cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Energy-Efficient Joint Source-Channel Coding for Optical Wireless Underwater Networks

We describe a novel joint source-channel coding scheme for short-range optical wireless links in underwater sensor networks. We present a procedure that maps source symbol sequences to ON-OFF waveforms in the modulation space such that the energy consumption of modulation per source symbol is minimized. We apply this procedure to two settings: the single-dimensional and vector i.i.d. source processes. We show that the energy consumption per source symbol decreases as the length of the modulation waveform increases; however, for a fixed length modulation waveform, this decrease is not monotonic in the length of the source symbol sequence used. We present simulation results for two Gaussian processes that are correlated with each other, and quantitatively demonstrate the effects of the correlation coefficient between the two processes on the minimum energy of modulation that can be achieved per vector source symbol.
Infrared photoresponse of GeSn/n-Ge heterojunctions grown by molecular beam epitaxy

Heterojunction devices of Ge(1-x)Sn(x) / n-Ge were grown by solid source molecular beam epitaxy (MBE), and the mid-infrared (IR) photocurrent response was measured. With increasing Sn composition from 4% to 12%, the photocurrent spectra became red-shifted, suggesting that the bandgap of Ge(1-x)Sn(x) alloys was lowered compared to pure Ge. At a temperature of 100 K, the wavelengths of peak photocurrent were shifted from 1.42 µm for pure Ge (0% Sn) to 2.0 µm for 12% Sn. The bias dependence of the device response showed that the optimum reverse bias was > 0.5 volts for saturated photocurrent. The responsivity of the Ge(1-x)Sn(x) devices was estimated to be 0.17 A/W for 4% Sn. These results suggest that Ge(1-x)Sn(x) photodetectors may have practical applications in the near/mid IR wavelength regime.
SMARCAL1 maintains telomere integrity during DNA replication

The SMARCAL1 (SWI/SNF related, matrix-associated, actin-dependent, regulator of chromatin, subfamily A-like 1) DNA translocase is one of several related enzymes, including ZRANB3 (zinc finger, RAN-binding domain containing 3) and HLTF (helicase-like transcription factor), that are recruited to stalled replication forks to promote repair and restart replication. These enzymes can perform similar biochemical reactions such as fork reversal; however, genetic studies indicate they must have unique cellular activities. Here, we present data showing that SMARCAL1 has an important function at telomeres, which present an endogenous source of replication stress. SMARCAL1-deficient cells accumulate telomere-associated DNA damage and have greatly elevated levels of extrachromosomal telomere DNA (C-circles). Although these telomere phenotypes are often found in tumor cells using the alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT) pathway for telomere elongation, SMARCAL1 deficiency does not yield other ALT phenotypes such as elevated telomere recombination. The activity of SMARCAL1 at telomeres can be separated from its genome-maintenance activity in bulk chromosomal replication because it does not require interaction with replication protein A. Finally, this telomere-maintenance function is not shared by ZRANB3 or HLTF. Our results provide the first identification, to our knowledge, of an endogenous source of replication stress that requires SMARCAL1 for resolution and define differences between members of this class of replication fork-repair enzymes.
Issues and Trends in Instructional Technology: Despite Lean Times, Continued Interest and Opportunity in K-12, Business, and Higher Education.

This chapter is comprised of four sections: Overall Developments, Corporate Training and Development, Higher Education, and K-12 Education; this chapter synthesizes the findings of major annual reports including ASTD’s 2010 State of the Industry Report, the EDUCAUSE Core Data Service Fiscal Year 2009 Summary Report, The ECAR study of undergraduate students and information technology, 2010; Education Week’s Technology Counts 2011, The New Media Consortium and the Consortium for School Networkings’ The 2011 Horizon Report: K-12 Edition, and Project Tomorrow’s Speak Up National Findings Report, The New 3 E’s of Education: Enabled, engaged, Empowered; How Today’s Students are Leverage Emerging Technologies for Learning. The authors describe the economy’s impact on instructional technology and comment on the importance of online learning, the use of mobile devices (particularly, tablet computing, smart phones, and e-readers), the current state of online learning, and the continued interest in and use of Web 2.0—collaborative environments, in particular.
Athlete: A cargo handling and manipulation robot for the moon: Research Articles

A robotic vehicle called ATHLETE—the All-Terrain Hex-Limbed, Extra-Terrestrial Explorer—is described, along with initial results of field tests of two prototype vehicles. This vehicle concept is capable of efficient rolling mobility on moderate terrain and walking mobility on extreme terrain. Each limb has a quick-disconnect tool adapter so that it can perform general-purpose handling, assembly, maintenance, and servicing tasks using any or all of the limbs. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mitral valve repair using robotic technology: Safe, effective, and durable.

The most recent American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association heart valve guidelines recommend that prompt surgical correction of severe degenerative mitral valve regurgitation, ideally mitral valve repair, should be performed to decrease the risks of long-term mortality and heart failure risks associated with this condition. Mitral valve repair performed using a minimally invasive robotic approach can now be successfully carried out in nearly all cases of degenerative disease with very low risks of stroke or death. Experienced groups have further shown specific advantages of robotic mitral valve repair compared with conventional approaches, including reduced blood loss, lower risks of infection and atrial fibrillation, shorter hospital length of stay, quicker return to normal activities, and a superior cosmetic result. Herein, we discuss the current status of robotic mitral valve repair including indications, technical advances, safety, effectiveness, and durability.
Photoswitchable Hopping Transport in Molecular Wires 4 nm in Length

We report the synthesis and electrical characterization of photoswitchable π-conjugated molecular wires. The wires were designed based on the previously reported oligophenyleneimine (OPI) wires [Frisbie Science 2008, 320, 1482] with a slight modification to incorporate the dithienylethene linker (the “photoswitch”) into the wire backbone (e.g., PS3-OPI 5; PS stands for the photoswitch, and the number following “PS’’ indicates its position within the OPI chain). Stepwise arylimine condensation reaction between 1,4-diaminobenzene and terephthalaldehyde (1,4-benzenedicarbaldehyde) was employed to grow these wires from Au surfaces. To insert the “photoswitch” into the wire, 1,4-diaminobenzene was replaced with perfluoro-1,2-bis(2-(4-aminophenyl)-5-methylthien-4-yl)cyclopentene (PS) at specific steps during the wire growth. A variety of surface characterization techniques were employed to investigate the structure of the wires including FT-IR spectroscopy, ellipsometry, cyclic voltammetry (CV), X-ray photoelec...
4843-keV, 1 + Level of 208 Pb

From measurements of resonance-fluorescence cross section, angular distribution, and polarization, the 4843-keV level of $^{208}\mathrm{Pb}$ has been shown to have a ${1}^{+}$ character and a width of 5.1 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.8 eV with all of the decays to the ground state. As the probable lower member of the giant $M1$ excitation, this state is at a significantly lower energy and has a decay strength which is an order of magnitude larger than the predictions of simple shell-model calculations.
CARCINOMA OF COLON COMPLICATING ULCERATIVE COLITIS: REPORT OF TEN CASES.

There were ten additional patients in whom ulcerative colitis was complicated by cancer of the colon. A total of 33 patients with carcinoma of the colon among approximately 1,200 patients with ulcerative colitis have been identified. Seven of the ten are dead. The average age when cancer appeared was 44 years and malignancy was diagnosed after an average duration of ulcerative colitis of 17 years. The distribution of carcinoma was more diffuse throughout the colon in ulcerative colitis than that in the case ofordinary cancer of the large bowel. The neoplasia frequently was multifocal, presented variable histopathologic characteristics, and involved new sites in the colon after removal of the initial tumor. Involvement of lymph nodes was present in most cases, but it did not exclude the possibility of prolonged periods of survival.
Workload Adaptive Shared Memory Management for High Performance Network I/O in Virtualized Cloud

This paper presents the design and implementation of MemPipe, a dynamic shared memory management system for high performance network I/O among virtual machines (VMs) located on the same host. MemPipe delivers efficient inter-VM communication with three unique features. First, MemPipe employs an inter-VM shared memory pipe to enable high throughput data delivery for both TCP and UDP workloads among co-located VMs. Second, instead of static allocation of shared memories, MemPipe manages its shared memory pipes through a demand driven and proportional memory allocation mechanism, which can dynamically enlarge or shrink the shared memory pipes based on the demand of the workloads in each VM. Third but not the least, MemPipe employs a number of optimizations, such as time-window based streaming partitions and socket buffer redirection, to further optimize its performance. Extensive experiments show that MemPipe improves the throughput of conventional (native) inter VM communication by up to 45 times, reduces the latency by up to 62 percent, and achieves up to 91 percent shared memory utilization.
An Interference Tolerant RF Frontend With Capacitive Feedback for Channel Filtering

In this letter, a reconfigurable RF frontend with 4-path passive mixer is presented. Compared with the conventional method of using passive mixer at LNA output only, this design has further transferred the tunable impedance characteristic of passive mixer to the LNA input with capacitive feedback to achieve reconfigurable impedance matching at target frequency. Furthermore, the negative feedback is also able to free the conventional common base amplifier from 50 Ω impedance matching requirement to achieve better noise figure. The design was implemented with 0.18 μm SiGe BiCMOS technology. Measurement results showed a lowest noise figure of 4.6 dB from 0.6 to 1.1 GHz and an in-band IIP3 of −11 dBm, an out-band IIP3 of +3 dBm respectively.
Cores of Reproducibility in Physiology (CORP): Advancing the corpus of physiological knowledge.

this volume of the Journal of Applied Physiology marks publication of our first CORP article ([1][1]). It is a statistical essay on best practices to minimize the probability of studies coming up with either false positive or false negative conclusions. CORP (Cores of Reproducibility in Physiology)
Exploring Health Information Exchange HIE Through Collaboration Framework: Normative Guidelines for IT Leadership of Healthcare Organizations

Health Information Exchanges HIEs hold the promise to integrate patient data residing across disparate information systems in various hospitals to improve care coordination, patient engagement, and provisioning of real-time information to physicians. This research posits that collaboration is the key to HIE’s success. Drawing from the extant literature on collaboration, we discuss collaboration-related challenges that healthcare IT leaders are facing and provide normative guidelines that they can implement during the HIE initiation phase as well as the maintenance phase.
Universal spin-momentum locking of light

We show the existence of an inherent handedness (spin) of evanescent-electromagnetic-waves which is fundamentally locked to the direction of propagation (momentum). It is universal and accompanies evanescent waves in total internal reflection, waveguides/fibers and surface-states. The hallmark of the recently discovered quantum spin hall (QSH) state of matter is the existence of electronic surface states which are robust to disorder (non-magnetic impurities). This property arises since the spin of the electron is intrinsically locked to the direction of propagation (momentum) and the electrons cannot backscatter unless there is a spin-flip. Recent work on topological photonics has shed light on electromagnetic surface states which are immune to disorder and show similar effects as the electrons. However, the presence of spin-orbit coupling has been considered fundamental to the origin of this spin-momentum locking effect in both electronics and photonics.
Alternative flowsheet for rare earth beneficiation of Bear Lodge ore

Abstract The Bear Lodge Project is an important rare earth deposit in the United States. While extensive previous studies have settled on a crushing, screening, gravity and magnetic separation process, this study sets out to investigate an alternative flowsheet based on flotation and wet high intensity magnetic separation (WHIMS) to effectively beneficiate the rare earth oxide (REO) content of the Bear Lodge ore. Mineral characterization found ancylite was the dominant rare earth mineral, associated mainly with calcite and strontianite. Electrokinetic studies on the effects of pH, concentrations of various ions (Sr2+, HCO3− and CO32−) and hydroxamate concentrations were performed to establish the electric nature of the Bear Lodge ore. The isoelectric points (I.E.P) of the material in distilled water was around 5.27. The Sr2+ and CO32− ions in solution significantly affected the surface charge of the material. Adsorption studies suggested that the mechanism of hydroxamate adsorption is chemisorption, as hydroxamate adsorption increased on the Bear Lodge ore with an increase in temperature. WHIMS was employed to remove the iron content to reduce the interference of iron in following flotation process and consumption of hydroxamic acid. After cleaner flotation a REO grade of 11.2% at 72.7% recovery from a feed material of 4.5% REO was obtained. In light of the loss of REO in WHIMS process, it is possible to produce a concentrate containing 11.2% REO grade at 61.2% recovery.
Systems Dynamics-Based Modeling of Data Warehouse Quality

ABSTRACTData warehouses (DW) are a key component of business intelligence and decision-making. In this paper, we present an approach that combines Grounded Theory and System Dynamics to develop cau...
Communication Skills for the LPN

Communication is critical in the care of our patients and in the development of interprofessional and intra-professional relationships. Without excellent communication skills, we run the risk of making errors that can be detrimental to our patients and interfering with relationship and team building which are both critical to our health-care practice.
Medicare Advantage Penetration and Hospital Costs Before and After the Affordable Care Act

Background:Research has suggested that growth in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program indirectly benefits the entire 65+-year-old population by reducing overall expenditures and creating spillover effects of patient care practices. Medicare programs and innovations initiated by the Affordable Care Ac
Iron as a Factor in Disease Development in Animals

In nearly all forms of life, the number and diversity of enzymes that contain iron or that depend on the presence of this metal for activity is impressive. Well known groups of enzymes include electron transport proteins, iron flavoproteins, hydroperoxidases, and oxygenases. The metal plays a crucial role in DNA synthesis as a cofactor of ribonucleotide reductase. Iron is involved in notrogen and hydrogen fixation and, in animals, is essential for erythropoiesis, granulopoiesis, and synthesis of collagen, corticosteroids, and prostaglandins.
Molecular Biology of the Genes Encoding the Major Myelin Proteins

Nervous systems develop through a series of cell-cell interactions. Among the most striking of these interactions is that which occurs between neurons and glia and results in the elaboration of the myelin sheath, the electrical insulator surrounding rapidly conducting axons. Formation of this sheath entails a marked reorganization of both glial cell morphology and metabolism, most obvious in a massive increase in plasma membrane biosynthesis, and in the induction of a set of genes and proteins unique to myelinating cells. This chapter considers the recent preliminary efforts of several laboratories in which recombinant DNA methods have been employed to examine the structure and regulated expression of induced, myelin-specific genes; in particular, those coding for the major structural proteins of the sheath. Although only in its infancy, this work has already provided significant insights into myelin formation and structure. More importantly, it promises to eventually provide an understanding of the detailed molecular events that both trigger and accompany myelination.
Inhibition of Apoptosis In Mammalian Cell Culture

When J.F. Enders first used primate cells to produce poliomyelitis virus in 1949, a multi-billion dollar industry was born. The realization that viruses could be attenuated in vitro for use as vaccines initiated attempts to develop large scale cultures of mammalian cells. In the 1970’s, two discoveries led to the expanded use of such cultures: (1) the advent of recombinant DNA technology meant that cell lines could be engineered to overexpress heterologous genes, and (2) the development of hybridoma cell lines provided a system capable of continuously secreting antibodies (Kohler and Milstein, 1975). Today, dozens of products including virus vaccines, antibodies, interferons, immunoregulators, hormones, and growth factors are manufactured by mammalian cells in culture; this number promises only to increase as our understanding of cellular processes grows.
Selective functional rhizotomy for the treatment of spasticity in children

During the past three years interest in the use of selective functional rhizotomy to treat spasticity has increased, particularly in the United States. This is due largely to the positive experiences of surgeons employing various techniques of sensory rhizotomies during the 1960’s, 1970’s and early 1980’s in Europe and South Africa (Fasano et al. 1980, Fraioli and Guidetti 1977, Gros et al. 1973, Laitinen et al. 1983, Peacock et al. 1987, Privat et al. 1976, Sindou et al. 1974, 1987). To understand the rationale of this procedure, a summary of the current theories of the pathophysiology is helpful.
Hydro­thermally synthesized α-Ba2P2O7

Single crystals of α-Ba2P2O7, dibarium diphosphate, were obtained under hydro­thermal conditions. The structure belongs to the diphosphate A2P2O7 series with A being an alkaline earth cation. α-Ba2P2O7 crystallizes isotypically with α-Sr2P2O7. All atomic sites have site symmetry m with the exception of two O atoms which reside on general positions. Both Ba2+ cations are coordinated by nine terminal O atoms from eclipsed diphosphate P2O7 anions to form a three-dimensional network throughout the structure.
On the Sn-invariant F-conjecture

Abstract By using classical invariant theory, we reduce the S n -invariant F-conjecture to a feasibility problem in polyhedral geometry. We show by computer that for n ≤ 19 , every integral S n -invariant F-nef divisor on the moduli space of genus zero stable n-pointed curves is semi-ample, over arbitrary characteristic. Furthermore, for n ≤ 16 , we show that for every integral S n -invariant nef (resp. ample) divisor D on the moduli space, 2D is base-point-free (resp. very ample). As applications, we obtain the nef cone of the moduli space of stable curves without marked points, and the semi-ample cone of the moduli space of genus 0 stable maps to Grassmannian for small numerical values.
Compensation for Veterans With Service Connected Disabilities: Current Findings and Future Implications:

Compensation is an essential benefit provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans with service connected conditions, which are illnesses or injuries incurred or aggravated durin...
Effects of Freezing on the Microstructure of Geotextiles

Examination with a scanning electron microscope (SEM) revealed that a single freeze-thaw cycle in distilled water did not damage the fibers of a needle-punched or a heat-bonded geotextile; however, significant soil particle contamination occurred in the needle-punched fabric after being frozen in soil in laboratory tests. (The heat-bonded fabric was not tested in this manner.) The presence of soil particles both in fabric pores and on fabric fibers suggests that the fabric's ability to reduce frost heave is degraded. Laboratory frost heaving tests showed that a fabric's ability to mitigate frost heave decreased after having been exposed to vertical water flow in soil prior to freezing. The flow is thought to have introduced soil fines into the fabric, but this idea was not confirmed by inspection before freezing. A pumping test conducted with soil in a triaxial cell, designed to simulate stresses on a pavement subgrade during thawing, did not noticeably contaminate the needle-punched fabric tested. Furthermore, fabrics subjected to the triaxial cell pumping performed as well as new fabrics in mitigating frost heave in laboratory soil freezing tests. Whether the triaxial cell pumping test and/or the vertical water flow procedures simulate field conditions has yet to be determined.
734-P: Perceived Barriers to Physical Activity in People with Type 1 Diabetes Using CGM

Objective: Prior reports using the validated Barriers to Physical Activity in Diabetes (type 1) [BAPAD1] scale showed fear of hypoglycemia was the strongest barrier to regular physical activity (PA) in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D). This was before the higher prevalence of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) use today. Methods: Twenty adults with T1D enrolling in an exercise tracking study completed the BAPAD1, reporting perceived barriers to regular PA on a scale of 1 (extremely unlikely) to 7 (extremely likely). All used insulin pumps. Fifteen of the 20 were current CGM users. Results: Baseline characteristics were age 44.9±15.0 years, F/M 12/8, HbA1c 6.8±0.7%, and diabetes duration 22.9±15.9 years. Mean BAPAD1 score was 2.55±1.05. The highest scores were for risk of hypoglycemia (4.00±1.78) and work schedule (3.70±2.00), with current CGM users reporting higher overall scores than non-CGM users (2.71±1.04 vs. 2.10±1.07, p=0.28). Significantly higher scores were reported by CGM users for “The fear of being tired” (p=0.01), “The fact that you have diabetes” (p=0.03), and “The location of a gym” (p=0.04) (Table 1). Greater barrier scores for work schedule were associated with lower age (r=-0.5, p=0.02). Conclusions: CGM use was not associated with lower perceived barriers to regular PA, suggesting additional interventions beyond providing ways to measure glucose are needed to reduce these barriers in people with T1D. Disclosure C.C. Andre: None. Y.C. Kudva: Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc. Other Relationship; Self; Dexcom, Inc., Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care. V. Dadlani: None. M. Cescon: None. S.K. McCrady-Spitzer: None. M. Church: None. C. Reid: None. K. Kumari: None. D. Choudhary: None. F.J. Doyle: Consultant; Self; ModeAGC. Other Relationship; Self; Insulet Corporation. E. Dassau: Consultant; Self; Eli Lilly and Company, Insulet Corporation. Research Support; Self; Dexcom, Inc., DreaMed Diabetes, Ltd., Insulet Corporation, Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care, Xeris Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Roche Diabetes Care. Other Relationship; Self; ModAGC. J.E. Pinsker: Research Support; Self; Ascensia Diabetes Care, Dexcom, Inc., Insulet Corporation, LifeScan, Inc., Roche Diabetes Care, Tandem Diabetes Care. Speaker9s Bureau; Self; Tandem Diabetes Care. Funding JDRF; The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust (2-SRA-2017-503-M-B); Dexcom, Inc. (IIS-2017-043)
Photometric limits on the high resolution imaging of exoplanets using the solar gravity lens

Abstract We present an analysis of high-resolution imaging of an exoplanet by a meter-class telescope positioned at a real image of the exoplanet created by the solar gravity lens. We assume an exoplanet viewed in full phase and a simple deconvolution method to correct for the intrinsic blur caused by aberrations in the solar gravity lens, and account for the foreground light of the solar corona. We derive equations for the measurement times required for the telescope to produce such a high-resolution image, and find that due to shot noise considerations these times are large compared to human lifespans. We also discuss how measurement times could potentially be significantly shorter for exoplanets with special orbital and rotational parameters.
An evaluation of the relationship between hyperketonemia and pre- and post-calving hoof lesions in dairy cattle

Recent research has suggested changes related to fat mobilization are an important risk factor for lameness development. The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) blood concentration of cows post-calving and hoof lesions during the first 150 DIM.
Growing algorithmic governmentality: Interrogating the social construction of trust in precision agriculture

Abstract Precision agriculture (PA) is restructuring farmer livelihoods and identities through a panoply of technologies that generate and process big data to influence agricultural practices. In this paper, we ask the question: How does algorithmic rationality impact farmers' trust in PA? We focus on the modalities of power wielded by agritech firms through PA that socially construct a form of moralistic trust, the politics of knowledge and knowledgeability, and the internalization of new social identities. This research study utilized a mixed methods approach that included focus groups and follow-up surveys with social actors along the PA value chain. We found that agritech firms have successfully positioned their knowledge products as superior to farmers' experiential knowledge, thereby ensuring farmers’ sustained engagement with PA technologies for the purposes of data capture and capital accumulation. Farmers internalize the algorithmic rationality of PA and position themselves along a moral register through governmentalized actions that ostensibly demonstrate moralistic trust in the system. This process has the effect of transforming social identities, interpellating farmers as the architects of their own alienation. Agritech is increasingly adept at digitally abstracting farm knowledge away from farmers. PA is a battleground wherein the politics of agrarian knowledge are contested.
A pulse of the Earth: A 27.5-Myr underlying cycle in coordinated geological events over the last 260 Myr

Abstract We performed spectral analyses on the ages of 89 well-dated major geological events of the last 260 Myr from the recent geologic literature. These events include times of marine and non-marine extinctions, major ocean-anoxic events, continental flood-basalt eruptions, sea-level fluctuations, global pulses of intraplate magmatism, and times of changes in seafloor-spreading rates and plate reorganizations. The aggregate of all 89 events shows ten clusters in the last 260 Myr, spaced at an average interval of ~ 26.9 Myr, and Fourier analysis of the data yields a spectral peak at 27.5 Myr at the ≥ 96% confidence level. A shorter period of ~ 8.9 Myr may also be significant in modulating the timing of geologic events. Our results suggest that global geologic events are generally correlated, and seem to come in pulses with an underlying ~ 27.5-Myr cycle. These cyclic pulses of tectonics and climate change may be the result of geophysical processes related to the dynamics of plate tectonics and mantle plumes, or might alternatively be paced by astronomical cycles associated with the Earth’s motions in the Solar System and the Galaxy.
Teleost urophysis: II. Biological characterization of the bladder-contracting activity

Abstract Some properties of the trout bladder-contracting substance (UHS), extractable with hot acetic acid from teleost urophyses, were investigated with pharmacological and chemical means. Observations of the UHS activity on the isolated trout bladder indicated that the activity was not due to the following: acetylcholine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, adrenaline with noradrenaline, or neurohypophysial peptides (arginine vasopressin, arginine vasotocin, isotocin, oxytocin). The bladder-contracting activity of UHS was not blocked by atropine. In addition, UHS gave responses different from acetylcholine on the small intestine of the trout and the goby and did not produce any visible effects on rat blood pressure or on the isolated rat uterus when applied in doses about 10 times higher than those necessary to induce rhythmic contractions of the trout bladder. The UHS activity was destroyed by incubation with trypsin or chymotrypsin; it was also partially destroyed by treating with hot alkali.
Computer Literacy and Non-IS majors

This paper presents an investigation of non-Information Systems (IS) major’s perceptions and performance when enrolled in a required introductory Computer Information Systems course. Students of various academic backgrounds were taught Excel, Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JavaScript and computer literacy in a 14-week introductory course, in the context of what are called ‘learning pods’. In the perceptions study, students answered a survey about their perception of the technologies and assignments used throughout the semester, as they contributed to various learning and team-building skills. The second study examined student performance through a series of pre- and post- quizzes. Results from the two studies indicate that students’ perceptions and performance were impacted favorably.
Analytic Coherent States for Generalized Potentials

This is work(1,2) which I (MMN) and Mike Simmons have been doing at Los Alamos.† It’s hopefully going to be short, sweet, and to the point. I have divided the talk into sections. In Section 2 I’m going to review in some detail the properties of the coherent states for the harmonic oscillator. Then (in Section 3) I’m going to describe what I will call the “classical motion generalization.” By that I mean I will define “coherent states” not only for the simple harmonic oscillator but for particles in different potentials. These coherent states should follow the classical motion of a particle in such a classical potential. Finally, to show that our proposed generalization is indeed a good one, I am going to present in Section 4 a specific example which we have analytically beaten to death, and then close with a discussion.
Stigma as a barrier to treatment for child acute malnutrition in Marsabit County, Kenya

Acute malnutrition affects millions of children each year, yet global coverage of life-saving treatment through the community-based management of acute malnutrition (CMAM) is estimated to be below 15%. We investigated the potential role of stigma as a barrier to accessing CMAM. We surveyed caregivers bringing children to rural health facilities in Marsabit County, Kenya, divided into three strata based on the mid-upper arm circumference of the child: normal status (n = 327), moderate acute malnutrition (MAM, n = 241) and severe acute malnutrition (SAM, n = 143). We used multilevel mixed effects logistic regression to estimate the odds of reporting shame as a barrier to accessing health care. We found that the most common barriers to accessing child health care were those known to be universally problematic: women's time and labour constraints. These constituted the top five most frequently reported barriers regardless of child acute malnutrition status. In contrast, the odds of reporting shame as a barrier were 3.64 (confidence interval: 1.66-8.03, P < 0.05) times higher in caregivers of MAM and SAM children relative to those of normal children. We conclude that stigma is an under-recognized barrier to accessing CMAM and may constrain programme coverage. In light of the large gap in coverage of CMAM, there is an urgent need to understand the sources of acute malnutrition-associated stigma and adopt effective means of de-stigmatization.
A 94 GHz aperture-coupled micromachined microstrip antenna

In this paper, we present an aperture-coupled micromachined microstrip antenna operating at 94 GHz. The design consists of two stacked silicon substrates: (1) the top substrate, which carries the microstrip antenna, is micromachined to improve the radiation performance of the antenna, and (2) the bottom substrate, which carries the microstrip feed line and the coupling slot. The measured return loss is -17 dB at 91 GHz for a 10-dB bandwidth of 11%. The radiation patterns show a measured front-to-back ratio of -10 dB at 91 GHz. The micromachined microstrip antenna is an efficient solution to the vertical integration of antenna arrays at millimeter-wave frequencies.
Medical image retrieval by spatial features

A content-based indexing technique is proposed. The image features used are derived from the relative spatial relationships among internal image entities. The similarity measurement is based on causality (probability) which indicates the degree of similarity between a user's query and images. The index structure contains a set of causality-based similarity trees with nodes connected to an information causal net. For a given (weighted) query, the initial set of similar images is identified via similarity trees and then refined through the information causal net. The method is introduced with an example using magnetic resonance chest images. >
A fuzzy graph matching approach in intelligence analysis and maintenance of continuous situational awareness

In intelligence analysis a situation of interest is commonly obscured by the more voluminous amount of unimportant data. This data can be broadly divided into two categories, hard or physical sensor data and soft or human observed data. Soft intelligence data is collected by humans through human interaction, or human intelligence (HUMINT). The value and difficulty in manual processing of these observations due to the volume of available data and cognitive limitations of intelligence analysts necessitate an information fusion approach toward their understanding. The data representation utilized in this work is an attributed graphical format. The uncertainties, size and complexity of the connections within this graph make accurate assessments difficult for the intelligence analyst. While this graphical form is easier to consider for an intelligence analyst than disconnected multi-source human and sensor reports, manual traversal for the purpose of obtaining situation awareness and accurately answering priority information requests (PIRs) is still infeasible. To overcome this difficulty an automated stochastic graph matching approach is developed. This approach consists of three main processes: uncertainty alignment, graph matching result initialization and graph matching result maintenance. Uncertainty alignment associates with raw incoming observations a bias adjusted uncertainty representation representing the true value containing spread of the observation. The graph matching initialization step provides template graph to data graph matches for a newly initialized situation of interest (template graph). Finally, the graph matching result maintenance algorithm continuously updates graph matching results as incoming observations augment the cumulative data graph. Throughout these processes the uncertainties present in the original observations and the template to data graph matches are preserved, ultimately providing an indication of the uncertainties present in the current situation assessment. In addition to providing the technical details of this approach, this paper also provides an extensive numerical testing section which indicates a significant performance improvement of the proposed algorithm over a leading commercial solver.
Data-driven first-order methods for misspecified convex optimization problems: Global convergence and Rate estimates

We consider a misspecified optimization problem that requires minimizing of a convex function f(x; θ*) in x over a closed and convex set X where θ* is an unknown vector of parameters. Suppose θ* may be learnt by a parallel learning process that generates a sequence of estimators θ k , each of which is an increasingly accurate approximation of θ*. In this context, we examine the development of coupled schemes that generate iterates (x k , θ k ) such that as the iteration index k → ∞, then x k → x*, a minimizer of f(x; θ*) over X and θ k → θ*.We make two sets of contributions along this direction. First, we consider the use of gradient methods and proceed to show that such techniques are globally convergent. In addition, such schemes show a quantifiable degradation in the linear rate of convergence observed for strongly convex optimization problems. When strong convexity assumptions are weakened, we see a modification in the convergence rate in function values of O(1/K) by an additive factor ≑θ 0 −θ*≑O(qK g +1/K) where ≑θ 0 −θ*≑ represents the initial misspecification in θ* and qg denotes the contractive factor associated with the learning process. Second, we present an averaging-based subgradient scheme and show that the optimal constant steplength leads to a modification in the rate by ≑θ 0 −θ*≑O(qK g +1/K), implying no effect on the standard rate of O(1/√K).
Age-related differences in electric shock detection and escape thresholds in sprague-dawley albino rats

For both male and female Sprague-Dawley albino rats, shock detection thresholds decreased as a function of age over a range of 90 to 660 days of age. Shock escape thresholds also were found to vary inversely with age. The findings are discussed in light of previous shock threshold experiments and in terms of implications for studies of age-related learning changes.
New Programs in "Old" Agencies Lessons in Organizational Change from the Office for Civil Rights

The phenomenon of organizational adaptation to new goals is studied in the context of HEW's Office for Civil Rights (OCR). Scholars who have studied this subject have generally observed a reluctance by bureaucracies to assign high priorities to new responsibilities, particularly when the agency given a new task does not receive a commmensurate staff increase. As OCR acquired a series of new responsibilities that outstrip its staff increases, changes were required in OCR's substantive responsibilities as well as in its operating procedures. OCR adaptation to these changes is determined by analyzing workload data reported in various congressional appropriations hearings, recent agency annual operating plans, and interviews with 28 professional employees in 4 of the /0 regional offices. Analyses of these data indicate that OCR has generally made substantive and procedural reallocations in line with the new policy directives. Thus, earlier emphases have been replaced by new priorities. The article concludes w...
Metabolic, hemodynamic, and cardiac effects of captopril in young, spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abstract Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) demonstrate elevated blood pressure, cardiac hypertrophy, glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance compared with age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). We investigated concurrent effects of captopril on blood pressure, cardiac mass, myocardial enzyme activities, glucose tolerance, and insulin action in young male SHR. At 10 weeks of age, SHR were randomized into two groups, one receiving distilled water, the other a captopril solution (50 mg/kg body weight/day). We also examined age-matched WKY receiving distilled water. Blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff during the 4-week treatment period and oral glucose tolerance was tested at the end of treatment. Hearts were weighed and ventricular tissue was assayed for activities of 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, citrate synthase, and hexokinase. Growth rates were similar between captopril-treated and control SHR, but less than those of WKY. Captopril reduced blood pressure (134 ± 8 v 177 ± 8 mm Hg, P .05) and left ventricular mass ( − 18%, P .05) in SHR. Cardiac enzyme activities also changed with captopril treatment, reflecting an increased capacity for β-oxidation of fatty acids and reduced potential for glucose phosphorylation in the left ventricle of SHR. Serum concentrations of glucose, insulin, and free fatty acids after a brief fast and in response to oral glucose were not different after captopril treatment, suggesting no improvement in insulin action or glucose tolerance. In summary, treatment of young male SHR with captopril reduces blood pressure and cardiac mass, and promotes a small but significant increase in cardiac capacity for oxidation of fatty acids and reduction of glucose phosphorylation. In contrast, metabolic effects of captopril on oral glucose tolerance and insulin action were not evident.
Diagnostic uncertainty during the transition to secondary progressive multiple sclerosis

Secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (MS) is typically defined as deterioration independent of relapses for ≥ 6 months following an initial relapsing-remitting course; however, this definition is not always easily applied in clinical practice and the declaration of the change in clinical phenotype is often delayed. To identify the length of time required to re-classify relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS) patients whom have clinically transitioned to secondary progressive MS (SPMS) in clinical practice. We reviewed 123 patients with long-term follow-up and identified a sub-group whom transitioned from RRMS to SPMS, then characterized this transition period. There were 14/20 patients who transitioned during the follow-up period that had visits with uncertainty related to the clinical phenotype characterized by possible, but not definitive progression. The mean duration of this period of uncertainty was 2.9 ± 0.8 years. A period of diagnostic uncertainty regarding the transition from RRMS to SPMS existed in many of our patients. Potential reasons included the subtle nature of early progressive disease and caution in applying a progressive label, in light of the lack of evidence-based treatments as well as third-party payer concerns. Delay in definitive identification of an SPMS phenotype has a variety of implications related to patient care and research.
Ballistocardiography — A method worth revisiting

The field of ballistocardiography seems to be enjoying a recent resurgence, most notably through the development of novel technologies and signal processing methods for measurement and analysis. After the method almost vanished in the late 80's and 90's, it is reasonable to wonder what is different this time, and if the technique has now more chances of becoming what its pioneer always wanted — a widespread clinical tool. This paper is an effort to compare and contrast this novel wave of research (notably in the context of the authors' own work). It also suggests that the new approaches have several key differences with past embodiments that place them in a good position to address some specific issues such as cardiac resynchronization therapy device optimization or congestive heart failure monitoring. This optimism is largely fed by the recent technological advances enabling the measurement of the BCG unobtrusively, frequently, at home or in a hospital, and by a re-focus on monitoring and trending applications.
Repeated ethanol withdrawal experience selectively alters sensitivity to different chemoconvulsant drugs in mice.

Repeated ethanol withdrawal experience has been shown to result in exacerbated seizures associated with future withdrawal episodes. This sensitization of the withdrawal response has been postulated to represent a "kindling" phenomenon. The present study employed an established model of repeated ethanol withdrawals to examine the potential role of GABA(A), and NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptor systems in mediating enhanced seizure activity, as assessed by sensitivity to seizures induced by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ), NMDA, and kainic acid (KA) i.v. infusions, respectively. Adult C3H mice were chronically exposed to ethanol vapor in inhalation chambers. A multiple withdrawal (MW) group received four cycles of 16-h ethanol vapor exposure interrupted by 8-h periods of abstinence; a single withdrawal (SW) group was tested after a single 16-h bout of ethanol intoxication; and the third group was ethanol-naive, serving as controls (C). Results indicated that the MW group evidenced significantly lower PTZ and NMDA seizure thresholds compared to SW and C groups at 8 and 24 h post-withdrawal. In contrast, MW and SW groups exhibited reduced sensitivity (higher seizure threshold) to KA in comparison to controls, and this effect only emerged at 24 h post-withdrawal. Further, MW mice required significantly less additional PTZ or NMDA to induce more severe convulsions once initial signs of seizures were elicited. Conversely, latency and amount of KA required to transition from initial seizure signs to more severe end-stage convulsions was significantly greater for MW and SW groups compared to controls. Taken together, these results suggest that repeated ethanol withdrawal experience does not result in a global non-specific lowering of threshold to convulsive stimuli, but rather, selective changes in CNS mechanisms associated with neural excitability may underlie potentiated withdrawal responses. Thus, reduced GABA(A) receptor function and increased NMDA receptor activity may become exaggerated as a consequence of repeated withdrawal experience, while reduced sensitivity to KA induced seizures may represent a compensatory response to withdrawal-related CNS hyperexcitability.
Intramolecular cyclization of pentose and hexose dithioacetals

Abstract The intramolecular cyclization of O -tosyl derivatives of dithioacetals of d -ribose, d -arabinose, and d -glucose was investigated. p -Toluenesulfonylation of d -glucose diethyl dithioacetal gave 3,6-anhydro- d -glucose diethyl dithioacetal. Variously substituted 5- O -tosyl- d -glucose dibenzyl dithioacetals gave derivatives of either 2,5-anhydro- l -idose dibenzyl dithioacetal, benzyl 1,5-dithio- l -idopyranoside, or l -idose dibenzyl dithioacetal. Likewise, 4- O -tosyl- d -glucose dibenzyl dithioacetal derivatives gave benzyl 1,4-dithio- d -galactofuranoside derivatives.
Regulation of GABAA receptor gene expression and epilepsy

Although multiple genes drive epileptogenesis, uncovering the mechanisms controlling expression of GABA A receptors (GABA A Rs), the brain's major inhibitory receptors, may have far-reaching therapeutic implications. In this review, we describe how seizure-induced changes in GABA A Rs result from brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-induced changes in Janus kinase/ Signal Transducer and Activators of Transcription (JAK/ STAT), cAMP response element binding protein/inducible cAMP early repressor (CREB/ICER), and early growth factor (Egr3) signaling, and discuss implications for prevention and treatment. For an expanded treatment of this topic see Jasper's Basic Mechanisms of the Epilepsies, Fourth Edition (Noebels JL, Avoli M, Rogawski MA, Olsen RW, Delgado-Escueta AV, eds) published by Oxford University Press (available on the National Library of Medicine Bookshelf [NCBI] at www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books).