cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Testability analysis: what role should it play in IC design?

This paper takes a critical look at the role testability analysis has been playing in IC design and provides an insight into what role it should assume in the future. Traditionally, testability analysis was used to derive information on how testable a circuit is early enough in the design cycle so that the design could be modified to improve its testability before running either the fault simulation or the actual testgeneration programs. This approach would avoid wasting precious computer resources in using those two programs. More recently, two rather important applications have also been identified. The first is to use testability-analysis results as heuristics to guide the test-generation process in search of a solution (test vector). Testability-analysis programs have also been used to derive information normally provided by fault simulation. Due to these developments and the potential usefulness of the information it can provide, testability analysis is gaining more importance in the design cycle of integrated circuits. Based upon our recent experiences in developing testability analysis and test-generation programs, we believe that testability analysis will eventually replace fault simulations. However, it is imperative that the burden not be shifted to the test-generation or testing processes. Instead, the ultimate role of testability analysis is to provide vital information for generating tests directly. It would provide at least an approximate solution to a very complex (NP-complete) problem through algorithms of less complexity. This approach promises a final solution to the challenge of VLSI test generation.
Con Respeto: A Conceptual Model for Building Healthy Community-University Partnerships Alongside Mexican Migrant Families

In this paper we grapple with the question of how healthy community and university partnerships can be formed in order to support migrant students’ access to higher education. Employing autoethnographic and narrative research, and drawing from our work within the context of the migrant family conference at California State University, Fullerton from 2011 to 2013, we outline a conceptual model for building healthy partnerships. The first section of this paper offers a general overview of the literature on community-university engagement and collaboration as well as provides background information about the migrant farmworker community. The next section puts forward a new conceptualization of community-university partnerships encompassing the dimensions of trust, validation, reciprocity, and interdependence. These dimensions are framed within the notion of respeto. Finally, the third section of this paper discusses challenges that surface in creating new collaborations as well as addresses practical implications in response to obstacles faced by migrant families. Ultimately, the problems, questions, and proposed frameworks are designed to open a dialogue on the language and lenses we use to characterize the quality of partnerships we seed with historically underserved communities.
Learning from the Key Tasks of Lesson Study

In lesson study, teachers engage in cycles of inquiry in which they collaboratively plan, observe, and discuss classroom lessons. In addition to improving the teaching of a particular topic, lesson study is designed to build the skills, habits of mind, tools, and culture for teachers to learn daily from colleagues, students, and curriculum materials. This chapter describes the five core tasks within the lesson study cycle: developing the research theme; solving and discussing a mathematics task to anticipate student thinking; developing a shared teaching-learning plan; collecting data during the enacted research lesson; and, conducting a post-lesson discussion.
Far Lateral Transcondylar Transtubercular Approach

Access to the craniovertebral junction poses several challenges due its deep location and close proximity to several vital structures, such as the vertebral arteries and lower cranial nerves. The far lateral approach was designed to maximize lateral viewing exposure to the craniovertebral junction and foramen magnum while obviating the need for brain retraction and reducing the chance of damage to neighboring neurovascular structures. At its core, this approach requires a lateral suboccipital craniectomy with removal of the lateral edge of the foramen magnum and a C1 hemilaminectomy, with extensions of the approach involving further partial reduction of the occipital condyle and jugular tubercle. In this chapter, the transcondylar and transtubercular extensions of the far lateral approach will be covered in depth, with regard to the indications, technical details, operative nuances, and limitations of these approaches.
The effect of abiraterone acetate treatment on CREB and the development of abiraterone acetate resistance in prostate cancer cells.

177Background: The androgen receptor (AR) remains an essential target in castration resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Abiraterone acetate (AA), an inhibitor of CYP17A1, is an FDA approved drug for ...
Childhood Sexual Abuse: A Call to Action in Pediatric Primary Care.

* Abbreviations: ACE — : adverse childhood experience CSA — : childhood sexual abuse “Every one of my doctors failed me.” The impact of her words rippled through the auditorium on a rainy morning during my first year of medical school, where my fellow medical students and I were engaged in a panel discussion featuring survivors of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). Palpable unease permeated the room as the guest speaker spoke about her repetitive abuse at the hands of a family member throughout her childhood. As a young girl, she had visited doctors repeatedly for recurrent urinary tract infections, but, with each visit, she was lectured on proper hygiene and sent home without further investigation. This woman now stood fearlessly before 200 earnest medical students, and we listened in devastated silence as she shared her story. Would we fail our future patients in the same way? The US Department of Health and Human Services defines CSA as “involvement of [a] child in sexual activity to provide sexual gratification or financial benefit to the perpetrator, including contacts for sexual purposes, molestation, statutory rape, prostitution, pornography, exposure, incest, or other sexually exploitative activities.”1 The scope of CSA is notoriously difficult to assess because of the multitude of … Address correspondence to Lea Ghastine, BSPH, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 370 W 9th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201. E-mail: lea.ghastine{at}osumc.edu
Optimization of in-package cold plasma treatment conditions for raw chicken breast meat with response surface methodology

Abstract Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize in-package cold plasma (IPCP) treatment for raw chicken breast meat. Non-inoculated and inoculated samples with Campylobacter (5.06 log10CFU/mL) and Salmonella (5.40 log10CFU/mL) were packaged in 35% O2/60% CO2, 65% O2/30% CO2, or 95% O2/0% CO2 and treated at 60, 70, or 80 kV for 60, 180, or 300 sec. Microbial counts, color, pH, and drip loss were measured. There were no differences in Campylobacter, Salmonella, drip loss, or pH between treatments. IPCP could reduce psychrophiles by >1.0 log, depending on O2 and voltage interaction. Treatment effects on meat color varied by CIE L*a*b*. RSM analysis suggested that packaging atmosphere with 35% O2 and 60% CO2 and IPCP at 60 kV for 60 sec were the optimal condition for maximizing microbiological shelf-life and minimizing appearance changes in raw chicken meat packaged in a barrier film and stored at 4oC for 5 days. Industrial relevance The current study used response surface methodology to determine the optimal condition in the combination of voltage and time of an in-package cold plasma (IPCP) treatment and modified atmosphere (MA) packaging for extending shelf life and reducing food safety risk of pre-packaged raw chicken breast meat during refrigerated storage. Our data provided evidence that the optimal IPCP-treatment parameters and packaging atmosphere varied with targeted microorganisms and CIEL*a*b* color indicators. In MA packaging, changes in IPCP treatment voltage and time did not affect populations of Campylobacter and Salmonella, drip loss and pH; however, low IPCP treatment voltage (60 kV) for short exposure time (60 sec) was as effective as the high voltage (80 kV) for longer treatment time (300 sec) against psychrophiles and could reduce the changes in raw meat appearance (indicated with CIEL* measurements) due to IPCP treatment. Reducing O2 in packages from 95 to 35% resulted in better inhibition of psychrophilic growth on raw meat and changes in raw meat appearance or meat color lightness. It is recommended to usi MA of 35% O2 and 60% CO2 and IPCP treatment at 60 kV for 60 sec to extend microbiological shelf life, improve food safety, and retain quality of raw chicken breast meat packaged with a barrier film and stored at refrigerated temperature.
Outcome of bilateral equid laparoscopic ovariectomies

Objective To assess outcomes and behavior changes associated with bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomies. Study design Retrospective study. Sample population Fifty-one equids. Methods Medical records were evaluated from equid bilateral laparoscopic ovariectomies from January 2012 to October 2018 with a potential of 6 months follow-up. Follow-up information obtained by telephone interviews included behavior before and after surgery. Likelihood ratio chi-square tests and odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI were calculated where applicable, with statistical significance at p Results Bilateral ovariectomy was performed in 51 cases, with elective (no pathologic ovaries) ovariectomies performed in 41/51 cases. Occasional estrus-like behavior was observed postoperatively in 14/51 (27%) mares, but the behavior was mild and manageable in all cases. There was no age effect on outcome in all bilateral (p = .56) or elective only (p = .36) cases. In 37/41 (90%) elective cases, improvement was observed in the reason for presentation. Some response to altrenogest administration for behavior modification was observed preoperatively in 12/18 (67%) elective cases. Response to altrenogest was not associated with (p = .31) or able to predict a beneficial response to surgery (OR = 5.5; 95% CI = 0.38-78.57; p = .21). Conclusion Response to altrenogest in elective cases may not predict behavioral outcome with ovariectomy. Occasional estrus-like behavior in mares postoperatively was not problematic for any owners. Bilateral ovariectomy is a viable treatment option for owners seeking to alleviate undesirable behavior in mares. Clinical significance This study should aid veterinarians and horse owners in case selection for bilateral ovariectomy.
Diverse perspectives on aquaculture development in Maine

Abstract As aquaculture production continues to increase worldwide, important questions are emerging about the motivations of growth and who stands to benefit. We use Q method to identify perspectives associated with marine aquaculture development in Maine, where aquaculture expansion in the United States has become a central focus. We used newspaper articles about aquaculture in Maine covering a 25-year period to inform the development of the Q study and participants included industry members, researchers, mangers, and other local experts. We identify four perspectives on aquaculture development based on the values individuals ascribe to the growth of the sector. We label these perspectives as: (1) aquaculture optimists, (2) aquaculture anchors, (3) aquaculture historians, and (4) aquaculture agnostics. Although the aquaculture sector is poised to expand in Maine, our findings suggest that there are material differences in the values associated with aquaculture growth, which may not be entirely compatible. By understanding the heterogeneity of perspectives surrounding aquaculture development in Maine, we aim to contribute to ongoing discussions about the future of aquaculture and encourage a more explicit articulation of the intended outcomes of aquaculture development and who it will serve.
An improved bound on the optimal paper Moebius band

We show that a smooth embedded paper Moebius band must have aspect ratio at least $$\begin{aligned}\lambda _1= \frac{2 \sqrt{4-2 \sqrt{3}}+4}{\root 4 \of {3} \sqrt{2}+2 \sqrt{2 \sqrt{3}-3}} =1.69497\ldots \end{aligned}$$ This bound comes more than 3/4 of the way from the old known bound of $$\pi /2=1.5708\ldots $$ to the conjectured bound of $$\sqrt{3} = 1.732\ldots $$
Biological thiols-triggered hydrogen sulfide releasing microfibers for tissue engineering applications.

Abstract By electrospinning of polycaprolactone (PCL) solutions containing N -(benzoylthio)benzamide (NSHD1), a H 2 S donor, fibrous scaffolds with hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) releasing capability (H 2 S-fibers) are fabricated. The resultant microfibers are capable of releasing H 2 S upon immersion in aqueous solution containing biological thiols under physiological conditions. The H 2 S release peaks of H 2 S-fibers appeared at 2–4 h, while the peak of donor alone showed at 45 min. H 2 S release half-lives of H 2 S-fibers were 10–20 times longer than that of donor alone. Furthermore, H 2 S-fibers can protect cells from H 2 O 2 induced oxidative damage by significantly decreasing the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Finally, we investigated the H 2 S-fibers application as a wound dressing in vitro . Given that H 2 S has a broad range of physiological functions, H 2 S-fibers hold great potential for various biomedical applications. Statement of significance Hydrogen sulfide, as a gaseous messenger, plays a crucial role in many physiological and pathological conditions. Recent studies about functions of H 2 S suggests H 2 S-based therapy could be promising therapeutic strategy for many diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease. Although many H 2 S donors have been developed and applied for biomedical studies, most of H 2 S donors have the shortage that the H 2 S release is either too fast or uncontrollable, which poorly mimic the biological generation of H 2 S. By simply combining electrospinning technique with our designed biological thiols activated H 2 S donor, NSHD1, we fabricated H 2 S releasing microfibers (H 2 S-fibers). This H 2 S-fibers significantly prolonged the releasing time compared to H 2 S donor alone. By adjusting the electrospinning parameters, tunable releasing profiles can be achieved. Moreover, the H 2 S fibers can protect cardiac myoblasts H9c2 and fibroblast NIH 3T3 from oxidative damage and support their proliferation as cellular scaffolds. To our knowledge, this is the first report of electrospun fibers with H 2 S releasing capacity. We anticipate this H 2 S-releasing scaffold will have great potential for biomedical applications.
TITANIA EXHAUST GAS SENSOR FOR AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS

The change in the resistance of titanium dioxide with oxygen partial pressure is utilized to obtain an air-to-fuel ratio sensor. Ti/02 material properties, sensor components, and performance characteristics are discussed. Some results of engine dynamometer and vehicle tests of sensor performance and durability are presented.
The role of acids in electrical conduction through ice

[1] Electrical conduction through meteoric polar ice is controlled by soluble impurities that originate mostly from sea salt, biomass burning, and volcanic eruptions. The strongest conductivity response is to acids, yet the mechanism causing this response has been unclear. Here we elucidate conduction mechanisms in ice using broadband dielectric spectroscopy of meteoric polar ice cores. We find that conduction through polycrystalline polar ice is consistent with Jaccard theory for migration of charged protonic point defects through single ice crystals, except that bulk DC conduction is impeded by grain boundaries. Neither our observations nor modeling using Archie's Law support the hypothesis that grain-boundary networks of unfrozen acids cause significant electrolytic conduction. Common electrical logs of ice cores (by electrical conductivity measurement [ECM] or dielectric profiling [DEP]) and the attenuation of radio waves in ice sheets thus respond to protonic point defects only. This response implies that joint interpretation of electrical and chemical logs can determine impurity partitioning between the lattice and grain boundaries or inclusions. For example, in the Greenland Ice Core Project (GRIP) ice core from central Greenland, on average more than half of the available lattice-soluble impurities (H+, Cl–, NH4+) create defects. Understanding this partitioning could help further resolve the nature of past changes in atmospheric chemistry.
A Midcentury Watershed: the Transition from Microbial Biochemistry to Molecular Biology

A small number of microbiological discoveries in the 1940s were responsible for the dramatic transition from microbial biochemistry to molecular biology and consequently for the movement of microbiology from the periphery to the center of biology. It took some time for zoologists and botanists,
Between Formulary Apportionment and the OECD Guidelines: A Proposal for Reconciliation

While there have been few decided cases under the 1995 Transfer Pricing regulations and the OECD Guidelines, it is clear by now that the transfer pricing problem is as bad as it ever was. That is why my co-authors Kimberly Clausing and Michael Durst and I have recently re-proposed adopting Formulary Apportionment (FA). However, it is clear from the reactions we received that it is unlikely we will persuade advocates of the ALS and in particular the OECD that FA is the way forward (although this may change if the Obama Administration were to press the issue, or if the EU adopts CCCTB). Thus, I would like to propose a compromise: Use FA in the context of the Arm's Length Standard (ALS). Specifically, I would suggest using FA to allocate the residual profit in the Profit Split method. The rest of this article is devoted to (a) explaining the drawbacks of ALS as currently applied, (b) developing the above proposal, and (c) concluding with a plea for further discussion by both sides of the FA/ALS debate.
Adaptive Human Control Gains During Precision Grip

Eight human test subjects attempted to track a desired position trajectory with an instrumented manipulandum (MN). The test subjects used the MN with three different levels of stiffness. A transfer...
Mariner V - The Venus machine.

Mariner 5 Venus flyby mission results, noting Mars flyby mission machine design conversion for Venus mission
Segmentation and Interpretation of MR Brain Images Using an Improved Knowledge-Based Active Shape Model

An improvement of the Active Shape procedure introduced by Cootes and Taylor is presented. The new automated brain segmentation and interpretation approach incorporates a priori knowledge about neuroanatomic structures and their specific structural relationships to provide robust segmentation and labeling.
MMSE matching for low noise amplifier

This paper presents a new theoretical framework for designing the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) matching network for a low noise amplifier (LNA). The MMSE matching network is determined by reformulating the matching problem as a continuous-time estimation problem and solving for the Wiener-Hopf equation. Since the MMSE matching network is in general difficult to implement, a constrained MMSE matching network is also presented. The resulting noise factor of the LNA is computed and compared against different matching strategies.
Temporal and financial risk assessments: How time and money constrain shopper behavior and influence purchase solutions

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this paper is to better understand the constraints that make shopper behavior unique from consumers and how those constraints manifest themselves in retail purchase solutions. Design/methodology/approach This study utilized value laddering and phenomenological research methodologies to explore the data gathered from 39 interviews of male and female grocery shoppers. Findings This research examines the perceived constraints on shopper resources. The data reveal that all shoppers perceive themselves to be constrained by both finances and time. These findings hold across all income, age, and employment strata. As a result, price and convenience no longer function as segmentation tools. Instead, pricing and convenience become thresholds setting shopper “floor” expectations for retailers, service providers and brands. Research limitations/implications This study was limited to grocery shoppers largely located in the southern US. Future research could expand on the variety of product categories and conditions explored, along with the cultural diversity of the participants. Practical implications Shoppers' broader view of purchase relationships reduces the importance of transactional savings. Shopper consideration of total market basket value, allows for more focus on services and relationships to drive shopper value. Shopper constraints can result in purchase outcomes different than what consumer research would indicate. Originality/value This research is the first to examine elements which may constrain shoppers, particularly temporal and financial risk assessments, and how they impact shopper purchase solutions.
Classification System of Peripheral Retinal Degenerations

Developmental variations refer to anatomic variances in the peripheral retina that are most likely embryologic in origin. Peripheral retinal degenerations represent alterations in previously normal retinal structures as a result of either a trophic (nutritional and/or vascular) or a tractional disturbance. In some degenerations, there are trophic as well as tractional factors responsible for the pathogenesis of the lesion, for example, lattice retinal degeneration.
Comparing alternatives-power systems or energy conversion: which path students choose and why

Summary form only given. The undergraduate electrical engineering degree program at the University of Missouri-Rolla requires students to take one or more courses in each of the six "core" areas: computers, circuits, control, communications, electromagnetics, and power engineering. The UM-Rolla power engineering faculty were faced with the problem of determining what material should be included in a single core course in the event that a student chooses to take only one course in power engineering during their degree program. Rather than to condense several disparate topics into a single course, the faculty decided to separately offer both an electromechanics course and a power systems course and let undergraduates choose which specialization they prefer. As a junior, a student may choose between electromechanics and power systems. As seniors, students may then choose from a group of electives that have either electromechanics or power systems as a prerequisite. Students may also choose to take the other "core" course as an elective as well. Since the other core course may also be taken, the two core courses are designed with little overlap in material.
Routing on switch matrix multi-FPGA systems

In this paper, we address the problem of routing nets on multi-FPGA systems interconnected by a switch matrix. Switch matrices were introduced to route signals going from one channel to another inside the FPGA chips. We extend the switch matrix architecture proposed by Zhu et al. (1993) to route nets between FPGA chips in a multi-FPGA system. Given a limited number of routing resources in the form of programmable connection points within the two-dimensional switch matrix, this problem examines the issue of how to route a given net traffic through the switch matrix structure. First we formulate the problem as a general undirected graph in which each vertex has one single color. Since there can be at most six colors in the entire graph, the problem is defined as a search for at most six independent vertex sets of each color in the graph. We propose an exact solution for this problem that is suitable only for small size switch matrices. For large size switch matrices used in multi-FPGA systems, we convert the graph-theoretic formulation to a constraint satisfaction problem. Due to its large size, we then model the constraint satisfaction problem as a 0-1 multi-dimensional knapsack problem for which a fast approximate solution is applied. Experiments were conducted on switch matrixes of various sizes to measure the performance of the proposed approximate solution. The results show that the performance of our proposed heuristic improves with the increasing size of the switch matrixes.
MicroRNA miR‐133b is essential for functional recovery after spinal cord injury in adult zebrafish

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles during development and also in adult organisms by regulating the expression of multiple target genes. Here, we studied the function of miR-133b during zebrafish spinal cord regeneration and show upregulation of miR-133b expression in regenerating neurons of the brainstem after transection of the spinal cord. miR-133b has been shown to promote tissue regeneration in other tissue, but its ability to do so in the nervous system has yet to be tested. Inhibition of miR-133b expression by antisense morpholino (MO) application resulted in impaired locomotor recovery and reduced regeneration of axons from neurons in the nucleus of the medial longitudinal fascicle, superior reticular formation and intermediate reticular formation. miR-133b targets the small GTPase RhoA, which is an inhibitor of axonal growth, as well as other neurite outgrowth-related molecules. Our results indicate that miR-133b is an important determinant in spinal cord regeneration of adult zebrafish through reduction in RhoA protein levels by direct interaction with its mRNA. While RhoA has been studied as a therapeutic target in spinal cord injury, this is the first demonstration of endogenous regulation of RhoA by a microRNA that is required for spinal cord regeneration in zebrafish. The ability of miR-133b to suppress molecules that inhibit axon regrowth may underlie the capacity for adult zebrafish to recover locomotor function after spinal cord injury.
TCAD modeling challenges for 22nm node and beyond

According to 2009 ITRS roadmap, advances in process technologies, introduction of new materials, and adoption of new device architectures are expected to enable CMOS scaling to 22nm node and beyond [1]. The added process complexity will likely to lead to increased process development time and cost. Predictive TCAD modeling can be invaluable to guide development direction, narrow down experimental conditions and reduce the length and number of learning cycles. Significant TCAD modeling challenges exist in comprehending new physics and developing efficient and effective methodologies. This review paper focuses on FEOL modeling and highlights major challenges in: USJ, stress and variability modeling. Existing TCAD capability gaps and model development needs are discussed.
Sensors for detecting biological agents

Biological agents including viruses, bacteria, and other naturally occurring pathogenic organisms, along with the toxins they produce, are considered far harder to detect and defend against than chemical agents. Here we provide an overview of the predominant molecular sensing technologies for the detection of these agents. This includes biosensing strategies based upon use of antibodies, genomic analysis, biochemical testing, other recognition interactions, and cellular-based responses. We survey some popular sensing approaches, illustrate them with current examples showing how they have been applied, and discuss their intrinsic benefits and potential liabilities. Lastly, within the context of security applications, some approaches for integrating sensing technologies into field-portable devices are discussed.
Relationship quality and cpap adherence in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

The prospective influence of relationship support and conflict on adherence to continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was examined over the first 3 months of CPAP treatment in 42 married, male patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). CPAP adherence reports were available for 23 patients. Patient ratings of marital conflict predicted average nightly adherence (beta = -0.357, p < .05), but ratings of marital support did not predict adherence. Three-month follow-up ratings of marital support and conflict, subjective sleepiness, depression, and functional impairment were available for 16 patients from the first sample. Six additional patients without adherence reports provided baseline and 3-month follow-up questionnaire data, which resulted in a total of 22 patients with follow-up questionnaire data. Following 3 months of CPAP, patients reported decreased marital conflict (d = 0.43, p < .05), sleepiness (d = 1.13, p < .001), depression (d = 0.73, p < .001), and functional impairment (d = 1.48, p < .001). These findings highlight the importance of evaluating marital conflict for OSA patients and suggest marital conflict may be a target for interventions to improve CPAP adherence.
Design for a dark adaptometer

A design for a simple dark adaptometer that makes use of a commercially available slide projector is described. The adaptometer can be used without a chart readout or can be modified to provide a chart readout of the dark-adaptation curve. The resulting dark adaptometer is suitable for use in student sensation and perception laboratories, clinical applications, and research applications that do not require Maxwellian view.
Teachers Unions in Turbulent Times: Maintaining Their Niche

Drawing on niche theory, I describe the resource dimensions that compose teachers unions’ niche and explain how aspects of the current political landscape buttress or undermine teachers unions’ realization of those resources. I also discuss teachers unions’ strategies to oppose any threats that undermine the realization of the resource arrays that make up their niche and contend that by not only resisting reforms, but also by adapting to some initiatives and collaborating with reformers to reshape other reforms, teachers unions, in all likelihood, will continue to be a powerful force in the politics of education.
Inhibition of regeneration of the gonopodium of the guppy by treatment with thiouracil

It has been shown previously that the gonopodium of Lebistes develops and regenerates under the influence of testicular hormone. Since it has also been demonstrated that hypothyroidism inhibits gonopodial differentiation in the young fish, the relation between the hypothyroid state and gonopodial regeneration deserves investigation. Adult male guppies kept in 0.03% thiouracil fail to regenerate normal gonopodia and the longer the exposure, the greater the inhibition. However, thiouracil has no effect on the regeneration of the female and fin. Thiouracil treatment results in thyroid follicular hyperplasia and vacuolization of and fat deposit in the liver. However, it is postulated that inhibition of anal fin regeneration in the male following thiouracil treatment is not the result of disturbance in protein or fat metabolism, but is due to a hormonal imbalance.
Larval ecology, geographic range, and species survivorship in Cretaceous mollusks: organismic versus species-level explanations.

Abstract: The observation that geographic range size in Cretaceous mollusks is correlated with species survivorship and is heritable at the species level has figured repeatedly in discussions of species selection over the past two decades. However, some authors have suggested that the relationship between mode of larval development and geographic range supports the reduction of this example to selection on organismic properties. Our reanalysis of Jablonski's work on heritability at the species level finds that geographic range is significantly heritable (using a randomization test) in both bivalves and gastropods, even within a single larval mode. Further, generalized linear models show that geographic range size is more important than larval mode in predicting extinction probability in both gastropods and bivalves. These results reaffirm the role and heritability of geographic range as a species‐level property that can promote species selection; the model‐based approach applied here may help to operation...
Magnetic Nanoparticles in the Imaging of Tumor Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis, the growth of new capillary blood vessels, is central to the growth of tumors. Non-invasive imaging of tumor angiogenesis will allow for earlier detection of tumors and also the development of surrogate markers for assessing response to treatment. Steady state magnetic resonance imaging with magnetic nanoparticles is one method to assess angiogenesis. In this article we explain the theory behind steady state magnetic resonance imaging and review the available literature.
Simplified Katsevich algorithm motivated by the distribution properties of k-lines

The Katsevich algorithm is a breakthrough in the theoretically exact algorithms for helical cone beam CT. For future application in medical and industrial CT, determining how to implement it efficiently and accurately is the main task. We analyzed the slope law and intersection law of the k-lines, finding that the k-lines are not intersecting if the half maximal fan angle (HMFA) is less than 21° (numerical solution, so it is approximate) and that the helical pitch and HMFA determine the depth of parallelism of k-lines. Using an appropriate pitch and a HWFA that is less than 21°, one can use a simplified Katsevich algorithm, whose filtration process can be done on the rows of the detector panel so that the pre-weighting, pre-rebinning, post-rebinning and post-weighting steps are all canceled. Simulation experiments show that the simplified algorithm can obtain highly precise images at a faster speed. Our results are intended to be valuable to those who are working on efficient implementations of the Katsevich-type algorithms.
Ultrashort echo-time MRI versus CT for skull aberration correction in MR-guided transcranial focused ultrasound: In vitro comparison on human calvaria.

Purpose: Transcranial magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (TcMRgFUS) brain treatment systems compensate for skull-induced beam aberrations by adjusting the phase and amplitude of individual ultrasound transducer elements. These corrections are currently calculated based on a preacquired computed tomography (CT) scan of the patient’s head. The purpose of the work presented here is to demonstrate the feasibility of using ultrashort echo-time magnetic resonance imaging (UTE MRI) instead of CT to calculate and apply aberration corrections on a clinical TcMRgFUS system. Methods: Phantom experiments were performed in three ex-vivo human skulls filled with tissue-mimicking hydrogel. Each skull phantom was imaged with both CT and UTE MRI. The MR images were then segmented into “skull” and “not-skull” pixels using a computationally efficient, threshold-based algorithm, and the resulting 3D binary skull map was converted into a series of 2D virtual CT images. Each skull was mounted in the head transducer of a clinical TcMRgFUS system (ExAblate Neuro, Insightec, Israel), and transcranial sonications were performed using a power setting of approximately 750 acoustic watts at several different target locations within the electronic steering range of the transducer. Each target location was sonicated three times: once using aberration corrections calculated from the actual CT scan, once using corrections calculated from the MRI-derived virtual CT scan, and once without applying any aberration correction. MR thermometry was performed in conjunction with each 10-s sonication, and the highest single-pixel temperature rise and surrounding-pixel mean were recorded for each sonication. Results: The measured temperature rises were ∼45% larger for aberration-corrected sonications than for noncorrected sonications. This improvement was highly significant (p < 10−4). The difference between the single-pixel peak temperature rise and the surrounding-pixel mean, which reflects the sharpness of the thermal focus, was also significantly larger for aberration-corrected sonications. There was no significant difference between the sonication results achieved using CT-based and MR-based aberration correction. Conclusions: The authors have demonstrated that transcranial focal heating can be significantly improved in vitro by using UTE MRI to compute skull-induced ultrasound aberration corrections. Their results suggest that UTE MRI could be used instead of CT to implement such corrections on current 0.7 MHz clinical TcMRgFUS devices. The MR image acquisition and segmentation procedure demonstrated here would add less than 15 min to a clinical MRgFUS treatment session.
Network-aware data caching and prefetching for cloud-hosted metadata retrieval

With the overwhelming emergence of data-intensive applications in the Cloud, the wide-area transfer of metadata and other descriptive information about remote data is critically important for searching, indexing, and enumerating remote file system hierarchies, as well as for purposes of data transfer estimation and reservation. In this paper, we present a highly efficient network-aware caching and prefetching mechanism tailored to reduce metadata access latency and improve responsiveness in wide-area data transfers. To improve the maximum requests per second (RPS) handled by the system, we designed and implemented a network-aware prefetching service using dynamically provisioned parallel TCP streams. To improve the performance of accessing local metadata, we designed and implemented a non-blocking concurrent in-memory cache to handle unexpected bursts of requests. We have implemented the proposed mechanisms in the Directory Listing Service (DLS) system---a Cloud-hosted metadata retrieval, caching, and prefetching system, and have evaluated its performance on Amazon EC2 and XSEDE.
SU-FF-T-71: Effect of Daily Shifts of IMRT Prostate Patients On Dose to Pelvic Nodes

Purpose: Pelvic lymph nodes are often incorporated en bloc with the prostate as targets in radiation treatment. It is common practice to realign the fields daily before each treatment to account for prostate motion; however, pelvic nodes are relatively immobile such that adjusting the radiation fields to track the prostate may lead to a geographic miss of the nodes. Here, we explore the magnitude of this problem. Method and Materials: Information from two patients was used in this analysis. IMRT plans were created using the NOMOS/Corvus system and PTVs extending 1.0 cm about the nodes CTV in all directions were planned to 45 Gy in only 25 of the approximately 40 total fractions. Daily field shifts were made by pretreatment ultrasounds of the prostate using the B-mode acquisition and targeting system. Dose of each shift was recalculated using Corvus and the results analyzed using Matlab and CERR. In addition, a random number generator used a clustered probability distribution derived from the total 40 or so shifts to produce alternative scenarios to the 25 shifts. This allowed evaluation of multiple scenarios without need for further timely dose calculation. Results: In all simulations, the cumulative dose over all shifts showed little under-dosage, most of which was at the histogram's tail. For the 90% CTV volume there was a reduction of around 0.7% of prescribed dose. In shifted plans the maximums of each fraction no longer overlap in the same tissue so that most under dosage is expected to be at the histogram's tail. Conclusion: These results suggest that current PTV expansions are adequate to provide prescribed dose coverage of CTVs. It may be possible to further refine PTV expansion definitions to reduce radiation to normal tissues while maintaining treatment delivery to target tissues without causing a geographic miss.
Time-resolved diagnostics and mechanisms of single-wall carbon nanotube synthesis by the laser vaporization technique

Single-wall carbon nanotubes are formed by Nd:YAG laser vaporization of a graphite/(1 at. % Ni, 1 at. % Co) target into flowing argon (500 Torr) within a quartz tube furnace (1000 degree(s)C). Here, this process is investigated for the first time with time-resolved laser-induced luminescence imaging and spectroscopy of Co atoms, C 2 and C 3 molecules, and clusters. These measurements under actual synthesis conditions show that the plume of vaporized material is segregated and confined within a vortex ring which maintains an approximate 1 cm 3 volume for several seconds. Using time-resolved spectroscopy and spectroscopic imaging, the time for conversion of atomic and molecular species to clusters was measured for both carbon (200 microsecond(s) ) and cobalt (2 ms). This rapid conversion of carbon to nanoparticles, combined with transmission electron microscopy analysis of the collected deposits, indicate that nanotube growth occurs during several seconds of time from a feedstock of mixed nanoparticles in the gas-suspended plume. By adjusting the time spent by the plume within the high- temperature zone using these in situ diagnostics, single- walled nanotubes of controlled length were grown at an estimated rate of 0.2 micrometers /s. Ex situ annealing of short, 100-200 nm-long SWNT seeds collected after limited growth inside the hot oven resulted in continued growth of longer SWNT bundles, supporting the condensed phase conversion mechanism for SWNT growth.
Two-photon polarization correlations in chaotic light

We have measured the correlation between polarization components of pairs of photons emitted by a chaotic light source into a single cell of phase space. The measurements agree well with the predictions of a two-photon polarization algebra derived from quantum-field theory.
The myth of the abortion trauma syndrome.

THIS is an article about a medical syndrome that does not exist. A so-called abortion trauma syndrome has been described in written material and on television and radio programs. For example, leaflets warning of deleterious physical and emotional consequences of abortion have been distributed on the streets of cities in the United States.1Women who have undergone induced abortion are said to suffer an "abortion trauma syndrome or "postabortion trauma" that will cause long-term damage to their health. One such leaflet states, Most often a woman will feel the consequences of her decision within days of her abortion. If they don't appear immediately, they will appear as she gets older. Emotional scars include unexplained depression, a loss of the ability to get close to others, repressed emotions, a hardening of the spirit, thwarted maternal instincts (which may lead to child abuse or neglect later in Ufe), intense feelings of
Next-to-leading-logarithm calculation of direct photon production.

A method for calculating the production of direct photons beyond the leading-logarithm approximation has been developed, utilizing a combination of analytic and Monte Carlo integration methods. The method is described and examples are given, including a comparison with experimental results for the inclusive single-photon invariant cross section and the photon-plus-jet cross section. The flexibility of the Monte Carlo technique makes it straightforward to calculate a variety of observables and to take into account experimental cuts while still retaining the next-to-leading-logarithm terms.
Human Rights as a Moral Issue: Lessons for moral educators from human rights work

Recent history has seen an increasing trend toward “crossing over” between contexts and cultures. As individuals and groups learn more about each other, opportunities arise to create stronger resources for respecting and protecting human rights. One such possible “crossing over” is between the field of moral education and the ideals and techniques of human rights work. While moral education and human rights work share many ideas and methods, areas of difference provide points to strengthen moral education. The foundation of human rights work is the international documents and laws of human rights that aim to protect rights that are considered universal across contexts. Human rights work, however, also attempts to recognise personal histories and how the application of rights may differ across contexts. Human rights activities in Latin America provide examples of how human rights work can create contexts that respect the universals of human rights. A discussion of violations against women and children in t...
Strain inhomogeneities in eutectic composites

Transmission and replica electron microscopy have been performed on deformed samples of the as-quenched Ni-W eutectic composite, which deforms extensively by slip in both phases. Two types of strain inhomogeneities were found for samples loaded above the yield point. Longitudinal plastic strain inhomogeneities were a result of the banding of matrix slip. This banding sometimes caused sufficient stress concentrations in the reinforcement phase that it yielded locally at applied stresses well below its macroscopic yield point. Transverse plastic-strain inhomogeneities in the matrix were caused by the preferential yielding of the matrix at or near the reinforcement/matrix interface. The matrix strain gradient caused by this local yielding did not appear to persist for large strains due to the fairly long slip-line length relative to the interfibre spacing. A second mode of transverse strain inhomogeneity was the local yielding of only a fraction of the W fibres intersected by each slip band. Yielding at the reinforcement/matrix interface could be seen to occur at both fibre corners and near ledge-type defects on the flat faces. Because of the severe compatability constraints imposed by the bicrystallike deformation of the composite, secondary slip systems operated locally for plastic strains as low as 0.4%.
Basic Probability Theory for Biomedical Engineers

This is the first in a series of short books on probability theory and random processes for biomedical engineers. This text is written as an introduction to probability theory. The goal was to prepare students, engineers and scientists at all levels of background and experience for the application of this theory to a wide variety of problems—as well as pursue these topics at a more advanced level. The approach is to present a unified treatment of the subject. There are only a few key concepts involved in the basic theory of probability theory. These key concepts are all presented in the first chapter. The second chapter introduces the topic of random variables. Later chapters simply expand upon these key ideas and extend the range of application. A considerable effort has been made to develop the theory in a logical manner—developing special mathematical skills as needed. The mathematical background required of the reader is basic knowledge of differential calculus. Ever effort has been made to be consistent with commonly used notation and terminology—both within the engineering community as well as the probability and statistics literature. Biomedical engineering examples are introduced throughout the text and a large number of self-study problems are available for the reader.