean-value function, the method exploits a specially formulated polynomial that is constrained in least-squares estimation to be nondecreasing so the corresponding rate function is nonnegative and smooth (continuously differentiable). An experimental performance evaluation for two typical test problems demonstrates the method?s ability to yield an accurate fit to an NHPP based on a single process realization. A third test problem shows how the method can estimate an NHPP based on multiple realizations of the process.
PineSAP—sequence alignment and SNP identification pipeline

Summary: The Pine Alignment and SNP Identification Pipeline (PineSAP) provides a high-throughput solution to single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) prediction using multiple sequence alignments from re-sequencing data. This pipeline integrates a hybrid of customized scripting, existing utilities and machine learning in order to increase the speed and accuracy of SNP calls. The implementation of this pipeline results in significantly improved multiple sequence alignments and SNP identifications when compared with existing solutions. The use of machine learning in the SNP identifications extends the pipeline's application to any eukaryotic species where full genome sequence information is unavailable. Availability: All code used for this pipeline is freely available at the Dendrome project website (http://dendrome.ucdavis.edu/adept2/resequencing.html) Contact: ude.sivadcu@nyzrgewlj
Label-free pathogen sensing: Microarray studies for clinical and research applictions

Studies were performed to investigate the potential of using the Interferometric Reflectance Imaging Sensor (IRIS), a label-free biodetection platform, for microarray-based clinical and research applications demanding detection of whole pathogens and microbial proteins.
LISTEN: A tool to investigate the use of sound for the analysis of program behavior

We describe the architecture and use of a tool named LISTEN. This is a general purpose tool to instrument computer programs so that during program execution aspects of program behavior are mapped to audible sound. Ongoing research aimed at investigating the usefulness of sound in various programming-related tasks and a lack of supporting tools led to the development of LISTEN. This tool is expected to find use in tasks such as program testing and debugging, software-development environments for the visually handicapped, and data analysis using aural cues. We also report our initial experience gathered during exploratory use of LISTEN and provide a summary of ongoing research using this tool.
Informative sampling for large unbalanced data sets

Selective sampling is a form of active learning which can reduce the cost of training by only drawing informative data points into the training set. This selected training set is expected to contain more information for modeling compared to random sampling, thus making modeling faster and more accurate. We introduce a novel approach to selective sampling, which is derived from the Estimation-Exploration Algorithm (EEA). The EEA is a coevolutionary algorithm that uses model disagreement to determine the significance of a training datum, and evolves a set of models only on the selected data. The algorithm in this paper trains a population of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) on the training set, and uses their disagreement to seek new data for the training set. A medical data set called the National Trauma Data Bank (NTDB) is used to test the algorithm. Experiments show that the algorithm outperforms the equivalent algorithm using randomly-selected data and sampling evenly from each class. Finally, the selected training data reveals which features most affect outcome, allowing for both improved modeling and understanding of the processes that gave rise to the data.
Assessment of an abstinence-oriented, outpatient drug addiction service in Greece.

-The 'Athena' service is an abstinence-oriented, outpatient substance addiction unit in Greece. To appraise the operation of the service, 459 clients who contacted the unit during a 3-yr. period were assessed in terms of treatment retention and situation upon discharge from the program; 182 of them had four or more appointments with the service and were thoroughly assessed using a battery of measures pertaining to their situation at discharge and their patterns of abuse and related problems. Most help-seekers were single, unemployed, young men who regularly used heroin (89%) intravenously (35%). From those who got involved in the therapeutic process (40%), 72% had positively modified their drug abuse by the time of discharge from the program (mean duration of treatment: approx. three months); the largest improvement (42%) was recorded in their psychological condition. Treatment retention was significantly higher for cannabis abusers than heroin addicts; longer treatment duration was significantly associated with a positive situation at discharge, while higher education was associated with a less favorable outcome regarding the abuse of the principal substance. These findings suggest that such outpatient programs may help a significant number of individuals who get involved in the therapeutic process and should be considered effective for treatment of substance abuse among the diversity of treatment modalities.
Block-based Schema-driven Assertion Generation for Functional Verification

Current assertion-based verification frameworks provide utilities to define assertions which are exercised during simulation. The traditional verification bottleneck of test generation, simulation, debug, and coverage analysis has been shifted but not eliminated. Defining assertions, ensuring their completeness and accuracy and maintaining a large number of assertions has proven to be the new verification bottleneck. We present a system for automatic assertion generation based on the blocklevel structural analysis of the design description. For each class of design HDL constructs, a verification assertion schema is instantiated into the design description. The system can also analyze existing assertions and identify missing or inconsistent ones. Users can select assertion schemas from the library or define new schema for a project. The resulting assertions are optimized for the target verification environment. A prototype of the system called SocVer has been developed for System-on-a-Chip interface and interconnect assertion generation and optimization.
Bemisia: Bionomics and Management of a Global Pest

This is the most informative compilation I have ever read. The original workshop took place in 2006, and all information was updated to produce the book. Worldwide outbreaks of Bemisia in the past 25 yr have been economically devastating. In the future, we can expect this trend to continue, especially with the spread of insecticide-resistant biotype Q. I read about whiteflies in the context of pesticide resistance and tolerance but had no idea how quickly an insect species can evolve. (When you do …
Self-contained diffuse optical imaging system for real-time detection and localization of vascular occlusions

Free flap surgery is a procedure where healthy tissue is transferred from a donor site to a recipient site of the body to fill a defect without maintaining the original blood supply to the flap. The anastomosis of the vascular network of the flap to the blood vessels adjacent to the recipient site has associated risks of arterial and/or venous occlusions that must be promptly detected to avoid temporary or permanent tissue damage. In this work, we present a skin-contact diffusion optical imaging (DOI) system able to continuously provide a three-dimensional representation of the flap oxygenation to promptly detect vascular occlusions potentially occurring in the flap. Multiple near-infrared LEDs and photodetectors were embedded into a self-contained optical sensor for prolonged monitoring of concentration changes of oxygenated (HbO) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR) at multiple locations and depths. A time-efficient algorithm mapped measured oxygenation changes in a three-dimensional volume to allow surgeons and clinical personnel to detect and localize abnormal blood perfusion changes during or after surgery, in time for corrective intervention. The image reconstruction algorithm was validated using computerized flap models in which oxygenation was synthetically altered, whereas the optical system was preliminarily tested on a healthy forearm simulating a flap undergoing arterial and venous occlusions, proving the feasibility of implementing DOI in the form of a wearable patch for prolonged perfusion monitoring.
A technic for the permanent implantation of electrodes on the heart.

SummaryA technic has been described for the study of the excitability cycle of the heart employing permanent implantation of electrodes.
Case 4-2004

From the Division of Pediatric Hematology–Oncology, Pediatric Service (A.M.F.), and the Departments of Radiation Oncology (N.J.T.), Radiology (P.W.S.), and Pathology (B.L.H.), Massachusetts General Hospital; and the Departments of Pediatrics (A.M.F.), Radiation Oncology (N.J.T.), Radiology (P.W.S.), and Pathology (B.L.H.), Harvard Medical School.
Models for the LES equations to describe multi-species mixing occurring at supercritical pressure

An existing database of Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) representing mixing of species under supercritical pressure (supercritical-p) conditions has been investigated for the purpose of understanding the modelling of ∇p(φ), ∇ ·q(φ) and ∇ · jα(φ) in the context of Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The analysis consists of two separate parts. The activities of all terms appearing in the LES equations are first evaluated, and the dominant terms for each of the transport equations are identified. These data are used to check whether the standard LES assumptions ∇p(φ) = ∇p(φ), ∇ · q(φ) = ∇ · q(φ) and ∇ · jα(φ) = ∇ · jα(φ), which are routinely used for atmospheric-p flows, continue to be valid also in the realm of supercritical-p conditions. Having found that these assumptions do not hold under supercritical-p conditions, alternative modelling strategies for these terms are proposed, and their accuracy with respect to the standard LES assumptions is assessed.
Automating power: Social bot interference in global politics

Over the last several years political actors worldwide have begun harnessing the digital power of social bots — software programs designed to mimic human social media users on platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit. Increasingly, politicians, militaries, and government-contracted firms use these automated actors in online attempts to manipulate public opinion and disrupt organizational communication. Politicized social bots — here ‘political bots’ — are used to massively boost politicians’ follower levels on social media sites in attempts to generate false impressions of popularity. They are programmed to actively and automatically flood news streams with spam during political crises, elections, and conflicts in order to interrupt the efforts of activists and political dissidents who publicize and organize online. They are used by regimes to send out sophisticated computational propaganda. This paper conducts a content analysis of available media articles on political bots in order to build an event dataset of global political bot deployment that codes for usage, capability, and history. This information is then analyzed, generating a global outline of this phenomenon. This outline seeks to explain the variety of political bot-oriented strategies and presents details crucial to building understandings of these automated software actors in the humanities, social and computer sciences.
Effect of diabetes on glutamine synthetase expression in rat skeletal muscles

The regulation of glutamine synthetase expression in muscles from normal and diabetic (streptozotocin-treated) rats was studied. Muscle and body weights were markedly reduced in diabetic animals. Glutamine synthetase activity was significantly (2-fold) elevated 7 days after induction of diabetes. Increased enzyme activity persisted for at least 14 days after induction of diabetes, and it was apparent in both slow (soleus) and fast (plantaris) muscles. The diabetes-induced increase in enzyme activity was reflected in an increased steady-state level of glutamine synthetase mRNA. The increases in glutamine synthetase activity and mRNA level in muscle from diabetic rats were reversed by insulin administration. Increased expression of glutamine synthetase may be important for accelerated glutamine production by muscle from diabetic rats.
Patients Receiving Parenteral Bisphosphonates for Malignant Disease and Having Developed an Atypical Femoral Fracture Are at Risk of Concomitant Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: An Evidence-Based Review.

Purpose The risk of developing concomitant medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) in patients who have sustained an atypical femoral fracture (AFF) in association with parental administration of a bisphosphonate osteoclastic inhibitor medication for malignant disease is unclear. Published data were searched to determine the prevalence of these concomitant adverse medication events, if any. Materials and Methods A systematic review of published case series in the PubMed database was undertaken to ascertain the prevalence of patients having a concomitant history of AFF and MRONJ. The data were analyzed to provide prevalence rates of these events from the literature. Results Two case series were identified that delineated the risk (25 and 33%, respectively) of concomitant development of MRONJ and AFF in recipients of parenteral bisphosphonate medication administered for malignant disease. Conclusion The published data suggest that approximately 30% of patients receiving parenteral bisphosphonates and having sustained an AFF could develop comorbid MRONJ.
SU‐D‐204‐06: Integration of Machine Learning and Bioinformatics Methods to Analyze Genome‐Wide Association Study Data for Rectal Bleeding and Erectile Dysfunction Following Radiotherapy in Prostate Cancer

Purpose: We investigated whether integration of machine learning and bioinformatics techniques on genome-wide association study (GWAS) data can improve the performance of predictive models in predicting the risk of developing radiation-induced late rectal bleeding and erectile dysfunction in prostate cancer patients. Methods: We analyzed a GWAS dataset generated from 385 prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy. Using genotype information from these patients, we designed a machine learning-based predictive model of late radiation-induced toxicities: rectal bleeding and erectile dysfunction. The model building process was performed using 2/3 of samples (training) and the predictive model was tested with 1/3 of samples (validation). To identify important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we computed the SNP importance score, resulting from our random forest regression model. We performed gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis for nearby genes of the important SNPs. Results: After univariate analysis on the training dataset, we filtered out many SNPs with p>0.001, resulting in 749 and 367 SNPs that were used in the model building process for rectal bleeding and erectile dysfunction, respectively. On the validation dataset, our random forest regression model achieved the area under the curve (AUC)=0.70 and 0.62 for rectal bleeding and erectile dysfunction, respectively. We performed GO enrichment analysis for the top 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% SNPs out of the select SNPs in the univariate analysis. When we used the top 50% SNPs, more plausible biological processes were obtained for both toxicities. An additional test with the top 50% SNPs improved predictive power with AUC=0.71 and 0.65 for rectal bleeding and erectile dysfunction. A better performance was achieved with AUC=0.67 when age and androgen deprivation therapy were added to the model for erectile dysfunction. Conclusion: Our approach that combines machine learning and bioinformatics techniques enabled designing better models and identifying more plausible biological processes associated with the outcomes.
Density Enhancement Study for a Bipolar VLSI Masterslice Chip using 4 Layers of Metal Part 1: Masterslice Chip Design - General Aspects

The System/370 chip which was developed in IBM East Fishkill, USA [1] is designed on a logic masterslice or gate-array chip with almost 5000 automatically wired circuits. Based on the good experience with this chip and based on the Boeblingen contributions to this design, we decided to continue the development effort to determine the optimum way for increased logic circuit density, improved chip productivity and better power-performance on masterslices within the present technology environment. The easiest way to improve logic density on a masterslice chip is to reduce the channel pitch by shrinking groundrules. This way, however, is always limited to certain boundaries of a given technology and might require high capital investment for improved equipment. Another approach is to spend an additional level of wiring [6]. In a placement and wiring study, which is described in Part 2 of this paper, it was proven with actual logic from the IBM 4331 System that an additional wiring layer will reduce the active chip area by more than a factor of two. The average net length with its corresponding capacitance is also reduced which increases the performance. Encouraged by this significant density improvement, a masterslice chip with almost 10 000 circuits was designed using 2.55.?m groundrules, 3 layers of metal for wiring and one for power and I/O redistribution.
Sociological Studies of American Life in the 1920s

The 1920s in the USA was an era characterized by the conflicting social themes epitomized by Prohibition and its polar incarnation—the Jazz Age. Mainstream American sociology was also drawn to divergent styles. Pitirim Sorokin of Harvard wrote his seminal Social Mobility in an attempt to generalize about patterns of inequality and ranking in society, establishing the groundwork for studies in social stratification ever since. Robert and Helen Lynd, invited to study religion in American life, expanded their inquiry into two heralded accounts of the American way of life in a small, Midwestern city—Muncie, IN. Together, these works established a recognition that the American Dream encapsulated different experiences, but often the same dreams, for Americans from different classes.
Minimal Effect of the Hole-Transport Material Ionization Potential on the Open-Circuit Voltage of Perovskite Solar Cells

Hole-transport material optimization is an important step toward maximizing the efficiency of perovskite solar cells. Here, we investigate the role of one hole-transport material property, the ionization potential, on the performance of perovskite solar cells. We employ a device architecture that allows us to systematically tune the ionization potential while avoiding any impact to other device parameters, and we find that for a wide range of ionization potentials the photovoltaic performance is minimally affected. This finding relaxes the requirement for the development of hole-transport materials with particular ionization potentials, allowing for the optimization of hole-transport materials that can improve performance in differing ways such as through increased stability or decreased parasitic absorption.