bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stereomammography: Evaluation of depth perception using a virtual 3D cursor
Authors: Goodsitt Mitchell M. , Chan Heang‐Ping , Hadjiiski Lubomir
Published: July 2002

We are evaluating the usefulness of stereomammography in improving breast cancer diagnosis. One area that we are investigating is whether the improved depth perception associated with stereomammography might be significantly enhanced with the use of a virtual 3D cursor. A study was performed to evaluate the accuracy of absolute depth measurements made in stereomammograms with such a cursor. A biopsy unit was used to produce digital stereo images of a phantom containing 50 low contrast fibrils (0.5 mm diam monofilaments) at depths ranging from 1 to 11 mm, with a minimum spacing of 2 mm. Half of the fibrils were oriented perpendicular (vertical) and half parallel (horizontal) to the stereo shift direction. The depth and orientation of each fibril were randomized, and the horizontal and vertical fibrils crossed, simulating overlapping structures in a breast image. Left and right eye images were generated by shifting the x‐ray tube from +2.5° to −2.5° relative to the image receptor. Three observers viewed these images on a computer display with stereo glasses and adjusted the position of a cross‐shaped virtual cursor to best match the perceived location of each fibril. The x, y, and z positions of the cursor were indicated on the display. The z (depth) coordinate was separately calibrated using known positions of fibrils in the phantom. The observers analyzed images of two configurations of the phantom. Thus, each observer made 50 vertical filament depth measurements and 50 horizontal filament depth measurements. These measurements were compared with the true depths. The correlation coefficients between the measured and true depths of the vertically oriented fibrils for the three observers were 0.99, 0.97, and 0.89 with standard errors of the estimates of 0.39 mm, 0.83 mm, and 1.33 mm, respectively. Corresponding values for the horizontally oriented fibrils were 0.91, 0.28, and 0.08, and 1.87 mm, 4.19 mm, and 3.13 mm. All observers could estimate the absolute depths of vertically oriented objects fairly accurately in digital stereomammograms; however, only one observer was able to accurately estimate the depths of horizontally oriented objects. This may relate to different aptitudes for stereoscopic visualization. The orientations of most objects in actual mammograms are combinations of horizontal and vertical. Further studies are planned to evaluate absolute depth measurements of fibrils oriented at various intermediate angles and of objects of different shapes. The effects of the shape and contrast of the virtual cursor and the stereo shift angle on the accuracy of the depth measurements will also be investigated.
Quantum revivals versus classical periodicity in the infinite square well
Authors: Styer Daniel F.
Published: July 2002

A particle of mass M moves in an infinite square well of width L (the “particle in a box”). Classically, the motion has period L2M/E, which depends on the initial condition through the energy E. Quantum mechanically, any wave function repeats exactly with period 4ML2/πℏ, independent of the initial condition. Given this qualitative difference, how can the classical motion possibly be the limit of the quantal time development? The resolution of this paradox involves the difference between the exact revival (recurrence) of the wave function and the approximate periodicity of expectation values such as 〈x(t)〉. (The latter may recur an odd integral number of times before the full wave function recurs.) The period of the expectation values does depend on the initial condition and can possess the expected classical limit. [An Appendix demonstrates that, under suitably quasiclassical conditions, the quantal time evolution of 〈x(t)〉 passes over to the classical result not only in period, but also in its exact functional form. Another Appendix proves four theorems concerning state-dependent exact revival times.]
Regular coordinate systems for Schwarzschild and other spherical spacetimes
Authors: Martel Karl , Poisson Eric
Published: July 2002

The continuation of the Schwarzschild metric across the event horizon is a well-understood problem discussed in most textbooks on general relativity. Among the most popular coordinate systems that are regular at the horizon are the Kruskal–Szekeres and Eddington–Finkelstein coordinates. Our first objective in this paper is to popularize another set of coordinates, the Painlevé–Gullstrand coordinates. These were first introduced in the 1920s, and have been periodically rediscovered since; they are especially attractive and pedagogically powerful. Our second objective is to provide generalizations of these coordinates, first within the specific context of Schwarzschild spacetime, and then in the context of more general spherical spacetimes.
Equivalent circuits and directivity patterns of air-coupled ultrasonic transducers
Authors: Shuyu Lin
Published: July 2002

Air-coupled transducers for producing ultrasonic radiation in gases are studied. The transducer consists of a circular thin plate in flexural vibration and a sandwich longitudinal electromechanical vibrator that is attached to the center of the plate. The lowest-order axially symmetric flexural vibrational mode of a circular thin plate is analyzed. The equivalent circuits of the circular plate in flexural vibration and the compound transducer are presented and the frequency equation is derived. The radiated ultrasonic field of the circular thin plate in flexural vibration is calculated and the directivity pattern is obtained theoretically. Some transducers of this type are designed according to the frequency equation, and their resonance frequencies are measured. The measured resonance frequencies are in good agreement with the theoretical results, and the calculated radiation ultrasonic field is also in good agreement with the measured results of a previous work.
Super-resolution in time-reversal acoustics
Authors: Blomgren Peter , Papanicolaou George , Zhao Hongkai
Published: July 2002

The phenomenon of super-resolution in time-reversal acoustics is analyzed theoretically and with numerical simulations. A signal that is recorded and then retransmitted by an array of transducers, propagates back though the medium, and refocuses approximately on the source that emitted it. In a homogeneous medium, the refocusing resolution of the time-reversed signal is limited by diffraction. When the medium has random inhomogeneities the resolution of the refocused signal can in some circumstances beat the diffraction limit. This is super-resolution. A theoretical treatment of this phenomenon is given, and numerical simulations which confirm the theory are presented.
The limits of training Japanese listeners to identify English /r/ and /l/: Eight case studies
Authors: Takagi Naoyuki
Published: July 2002

Eight monolingual Japanese listeners were trained to identify English /r/ and /l/ by using 560 training tokens produced by ten talkers in three positions (200 word initial, 200 consonant cluster, and 160 intervocalic tokens). Their baseline performance and transfer of learning were measured using 200 word initial and 200 consonant cluster tokens produced by additional ten talkers. Long-term training (15 days) with feedback indeed increased sensitivity to the nontraining tokens, but tremendous individual differences were found in terms of initial and final sensitivity and response bias. Even after training, however, there remained some tokens for each subject that were misidentified at a level significantly below chance, suggesting that truly nativelike identification of /r/ and /l/ may never be achieved by adult Japanese learners of English.
Forward masked excitation patterns in multielectrode electrical stimulation
Authors: Chatterjee Monita , Shannon Robert V.
Published: July 2002

Across-channel interactions in multi-electrode cochlear implant patients may be critical to their performance in the natural auditory environment. One measure of channel interaction can be obtained using forward masking. The patterns of threshold shift were obtained as a function of the separation between masker and probe electrode pairs in four Nucleus-implanted patients with varying levels of speech recognition. In the three subjects with better speech recognition (N4, N7, and N13), the masking patterns showed the least parameter dependence. In the subject with the lowest speech scores (N3), the masking patterns showed the greatest dependence on masker level and on probe delay. Masking as a function of masker level also reflected these differences: N3’s functions showed the greatest changes for different probe delays. Similar rates of recovery were observed in the three good performers (time constant approximately 70 ms). In contrast, subject N3’s recovery function shows a more rapid recovery. These data indicate that channel interaction is individually variable and parameter dependent, both of which may play a role in the perception of dynamic stimuli in the natural auditory environment.
Inverse filtering of headphones for binaural sound reproduction
Authors: Minnaar Pauli , Moller Henrik
Published: July 2002

Binaural recordings can be made at a blocked ear canal entrance and can be conveniently played back over headphones. The total transmission is then characterized by a transfer function that includes the responses of the headphone and the microphone as well as the transmission between them. The transfer function can be broken up into a minimum phase and an excess phase component, of which the latter can again be broken up into an all-pass and a linear phase component. In order to make the binaural system acoustically transparent, an equalization filter must be designed as the inverse of the total transfer function. The suitability of various filters for inverting each of the transfer function components is evaluated using data from real ear measurements. The robustness of the equalization is discussed with respect to slight changes in headphone and microphone placement. For the investigation 2892 measurements were made on a range of people wearing various types of headphones and wearing different samples of the same type of headphone.
Evaluation of prEN 12354 parts 1 and 2 for Nordic dwelling houses
Authors: Pedersen Dan B.
Published: July 2002

Standardized prediction models for airborne and impact sound insulation in buildings are described in prEN 12354 parts 1 and 2. These models have been evaluated by comparing the predicted and measured sound insulation for common building constructions used in Nordic dwelling houses. In total, more than 200 comparisons were carried out under a project sponsored by Nordtest. Results from laboratory measurements can be used as input data for the prediction models. However, it is often possible to calculate such input data. The standard includes informative annexes on calculation of, e.g., the sound reduction index for monolithic elements, the vibration reduction index for junctions, etc. Both the annexes and alternative calculation principles have been evaluated. Calculations based on a few modifications of the informative annexes are recommended for application of the standard in the Nordic countries. Finally, acoustical input data are proposed for some types of construction like lightweight double-leaf walls, floor coverings, etc.
About the sound insulation of windows
Authors: Sass Bernd , Schumacher Rolf , Froelich Hans
Published: July 2002

The results of statistical research and measurements of the airborne sound transmission loss of windows of any kind of frame material (aluminium, wood, PVC,...), glass types, and window dimensions are reported to revise the well-known table 40 in the German standards DIN 4109, Beiblatt 1 (issue 1989). A new table will be presented with a strong connection of the sound reduction index R of both the glass and the frame material and of the frame-to-pane-ratio, or, better to say, the dependence of the sound reduction from the dimensions of the window resp. the glass pane. Proposals are given as to correction terms to respect these substantial influences for the predictional work in practice. [Work supported by DIBt and Bundesverband Fenster & Fassade.]
Nonlocal boundary conditions for finite-difference parabolic equation solvers
Authors: Yevick David , Thomson David J.
Published: July 2002

Theoretical/numerical models of underwater sound propagation usually incorporate a downgoing radiation condition on the transverse component of the acoustic field. Most one-way or parabolic equation (PE) solvers approximate this radiation condition by appending an absorbing layer to the computational mesh and setting the field to zero at the base of this layer. Papadakis et al. [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 92, 2030–2038 (1992)] replaced such approximate treatments with a nonlocal boundary condition (NLBC) that exactly transforms the semi-infinite PE problem to an equivalent one in a bounded domain. Papadakis’ approach requires the evaluation of a spectral (wave number) integral whose integrand is inversely proportional to the impedance of the subbottom medium. In this paper, an alternate procedure is analyzed for obtaining NLBCs directly from the z-space Crank–Nicolson solvers for both the Tappert and Claerbout PEs. Formulas for the field ψ at range r+Δr are derived in terms of the known field at the previously calculated range values from 0 to r by expanding the appropriate “vertical wave number” operator for the downgoing field in powers of the translation operator R=exp(−Δr∂r). The effectiveness of these NLBCs is examined for several numerical examples relevant to one-way underwater sound propagation.
Psychometric functions for gap detection in noise measured from young and aged subjects
Authors: He Ning-Ji , Horwitz Amy R. , Dubno Judy R. , Mills John H.
Published: July 2002

Psychometric functions for detection of temporal gaps in wideband noise were measured in a “yes/no” paradigm from normal-hearing young and aged subjects with closely matched audiograms. The effects of noise-burst duration, gap location, and uncertainty of gap location were tested. A typical psychometric function obtained in this study featured a steep slope, which was independent of most experimental conditions as well as age. However, gap thresholds were generally improved with increasing duration of the noise burst for both young and aged subjects. Gap location and uncertainty had no significant effects on the thresholds for the young subjects. For the aged subjects, whenever the gap was sufficiently away from the onset or offset of the noise burst, detectability was robust despite uncertainty about the gap location. Significant differences between young and aged subjects could be observed only when the gap was very close to the signal onset and offset.
Transient acoustic wave propagation in rigid porous media: A time-domain approach
Authors: Fellah Z. E. A. , Depollier C.
Published: July 2002

Wave propagation of acoustic waves in porous media is considered. The medium is assumed to have a rigid frame, so that the propagation takes place in the air which fills the material. The Euler equation and the constitutive relation are generalized to take into account the dispersive nature of these media. It is shown that the connection between the fractional calculus and the behavior of materials with memory allows time-domain wave equations, the coefficients of which are no longer frequency dependent, to be worked out. These equations are suited for direct and inverse scattering problems, and lead to the complete determination of the porous medium parameters.
Simulation of stress waves in attenuating drill strings, including piezoelectric sources and sensors
Authors: Carcione José M. , Poletto Flavio
Published: July 2002

A key element in drill steering and prediction of lithology ahead-of-the-bit is the transmission of while-drilling information from the bottom of the well to the rig operator and the geophysicists. Mud-pulse telemetry, based on pressure pulses along the drilling mud and extensional waves through the drill string, is the most used technique. The last method, properly designed, could transmit data rates up to 100 bits per second, against the 1 or 2 bits per second achieved with pressure pulses. In this work, a time-domain algorithm is developed for the propagation of one-dimensional axial, torsional, and flexural stress waves, including transducer sources and sensors. In addition, the equations include relaxation mechanisms simulating the viscoelastic behavior of the steel, dielectric losses, and any other losses, such as those produced by the presence of the drilling mud, the casing, and the formation. Moreover, the algorithm simulates the passbands and stopbands due to the presence of the coupling joints and pulse distortion and delay due to nonuniform cross-section areas. Acoustic and electric pulses, generated at one location in the string, can be propagated and detected at any other location by piezoelectric and acoustic sensors, such as PCB accelerometers, clamp-on ammeters, force, and strain transducers.
Thermal Effects in Model Viscoelastic Solids
Authors: Gruntfest I. J. , Becker S. J.
Published: July 2002

As part of a general study of the behavior of materials with temperature-dependent properties, simple models of a viscoelastic solid are considered here. Ideal experiments at constant stress and constant rate of deformation are examined. The analysis leads to yield and fracture criteria which in the usual theory are regarded as experimentally determined quantities. Rate of strain and size effects are also deduced and a phenomenon resembling strain hardening can develop. The treatment is independent of, but complementary to, the atomic scale theories of the deformation of solids. The temperature coefficient of viscosity which is introduced into the continuum theory here, is related to the energy of activation for the flow process which is accessible to the atomic scale theory. Knowledge of the temperature field in which motions of the atoms occur could improve the predictions based on dislocation theory.
Creep and Dynamic Mechanical Properties of Filled Polyethylenes
Authors: Nielsen Lawrence E.
Published: July 2002

The creep and dynamic mechanical properties are reported for a series of filled and unfilled polythylenes. The fillers (untreated and treated with silanes) were kaolin and wollastonite. The variables studied include filler concentration, silane treatment, water soaking, temperature, and load. Most of the creep data can be explained, and semiquantitatively predicted, in terms of the increase in elastic modulus of the materials as a result of the incorporation of the filler. However, there are some secondary effects due to filler-polymer interactions which apparently change the properties of the polymer phase and result in a further reduction of creep and an increase in damping. The presence of the filler greatly reduces creep, increases the stiffness, and increases the loss modulus of polyethylenes. Silane treatment generally reduces creep and increases modulus somewhat. An unexpected long-time aging effect at room temperature was found which makes the polyethylenes more creep resistant. If allowance is made for the aging effect, soaking in water increases the creep of filled polyethylenes.
Transient and Steady Shear Behavior of SBR Polymers
Authors: Goldstein Charles
Published: July 2002

The low shear rate viscosity behavior of SBR random copolymers is investigated in steady and transient shear flow. The polymers studied have high enough molecular weights to make them of commercial interest. The measurements were performed on an apparatus specially designed but readily available and easy to operate. The results showed that even at very low shear rates, the polymers exhibit non-Newtonian steady shear viscosities. A log-log plot of zero shear rate viscosity vs weight-average molecular weight yields a straight line of slope 3.5. The transient shear data show no stress overshoot at shear rates when the viscosity is non-Newtonian. A theoretical discussion of the independence of these two nonlinear effects is provided. The discussion is based on some popular single-integral constitutive equations. It is shown that a recent modification by Carreau to the Lodge elastic liquid model is very realistic. That is, Carreau's model allows one to obtain separately transient shear stress overshoot and non-Newtonian steady shear viscosity.
The Viscoelastic Response of Drag Reducing Polymer Solutions in Simple Flows
Authors: Hunston Donald L. , Ting Robert Y.
Published: July 2002

Extremely dilute solutions of certain high molecular weight polymers are known to exhibit anomalous momentum and heat transfer properties such as drag reduction. In order to study the possible connection between these phenomena and the viscoelasticity of the polymer solutions, a Generalized Convected Maxwell model is used to examine transient shear behavior, propagation of simple shear waves, and elongational flow. Unlike previous investigations where a simple Convected Maxwell equation was used, the more complete generalized model predicts that the effects of polymer additives on transient shear disturbances and simple shear-wave propagation are negligible. This observation is confirmed by experimental measurements. For elongational flow, however, the generalized model predicts that the viscoelastic effect of the polymer will introduce unusually high levels of stress even at very low polymer concentrations, provided the flow time and stretching rate are sufficiently high. As a result, elongational flow is a simple deformation that may be important in formulating explanations for the unusual behavior that has been observed in dilute solutions.
Rheological Properties of Polypropylene Polyethylene Molten Polymer Blends
Authors: Plochocki A. P.
Published: July 2002

A semi-quantitative method for studying the composition dependence of the non-Newtonian melt viscosity of commercial grades of polypropylene-linear-polyethylene blends is presented and its effectiveness illustrated with data for two sets of blends differing widely in the molecular weight of the components. The usefulness of the composition dependence of the molten blend's specific volume in gauging their rheological behavior is also demonstrated. Melt elasticity is estimated from extrudate swell. A technique is developed for estimating the influence of the blends composition on their melt elasticity in the nonlinear range. This technique is proposed as an extension of the relaxation spectrometry widely employed for the study of solid polymers. Finally, the terminal zone of the relaxation spectra for the blends is determined from dynamic measurements using the Weissenberg rheogoniometer.
Handling Informative Premature Treatment or Study Discontinuation for Assessing Between-Group Differences in a Comparative Oncology Trial
Authors: Huang Bo , Sun Ryan , Claggett Brian , Tian Lu , Ludmir Ethan B. , Wei Lee-Jen
Published: August 2022

This decision analytical model study examines premature treatment discontinuation in clinical trials for patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Emulsified Silicone Oil Inside the Capsular Bag
Authors: Agarwalla Isha , Garg Mohit , Bhattacharjee Harsha
Published: August 2022

This case report describes a man in his 50s with a history of retinal detachment repair who presented with emulsification of silicone oil in the capsular bag of his right eye.
Comparing Home- and Clinic-Based Visual Acuity Testing
Authors: Crossland Michael D. , Dekker Tessa M. , Jones Pete R. , Thomas Peter B. M.
Published: August 2022

This study compares visual acuity testing at home with visual acuity testing in a clinical setting.
Extensive Intratemporal Tumor—An Unusual Diagnosis
Authors: El Khoury Patrick , Kesrouani Carole , Eter Elie
Published: August 2022

A 21-year-old man presented with left-sided facial paralysis and sensorineural hearing loss; physical examination was otherwise normal. What is your diagnosis?
Atomic‐Scale Observation of Grain Boundary Dominated Unsynchronized Phase Transition in Polycrystalline Cu2Se
Authors: Yuan Hua‐Lei , Wang Kaiwen , Hu Hanwen , Yang Lei , Chen Jie , Zheng Kun
Published: August 2022

Phase transition is a physical phenomenon that attracts great interest of researchers. Although the theory of second‐order phase transitions is well‐established, their atomic‐scale dynamics in polycrystalline materials remains elusive. In this work, second‐order phase transitions in polycrystalline Cu2Se at the transition temperature are directly observed by in situ aberration‐corrected transmission electron microscopy. Phase transitions in microcrystalline Cu2Se start at the grain boundaries and extend inside the grains. This phenomenon is more pronounced in nanosized grains. Analysis of phase transitions in nanocrystalline Cu2Se with different grain boundaries demonstrates that grain boundary energy dominates unsynchronized phase transition behavior. This suggests that the energy of grain boundaries is the key factor influencing the energetic barrier for initiation of phase transition. The findings advance atomic‐scale understanding of second‐order phase transitions, which is crucial for the control of this process in polycrystalline materials.
Effective Ion Mobility and Long‐Term Dark Current of Metal Halide Perovskites with Different Crystallinities and Compositions
Authors: García-Batlle Marisé , Deumel Sarah , Huerdler Judith E. , Tedde Sandro F. , Almora Osbel , Garcia-Belmonte Germà
Published: August 2022

Ion transport properties in metal halide perovskite still constitute a subject of intense research because of the evident connection between mobile defects and device performance and operation degradation. In the case of X‐ray detectors, dark current level and instability are regarded to be connected to the ion migration upon bias application. Two compositions (MAPbBr3 and MAPbI3) and structures (single‐ and microcrystalline) are checked by the analysis of long‐term dark current evolution. Electronic current increases with time before reaching a steady‐state value within a response time (from 104 down to 10 s) that strongly depends on the applied bias. A coupling between electronic transport and ion kinetics exists that ultimately establishes the time scale of electronic current. Effective ion mobility is extracted for a range of applied electric field ξ. While ion mobility results field‐independent in the case of MAPbI3, a clear field enhancement is observed for MAPbBr3 (), irrespective of the crystallinity. Both perovskite compounds present effective ion mobility in the range of  ≈ 10−7–10−6 cm−2 V−1 s−1, in accordance with previous analyses. The ξ‐dependence of the ion mobility is related to the lower ionic concentration of the bromide compound. Slower migrating defect drift is suppressed in the case of MAPbBr3, in opposition to that observed here for MAPbI3.
Boosting Reversibility and Stability of Zn Anodes via Manipulation of Electrolyte Structure and Interface with Addition of Trace Organic Molecules
Authors: Huang Haiji , Xie Dongmei , Zhao Jiachang , Rao Pinhua , Choi Won Mook , Davey Kenneth , Mao Jianfeng
Published: August 2022

The practical application of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) is significantly limited by poor reversibility and stability of the Zn anode. Here, the first time addition of trace organic gamma butyrolactone (GBL) is reported to a typical ZnSO4 electrolyte to controllably manipulate the electrolyte structure and interface. Judiciously combined experimental characterization and theoretical computation confirm that the GBL additive weakens the bonding strength between Zn2+ ion and solvated H2O and rearranges the “Zn2+−H2O−SO42– GBL” bonding network to reduce water activity and suppress corrosion and side products. The GBL molecules preferentially absorb on the surface of the Zn anode to give a uniform and compact Zn deposition. As a result, the Zn anode is boosted to run over 3105 cycles (6210 h) with average Coulombic efficiency of 99.93% under 1 mA cm–2 and 1 mAh cm–2, and exhibit stable cycling for 1170 h under harsh testing conditions of 10 mA cm–2 and 10 mAh cm–2. Additionally, the Zn–MnO2 full cells using the ZnSO4–GBL electrolyte exhibit a high capacity of 287 mAh g–1 at 0.5 A g–1 and good capacity retention of 87% following 400 cycles. These findings will be of immediate benefit to design low cost AZIBs for clean energy storage.
Organic Molecules in All‐Inorganic CsPbIxBr3−xPerovskite Solar Cells: Interface Modifiers or Precursor Additives
Authors: Chai Wenming , Zhu Weidong , Zhang Chunfu , Hao Yue
Published: August 2022

Due to their excellent thermal stability and suitable bandgap, all‐inorganic CsPbIxBr3−xperovskite solar cells (PSCs) have attracted extensive attention in the photovoltaic field. However, iodine vacancies and undercoordinated Pb2+lead to serious nonradiative recombination losses on the surface of CsPbIxBr3−xperovskite film, resulting in lower open‐circuit voltage. At the same time, the cubic phase (α phase) tends to transform into the yellow phase (δ phase) with nonphotoactive in an environment of higher humidity and lower temperature, which limits its further commercial development. In order to solve the above problems, a lot of research work is focused on interface modification and precursors doping to improve the crystallinity, surface hydrophobicity, and phase stability of perovskite films. In this review, the application of organic molecules in all‐inorganic CsPbIxBr3−xPSCs and prospected the research direction in the future to further improve the performance and stability are summarized.
Remarkably rapid, recent diversification of Cochemiea and Mammillaria in the Baja California, Mexico region
Authors: Breslin Peter B. , Wojciechowski Martin F. , Majure Lucas C.
Published: August 2022

Premise

The Cactaceae of northwestern Mexico and the southwestern United States constitute a major component of the angiosperm biodiversity of the region. The Mammilloid clade, (Cactaceae, tribe Cacteae), composed of the genera Cochemiea, Coryphantha, Cumarinia, Mammillaria, and Pelecyphora is especially species rich. We sought to understand the timing, geographical and climate influences correlated with expansion of the Mammilloid clade, through the Sonoran Desert into Baja California.

Methods

We reconstructed the historical biogeography of the Mammilloid clade, using Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods, based on a strongly supported molecular phylogeny. We also estimated divergence times, the timing of emergence of key characters, and diversification rates and rate shifts of the Mammilloid clade.

Results

We found that the most recent common ancestor of Cochemiea arrived in the Cape region of Baja California from the Sonoran Desert region approximately 5 million years ago, coinciding with the timing of peninsular rifting from the mainland, suggesting dispersal and vicariance as causes of species richness and endemism. The diversification rate for Cochemiea is estimated to be approximately 12 times that of the mean background diversification rate for angiosperms. Divergence time estimation shows that many of the extant taxa in Cochemiea and Baja California Mammillaria emerged from common ancestors 1 million to 200,000 years ago, having a mid‐Pleistocene origin.

Conclusions

Cochemiea and Mammillaria of the Baja California region are examples of recent, rapid diversification. Geological and climatic forces at multiple spatial and temporal scales are correlated with the western distributions of the Mammilloid clade.
Anti‐counterfeiting Behaviour of Organic‐Inorganic Hybrid Silica Film with a Chiral Smectic C Structure
Authors: Sun Wei , Chen Xiaofang , Li Yi , Liu Wei , Li Hongkun , Yang Yonggang
Published: August 2022

Artificial photonic materials based on chiral liquid‐crystalline nanostructures have attracted increasing interests for their wide applications as sensors, anti‐counterfeit measures, displays and colour filters. Although the structurally coloured films with chiral nematic structures or blue phases have been prepared, the ones fabricated by fixing chiral smectic C (SmC*) phases have been rarely reported. In this work, organic‐inorganic hybrid silica (OIHS) films with a SmC* structure were reported for the first time. An organosilane (CSC) with an enantiotropic SmC* phase was synthesized. The OIHS films with a SmC* structure were fabricated by the polycondensation of CSC under an acidic condition. The colour patterns can be observed in the oblique view, but not be observed in the vertical view, which is mainly due to the light scattering of the nanoparticles on film surface and the selective Bragg reflection of film inside. Therefore, such properties make the OIHS films promising candidates for anti‐counterfeiting applications.
A jury of scientists: Formal education in biobehavioral sciences reduces the odds of punitive criminal sentencing
Authors: Thomaidou Mia A. , Berryessa Colleen M.
Published: August 2022

This study examines how formal education in biological and behavioral sciences may impact punishment intuitions (views on criminal sentencing, free will, responsibility, and dangerousness) in cases involving neurobiological evidence. In a survey experiment, we compared intuitions between biobehavioral science and non‐science university graduates by presenting them with a baseline case without a neurobiological explanation for offending followed by one of two cases with a neurobiological explanation (described as either innate or acquired biological influences to offending). An ordinal logistic regression indicated that both science and non‐science graduates selected significantly more severe punishments for the baseline case as compared to when an innate neurobiological explanation for offending was provided. However, across all cases, science graduates selected significantly less severe sentences than non‐science graduates, and only science graduates' decisions were mediated by free will and responsibility attributions. Findings are discussed in relation to scientific understandings of behavior, the impact of science education on attitudes towards punishment, and potential criminal‐legal implications.
A multi‐fault diagnosis method based on improved SMOTE for class‐imbalanced data
Authors: Xu Yuan , Zhao Yang , Ke Wei , He Yan‐Lin , Zhu Qun‐Xiong , Zhang Yang , Cheng Xiaoqian
Published: August 2022

With the development of industrial processes, how to effectively diagnose the faults in an increasingly complex production process has attracted widespread attention. It is worth noting that there may be multiple types of faults in the actual industrial process, and there is an extreme class imbalance between the normal samples and the fault samples. Therefore, it is of practical significance to carry out research on the multi‐fault diagnosis method for class‐imbalanced data. In this paper, a multi‐fault diagnosis method based on improved synthetic minority sampling technology (SMOTE) is proposed. First, aiming at the class imbalance, an improved SMOTE algorithm based on Mahalanobis distance (Mahalanobis distance‐based SMOTE [MSMOTE]) is proposed for oversampling. As the Euclidean distance in the traditional SMOTE algorithm does not consider the coupling relationship between features, the Mahalanobis distance is introduced, which is not dependent on the scale and eliminates the influence of different dimensions. Second, in order to better obtain the global and local information of the sample, the kernel local Fisher discriminant analysis (KLFDA) algorithm is used for feature extraction. Third, a multi‐fault diagnosis model based on the AdaBoost.M2 classifier is constructed in which the decision tree is introduced as the weak classifier. The Adaboost.M2 algorithm integrates multiple decision trees by setting the sample weight, the label weight, and the classifier weight, which effectively improve the classification accuracy by only using the decision tree. Finally, the Tennessee Eastman process is used to conduct case studies. For the comparison results, the proposed multi‐fault diagnosis method based on improved SMOTE has higher accuracy and F1‐Score.
Minimal/Measurable Disease Analysis in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma by Flow Cytometry
Authors: Gao Qi , Roshal Mikhail
Published: August 2022

CLL/SLL is the most common leukemia in the western world. The disease is indolent; however, most patients require treatment at some point of the disease course. Outside of allogeneic transplants, the treatment is rarely curative but often controls CLL/SLL manifestations for many years. Several lines of therapy may be used sequentially to prolong clinical remission. Because of the prolonged disease course, CLL/SLL monitoring represents a sizable portion of the workload in a typical flow cytometry laboratory involved in the diagnosis and monitoring of hematopoietic neoplasms. Minimal/measurable disease monitoring of CLL/SLL has emerged as a key component in treatment monitoring and sequencing. In the face of effective therapies, clinical laboratories are tasked with monitoring ever smaller proportions of MRD with high precision and accuracy. With the recent addition of surface antigen–targeting biologics such as antibodies and CAR‐T cells, the task has become more complex due to the unavailability of commonly analyzed antigens for flow cytometric analysis. This article details a flow cytometric test developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center that has proven to consistently achieve high sensitivity (<0.01% of nucleated cells) in the bone marrow and peripheral blood, even when CD19 is lost or unavailable for analysis. Moreover, the test helps distinguish between CLL and other CD5‐positive B cell neoplasms. The Basic Protocol provides a detailed operational procedure for processing, staining, and cytometric acquisition of samples. The Support Protocol provides typical steps and caveats for MRD data analysis in CLL/SLL and in distinguishing CLL/SLL from other B cell neoplasms and normal CD5‐positive B cells. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Basic Protocol: Processing, staining, and cytometric analysis of bone marrow or peripheral blood cells for MRD analysis of CLL/SLL

Support Protocol: Analysis and interpretation of CLL MRD assay
Dysregulated glucuronic acid metabolism exacerbates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis through the TGFβ signalling pathway
Authors: Gao Qingzhu , Cheng Bin , Chen Chang , Lei Chong , Lin Xue , Nie Dan , Li Jingjing , Huang Luyi , Li Xiaosong , Wang Kai , Huang Ailong , Tang Ni
Published: August 2022

Background

Glucuronic acid metabolism participates in cellular detoxification, extracellular matrix remodeling and cell adhesion and migration. Here, we aimed to explore the crosstalk between dysregulated glucuronic acid metabolism and crucial metastatic signalling in glutathione S‐transferase zeta 1 (GSTZ1)‐deficient hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Transwell, HCC xenograft and Gstz1−/‐ mouse models were used to examine the role of GSTZ1 in HCC metastasis. Non‐targeted and targeted metabolomics and global transcriptomic analyses were performed to screen significantly altered metabolic and signalling pathways in GSTZ1 overexpressing hepatoma cells. Further, RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation, Biotin‐RNA pull‐down, mRNA decay assays and luciferase reporter assays were used to explore the interaction between RNA and RNA‐binding proteins.

Results

GSTZ1 was universally silenced in both human and murine HCC cells, and its deficiency contributed to HCC metastasis in vitro and in vivo. UDP‐glucose 6‐dehydrogenase (UGDH)‐mediated UDP‐glucuronic acid (UDP‐GlcUA) accumulation promoted hepatoma cell migration upon GSTZ1 loss. UDP‐GlcUA stabilized TGFβR1 mRNA by enhancing its binding to polypyrimidine tract binding protein 3, contributing to the activation of TGFβ/Smad signalling. UGDH or TGFβR1 blockade impaired HCC metastasis. In addition, UGDH up‐regulation and UDP‐GlcUA accumulation correlated with increased metastatic potential and decreased patient survival in GSTZ1‐deficient HCC.

Conclusions

GSTZ1 deficiency and subsequent up‐regulation of the glucuronic acid metabolic pathway promotes HCC metastasis by increasing the stability of TGFβR1 mRNA and activating TGFβ/Smad signalling. UGDH and a key metabolite, UDP‐GlcUA, may serve as prognostic markers. Targeting UGDH might be a promising strategy for HCC therapy.
Peer mentors can boost success of neurodiverse students
Authors: McCarthy Claudine
Published: August 2022

Peer mentors can help neurodiverse students integrate into the campus community while providing them with support and connecting them to resources so the students can engage and succeed academically, emotionally, and socially, while also promoting their independence, said Chestnut Hill College's Lynn Ortale, Ph.D., Vice President for Student Life, and Stephen Stunder, Ed.D., Assistant Professor of Human Services. They gave a virtual presentation as part of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators’ Annual Conference.
Documenting hip‐hop as a driving force
Authors: Elfman Lois
Published: August 2022

Dr. Toby S. Jenkins describes her upcoming book, The Hip‐Hop Mindset, as another iteration of her professional work exploring the assets, strategies, and professional brilliance found within community cultures. The associate professor of higher education and interim associate dean for diversity, equity, and inclusion at The Graduate School, University of South Carolina, Jenkins has researched and written about how cultures teach strategies for success.
Development and usability testing of a chatbot to promote mental health services use among individuals with eating disorders following screening
Authors: Shah Jillian , DePietro Bianca , D'Adamo Laura , Firebaugh Marie‐Laure , Laing Olivia , Fowler Lauren A. , Smolar Lauren , Sadeh‐Sharvit Shiri , Taylor C. Barr , Wilfley Denise E. , Fitzsimmons‐Craft Ellen E.
Published: August 2022

Objective

A significant gap exists between those who need and those who receive care for eating disorders (EDs). Novel solutions are needed to encourage service use and address treatment barriers. This study developed and evaluated the usability of a chatbot designed for pairing with online ED screening. The tool aimed to promote mental health service utilization by improving motivation for treatment and self‐efficacy among individuals with EDs.

Methods

A chatbot prototype, Alex, was designed using decision trees and theoretically‐informed components: psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, personalized recommendations, and repeated administration. Usability testing was conducted over four iterative cycles, with user feedback informing refinements to the next iteration. Post‐testing, participants (N= 21) completed the System Usability Scale (SUS), the Usefulness, Satisfaction, and Ease of Use Questionnaire (USE), and a semi‐structured interview.

Results

Interview feedback detailed chatbot aspects participants enjoyed and aspects necessitating improvement. Feedback converged on four themes: user experience, chatbot qualities, chatbot content, and ease of use. Following refinements, users described Alex as humanlike, supportive, and encouraging. Content was perceived as novel and personally relevant. USE scores across domains were generally above average (~5 out of 7), and SUS scores indicated “good” to “excellent” usability across cycles, with the final iteration receiving the highest average score.

Discussion

Overall, participants generally reflected positively on interactions with Alex, including the initial version. Refinements between cycles further improved user experiences. This study provides preliminary evidence of the feasibility and acceptance of a chatbot designed to promote motivation for and use of services among individuals with EDs.

Public Significance

Low rates of service utilization and treatment have been observed among individuals following online eating disorder screening. Tools are needed, including scalable, digital options, that can be easily paired with screening, to improve motivation for addressing eating disorders and promote service utilization.
Fortress Europe 4.0? An analysis of EU data governance through the lens of the resource regime concept
Authors: König Pascal D.
Published: August 2022

This paper leverages the resource regime concept to systematically analyze the shape of data governance established by European Union (EU) digital policy. It highlights what gives shape and coherence to this data governance across different policies and how this governance structures relations between actors in the data economy. The analysis shows a common thrust in the EU's digital policies since its 2010 Digital Agenda. Overall, EU data governance is market‐creating not only through rules that directly aim at strengthening market integration and limiting anti‐competitive behavior but also through regulation that works to protect and promote EU‐based industries and to bolster their competitiveness in a global economy. EU digital policies complement each other in establishing more favorable conditions for EU businesses in relation to non‐EU competitors, and this market‐creating neo‐mercantilist orientation is rooted even in data and consumer protection policies that also have a market‐correcting dimension.
In the back of your mind: Cortical mapping of paraspinal afferent inputs
Authors: Cole David M. , Stämpfli Philipp , Gandia Robert , Schibli Louis , Gantner Sandro , Schuetz Philipp , Meier Michael L.
Published: August 2022

Topographic organisation is a hallmark of vertebrate cortex architecture, characterised by ordered projections of the body's sensory surfaces onto brain systems. High‐resolution functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has proven itself as a valuable tool to investigate the cortical landscape and its (mal‐)adaptive plasticity with respect to various body part representations, in particular extremities such as the hand and fingers. Less is known, however, about the cortical representation of the human back. We therefore validated a novel, MRI‐compatible method of mapping cortical representations of sensory afferents of the back, using vibrotactile stimulation at varying frequencies and paraspinal locations, in conjunction with fMRI. We expected high‐frequency stimulation to be associated with differential neuronal activity in the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) compared with low‐frequency stimulation and that somatosensory representations would differ across the thoracolumbar axis. We found significant differences between neural representations of high‐frequency and low‐frequency stimulation and between representations of thoracic and lumbar paraspinal locations, in several bilateral S1 sub‐regions, and in regions of the primary motor cortex (M1). High‐frequency stimulation preferentially activated Brodmann Area (BA) regions BA3a and BA4p, whereas low‐frequency stimulation was more encoded in BA3b and BA4a. Moreover, we found clear topographic differences in S1 for representations of the upper and lower back during high‐frequency stimulation. We present the first neurobiological validation of a method for establishing detailed cortical maps of the human back, which might serve as a novel tool to evaluate the pathological significance of neuroplastic changes in clinical conditions such as chronic low back pain.