cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gregory Goodwin Pincus (1903-1967).

TO ALL who had the privilege and honor of the friendship of Gregory Pincus, his untimely death on August 22, 1967, has left a void which will be difficult to fill. Although his contributions and accomplishments were varied and numerous, his greatest efforts were in the field of the physiology of reproduction. These years of dedication are popularly remembered because of his leadership in the application of synthetic steroids to the regulation of fertility in women. He received many honors in recognition of these fundamental contributions to human welfare. Most of all he cherished the Albert D. Lasker Award in Planned Parenthood and the Cameron Prize in Practical Therapeutics from the University of Edinburgh. Gregory Pincus was known to all his friends as Goody, a contracted version of his middle name. He was born in Woodbine, New Jersey, on April 9, 1903, the son of Elizabeth Florence (nee Lipman) and Joseph William Pincus. A few years after his birth, the family moved to Abington, New Jersey, and subsequ...
Stable adaptive neural control of nonlinear systems

Based on the Lyapunov synthesis approach, several adaptive neural control schemes have been developed during the last few years. So far, these schemes have been applied only to simple classes of nonlinear systems. This paper develops a design methodology that expands the class of nonlinear systems that adaptive neural control schemes can be applied to and, also, relaxes some of the restrictive assumptions that are usually made. One such assumption is the requirement of a known bound on the network reconstruction error. The overall adaptive scheme is shown to guarantee semi-global uniform ultimate boundedness. The proposed feedback control law is a smooth function of the state.
Preoperative radiation, surgical margins, and local control of extremity sarcomas of soft tissues.

The relationship between status of the surgical margin and local control of soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities by preoperative radiation therapy has been assessed in 132 consecutive patients from 1974 to 1988. The 5-year actuarial local control rate was 94% for all patients; the rates were 97% and 82% for the 104 tumors with negative margins and the 28 tumors with positive margins, respectively. The local control rate was independent of the extent of the negative margin. For primary sarcomas, the local control rates were 96%, 97%, and 100%, respectively, for margins that were negative at 1 mm, or the specimens were negative for tumor; for positive margins the result was 83%. The overall local control rate was lower (not significant) for recurrent than for primary sarcomas: 88% vs. 94%. On the other hand, when stratifying by margin status, no difference was observed in local control results, i.e.: (1) 97% and 91% for primary and recurrent tumors with negative margins, respectively, and (2) 83% and 80% for primary and recurrent tumors with positive margins, respectively. Local control was not significantly higher in those patients who were treated by surgical resection (S), radiation (RT), and re-excision of the previous tumor bed than in those whose radiation therapy was started after the biopsy and followed by one surgical resection. For primary sarcomas that were resected with negative margins the results were: 100% of 15 patients treated by S-RT-S and 96% of 75 patients treated by RT-S.
Supersymmetry reach of the Fermilab Tevatron via trilepton, like-sign dilepton, and dilepton plus tau jet signatures

We determine the Fermilab Tevatron{close_quote}s reach in supersymmetric parameter space in trilepton, like-sign dilepton, and dilepton plus tau-jet channels. We critically study the standard model background processes. We find larger backgrounds and, hence, significantly smaller reach regions than recent analyses. We identify the major cause of the background discrepancy. We improve signal-to-noise by introducing an invariant mass cut which takes advantage of a sharp edge in the signal dilepton invariant mass distribution. Also, we independently vary the cuts at each point in SUSY parameter space to determine the set which yields the maximal reach. We find that this cut optimization can significantly enhance the Tevatron reach. {copyright} {ital 1999} {ital The American Physical Society}
Probe impedance measurements for millimeter-wave integrated horn antennas

In order to achieve an impedance-matched millimeter-wave integrated horn antenna mixer array, the characteristics of the antenna probes inside the horn must be known. This paper describes impedance measurements for various probes in low-frequency model horns of two different types: (1) a 3 x 3 array made of aluminum by electric discharge machining and (2) a half horn made of copper sheet placed on a big copper-clad circuit board that was used as an image plane. The results of measurements indicate that the presence of the horn increases the effective length of the probe element, in agreement with reports of Guo et al. (1991) and theoretical analysis of Eleftheriades et al. (1991). It was also found that the resonant frequencies can be controlled by changing the length of the probes or by loading the probes.
Imaging of Retrochiasmal and Higher Cortical Visual Disorders

Retrochiasmal visual pathways include optic tracts, lateral geniculate nuclei, optic radiations, and striate cortex (V1). Homonymous hemianopsia and field defect variants with relatively normal visual acuity suggest that the lesions involve retrochiasmal pathways. From V1, visual input is projected to higher visual association areas that are responsible for perception of objects, faces, colors, and orientation. Visual association areas are classified into ventral and dorsal pathways. Damage to the ventral stream results in visual object agnosia, prosopagnosia, and achromatopsia. Balint syndrome, visual inattention, and pure alexia are examples of dorsal stream disorders. Posterior cortical atrophy can involve ventral and dorsal streams, often preceding dementia.
Creating a pseudo single bunch at the ALS

Typically storage ring light sources operate with the maximum number of bunches as possible with a gap for ion clearing. By evenly distributing the beam current the overall beam lifetime is maximized. The advanced light source (ALS) has 2 nanoseconds between the bunches and typically operates with 276 bunches out of a possible 328. For experimenters doing timing experiment this bunch separation is too small and would prefer to see only one or two bunches in the ring. The ALS allocates four weeks every year for dedicated 2-bunch operation. In order to provide more flexible operations and substantially increase the amount of operating time for time-of-flight experimenters, it is being proposed to kick one bunch on a different vertical closed orbit. By spatially separating the light from this bunch from the main bunch train in the beamline, one could potentially have single bunch operation all year round. By putting this bunch in the middle of the ion clearing gap the required bandwidth of the kicker magnets is reduced. Using one kicker magnet running at the ring repetition rate (1.5 MHz), this bunch could be permanently put on a different closed orbit. Using multiple kicker magnets, this bunch could be locally offset at an arbitrary frequency.
Features for neural net based region identification of newspaper documents

Several features for neural network based document region identification are tested. Specifically, this paper examines features for non-text region identification. The neural network based region identification algorithm is a key component of a document recognition system that segments a document into regions, classifies them into text, graphic, photo, and other region types, and then uses this classification to guide the processing and analysis of the image. The input data are unusually challenging: low quality images of newspaper documents obtained from microfilmed archives. The results compare favorably with other results reported in the literature.
The Development of Absolute Pitch: A Theory Concerning the Roles of Music Training at an Early Developmental Age and Individual Cognitive Style:

Absolute pitch (AP), the ability to identify or sing pitches without an external reference, is apparently neither completely inherited nor completely teachable. Based on AP research findings and the literature on cognitive development and cognitive style, this article proposes that the reason why some musicians have AP and others do not depends on both the developmental age at which music instruction began and individual differences in cognitive style; children who had a particular type of music training before the ages of 5 to 7 years, and who have a more analytical cognitive style, are most likely to develop AP. In light of the proposed explanation, there is discussion of a possible neurological correlate of AP in the brain, and of research on AP with individuals who are blind, have Williams syndrome, or are autistic. Some directions for future research are suggested.
Distribution Strategies that Minimize Transportation and Inventory Costs

This paper develops an analytic method for minimizing the cost of distributing freight by truck from a supplier to many customers. It derives formulas for transportation and inventory costs, and determines the optimal trade-off between these costs. The paper analyzes and compares two distribution strategies: direct shipping i.e., shipping separate loads to each customer and peddling i.e., dispatching trucks that deliver items to more than one customer per load. The cost trade-off in each strategy depends on shipment size. Our results indicate that, for direct shipping, the optimal shipment size is given by the economic order quantity EOQ model, while for peddling, the optimal shipment size is a full truck. The peddling cost trade-off also depends on the number of customers included on a peddling route. This trade-off is evaluated analytically and graphically. The focus of this paper is on an analytic approach to solving distribution problems. Explicit formulas are obtained in terms of a few easily measurable parameters. These formulas require the spatial density of customers, rather than the precise locations of every customer. This approach simplifies distribution problems substantially while providing sufficient accuracy for practical applications. It allows cost trade-offs to be evaluated quickly using a hand calculator, avoiding the need for computer algorithms and mathematical programming techniques. It also facilitates sensitivity analyses that indicate how parameter value changes affect costs and operating strategies.
How does visual thinking work in the mind of a person with autism? A personal account

My mind is similar to an Internet search engine that searches for photographs. I use language to narrate the photo-realistic pictures that pop up in my imagination. When I design equipment for the cattle industry, I can test run it in my imagination similar to a virtual reality computer program. All my thinking is associative and not linear. To form concepts, I sort pictures into categories similar to computer files. To form the concept of orange, I see many different orange objects, such as oranges, pumpkins, orange juice and marmalade. I have observed that there are three different specialized autistic/Asperger cognitive types. They are: (i) visual thinkers such as I who are often poor at algebra, (ii) pattern thinkers such as Daniel Tammet who excel in math and music but may have problems with reading or writing composition, and (iii) verbal specialists who are good at talking and writing but they lack visual skills.
Role of mid-gap states in charge transport and photoconductivity in semiconductor nanocrystal films

Colloidal semiconductor nanocrystals have attracted significant interest for applications in solution-processable devices such as light-emitting diodes and solar cells. However, a poor understanding of charge transport in nanocrystal assemblies, specifically the relation between electrical conductance in dark and under light illumination, hinders their technological applicability. Here we simultaneously address the issues of 'dark' transport and photoconductivity in films of PbS nanocrystals, by incorporating them into optical field-effect transistors in which the channel conductance is controlled by both gate voltage and incident radiation. Spectrally resolved photoresponses of these devices reveal a weakly conductive mid-gap band that is responsible for charge transport in dark. The mechanism for conductance, however, changes under illumination when it becomes dominated by band-edge quantized states. In this case, the mid-gap band still has an important role as its occupancy (tuned by the gate voltage) controls the dynamics of band-edge charges.
A Mathematical Representation of Near-Fault Ground Motions

A simple, yet effective, analytical model is proposed for the representation of near-field strong ground motions. The model adequately describes the impulsive character of near-fault ground motions both qualitatively and quantitatively. In addition, it can be used to analytically reproduce empirical observations that are based on available near-source records. The input parameters of the model have an unambiguous physical meaning. The proposed analytical model has been calibrated using a large number of actual near-field ground-motion records. It successfully simulates the entire set of available near-fault displacement, velocity, and (in many cases) acceleration time histories, as well as the corresponding deformation, velocity, and acceleration response spectra. Furthermore, a very simplified methodology for generating realistic synthetic ground motions that are adequate for engineering analysis and design is outlined and applied. Finally, it should be noted that the analytical model (along with the scaling laws of its parameters) proposed in the present work has the potential to facilitate the study of the elastic and inelastic response of conventional, nonconventional (e.g., base-isolated), and special structures (e.g., suspension bridges, fluid-storage tanks) subjected to near-source seismic excitations as a function of the model input parameters and thus, ultimately, as a function of earthquake size.
Intensive diabetes management in pediatric patients

Intensive diabetes management requires frequent home glucose monitoring, multiple daily insulin injections or chronic subcutaneous insulin infusion, and adjustments of insulin doses in response to changes in blood glucose levels, food intake, and exercise. It also requires a periodic review of previous glucose results to recognize patterns of hyper- or hypoglycemia. The goals of intensive management are age dependent. In young children, avoidance of severe hypoglycemia is the major goal. In older children and adolescents, lowering hemoglobin A(1c) becomes an increasingly important goal. In children of all ages, the ability to have a flexible lifestyle and meal plan is often a priority. This article provides a brief overview of the rationale for implementing intensive diabetes management in pediatric patients, and practical guidelines for implementation.
Improving the performance of active buffer management with per-flow information

This letter proposes a new technique to improve the performance of active queue management (AQM) with per-flow information such as balanced random early detection (BRED). The technique is virtual buffer occupancy, which represents not the actual buffer occupancy but the buffer occupancy as it would be if packets were serviced in a fair round robin fashion. In AQM using virtual buffer occupancy, packets of flow i are dropped based on the virtual buffer occupancy of flow i. We show that BRED using virtual buffer occupancy achieves fairer bandwidth allocation than original BRED.
Complex Exponential Weighting Applied to Homomorphic Deconvolution

Summary The application of exponential weighting to homomorphic deconvolution has been treated extensively by Schafer. This paper considers complex exponential weighting, i.e. multiplication by a" ei6n. At first glance it appears that the phase factor will have no significant effect (just a phase shift) on the complex cepstrum. However, it is shown that a slight modification of the weighting procedure yields a useful technique for the determination of delay times in the cepstrum.
Strength Assessment of Type ‘C’ LNG Fuel Tanks

The objective of this study is to present a complete procedure for the strength evaluation of Type ‘C’ liquefied natural gas (LNG) fuel tanks. The fuel tank is designed independent of the ship’s hull and consists of double tanks with inside and outside supports. The inner tank, which holds the LNG cargo, is held within the outer tank using strap and cone supports at two ends. The outer tank is kept in vacuum and the space between the inner tank and the outer tank is filled with insulation materials. There are two saddle supports connecting the outer tank to the hull. The major components of the fuel tank in FE model include inner tank, outer tank, strap support, cone support, as well as two saddle supports. All these structures are designed to withstand all ship and service design loads. The inner tank is subjected to the internal pressure and the outer tank is loaded by external pressure. Due to the ship motion, the inertia forces caused by cargo accelerations will be applied to the tank structure. In this study, Finite Element (FE) analyses were performed in various load cases in which load components include design internal/external pressures, longitudinal / transverse / vertical accelerations, and gravity. Additionally, a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) sloshing simulation on the fuel tank with splash baffles was performed to determine sloshing loads. Accidental load cases, including collision and flooding, were also considered in the structural analysis. Meanwhile, a buckling analysis on the evacuated outer tank was conducted to identify the critical collapse pressure. Acceptance criteria corresponding to yielding and buckling failure modes have been detailed for the strength evaluation of the Type ‘C’ LNG fuel tank. Thus, a complete procedure has been developed for the structural integrity assessment of tank and supporting structures for Type ‘C’ LNG fuel tanks.Copyright © 2015 by ASME
Differential Calculus of One Variable

Students taking the course on mathematical methods generally protested vigorously when told that we were going to start with a review of calculus, on the grounds that they knew it all. Now, that proved to be the case for some, while for many it was somewhat different: either they once knew it, or thought they once knew it, or actually knew someone who did, and so on. Since everything hinges on calculus rather heavily, we will play it safe and review it in the first three chapters. However, to keep the interest level up, the review will be brief and only subtleties related to differential and integral calculus will be discussed at any length. The main purpose of the review is to go through results you probably know and ask where they come from and how they are interrelated and also to let you know where you really stand. If you find any portion where you seem to be weak, you must find a book on calculus, work out many more problems than are assigned here, and remedy the defect at once.
Robust Test of the January Effect in Stock Markets Using Markov - Switching Model

Using Markov-switching model, five return regimes are statistically determined for the monthly stock returns covering the period 1926 to 1992 and probabilistic inferences about these regimes are drawn. The results provide no support for the existence of the January effect. To account for the small-firm effect, again Markov-switching model is applied to ten portfolios sorted by market value deciles. We found a strong January effect for low capitalization stocks.
Eric Davidson: Steps to A Gene Regulatory Network for Development

Eric Harris Davidson was a unique and creative intellectual force who grappled with the diversity of developmental processes used by animal embryos and wrestled them into an intelligible set of principles, then spent his life translating these process elements into molecularly definable terms through the architecture of gene regulatory networks. He took speculative risks in his theoretical writing but ran a highly organized, rigorous experimental program that yielded an unprecedentedly full characterization of a developing organism. His writings created logical order and a framework for mechanism from the complex phenomena at the heart of advanced multicellular organism development. This is a reminiscence of intellectual currents in his work as observed by the author through the last 30-35 years of Davidson's life.
Kinesiology versus Biomechanics

What is the difference between kinesiology and biomechanics? Are they one and the same or do they embody different fields of knowledge? An analysis of the component parts of the words reveals kinesiology to mean literally the study of motion and biomechanics to mean the study of the mechanics of life. Kinesiology is, therefore, inclusive of the biomechanics of motion and the neural and cardiovascular elements of movement. The broader scope of kinesiology is demonstrated by the Kinesiology Department at the University of California, Los Angeles, which has several specific tracks for advanced study including biomechanics, motor control, neural science, and exercise physiology. Biomechanics includes the statics and dynamics of musculoskeletal function, the mechanics of blood flow, cardiovascular and renal function, and the mechanics related to any bodily function. What do these two words mean to the physical therapist clinician?…
Malignant transformation of condyloma acuminatum. A light microscopic and ultrastructural study.

Three cases of condyloma acuminatum with malignant transformation, and ultrastructural details of one, are reported. Carcinoma developed wim unusual rapidity in the sessile papillomas. Aggregates of uniform, spherical, 45–50-millimicron particles, suggestive of papova viruses, were detected in the nuclei of a few cells in one benign condyloma. Similar particles were not found in the condyloma showing malignant transformation from the same patient. In the neoplastic epithelium there were peculiar multinucleated, syncytial giant cells. Ultrastructurally, the nuclei of the giant cells often manifested ring-shaped nucleoli, characteristic of resting cells, which may not contribute to the further growth of the neoplasm.
Development of a Pharmacy Capstone Course From Focus Groups to Advanced Patient Care

Objective. To describe the development of a capstone course using qualitative results of focus groups and to determine the impact of the course using a pre- and postcourse surveys. Design. A course titled Advanced Patient Care was developed using themes emerged from 3 stakeholder focus groups and implemented with case-based sessions, interactive exercises, and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs). Pre- and postcourse surveys were conducted to assess the students’ confidence and knowledge in managing 8 commonly-encountered conditions. Assessment. During the 2-year course implementation, a total of 169 students participated in the pre- and postcourse surveys (87.6% response rate). The mean total confidence score increased significantly from 54.3 (±9.2) to 69.0 (±8.6, p<0.001), and the total mean knowledge score increased significantly from 6.3 to 6.9 (p<0.001). Conclusion. The capstone course, fueled by focus group findings and implemented using interactive sessions and simulations, positively impacted students’ confidence and knowledge for clinical practice experiences and professional practice.
Physicians’ Anxiety Due to Uncertainty and Use of Race in Medical Decision-Making

BACKGROUND The explicit use of race in medical decision making is contested. Researchers have hypothesized that physicians use race in care when they are uncertain. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to investigate whether physician anxiety due to uncertainty (ADU) is associated with a higher propensity to use race in medical decision making. RESEARCH DESIGN This study included a national cross-sectional survey of general internists. SUBJECTS A national sample of 1738 clinically active general internists drawn from the SK&A physician database were included in the study. MEASURES ADU is a 5-item measure of emotional reactions to clinical uncertainty. Bonham and Sellers Racial Attributes in Clinical Evaluation (RACE) scale includes 7 items that measure self-reported use of race in medical decision making. We used bivariate regression to test for associations between physician characteristics, ADU, and RACE. Multivariate linear regression was performed to test for associations between ADU and RACE while adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS The mean score on ADU was 19.9 (SD=5.6). Mean score on RACE was 13.5 (SD=5.6). After adjusting for physician demographics, physicians with higher levels of ADU scored higher on RACE (+β=0.08 in RACE, P=0.04, for each 1-point increase in ADU), as did physicians who understood "race" to mean biological or genetic ancestral, rather than sociocultural, group. Physicians who graduated from a US medical school, completed fellowship, and had more white patients scored lower on RACE. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates positive associations between physicians' ADU, meanings attributed to race, and self-reported use of race in medical decision making. Future research should examine the potential impact of these associations on patient outcomes and health care disparities.
V2G Market Price Strategy Based on Reverse Supply

There is a growing interest in studying electric vehicles(EV) because it has the potential of coping with the rising gas price and environmental pollution caused by automobile emissions.The academic is particularly interested in studying the relationships among EV,V2G technology,and grid.The current literature on V2G technology is limited to research areas in the system optimization,affluence of technology,or economic and environment influence of V2G technology. The V2G technology is based on the situation that most electric vehicles remain connected with power grid and provide voluntarily auxiliary services,such as peak load regulation and frequency regulation.Most of current research makes the assumption that an operator is in charge of coordination of electric vehicles.This paper attempts to discuss an incentive power price strategy which can connect EV owners with the EV and power grid following the requirement of grid operation by taking the reverse power supply of electric vehicles to power grid through V2G technology as the research object.The strategy can also set a V2G market to achieve the incentive compatibility between electric vehicle owners and power companies by influencing the electric vehicle owners with V2G price. In the first part,the V2G market model of auxiliary service transaction between EV owners and power companies is structured.Power companies possesses a market initiative in V2G market and exerts an influence on charge-discharge behavior of EV owners through V2G price.In addition,the power demand model of EV owner is established based on V2G market in the condition that power companies sets different strategies about charging price during peak hours.The latter two parts of this paper calculate the respective benefits of EV owners and power companies in the V2G market when different price strategies are used by power companies.The comparison shows that higher market response can be obtained with lower V2G price resulted from time of use(TOU) price strategy than with unified price strategy. TOU price strategy can reduce marginal cost of EV owners in V2G market and make the s auxiliary service supply curve smoother.Part four of this paper uses simulations to verify the assumption that 30% passenger cars in some region are electric cars based on the typical daily load data and car ownership data.In general,solving car exhaust and oil crisis problems by promoting electric vehicle means increasing power demand and benefit compatibility between EV owners and power companies.This paper discusses the better price strategy used by the power company for superior operation of V2G power transaction market.The findings of this study provide implications on designing better and faster electric vehicles.
Metabolism of Diethyl p-Nitrophenyl Phosphorothionate (Parathion) by a Reconstituted Mixed-Function Oxidase Enzyme System: Studies of the Covalent Binding of the Sulfur Atom

During the metabolism of parathion by a reconstituted mixed-function oxidase system from rat liver, the sulfur-containing portion of the molecule becomes covalently bound, predominantly, if not exclusively, to cytochrome P-450. Companion experiments using 14 C-labeled parathion indicated that more than 95% of the sulfur bound to cytochrome P-450 is free of the remainder of the parathion molecule. Thus the bound sulfur is the sulfur atom released in the metabolism of parathion to paraoxon. Investigations concerning the nature of the covalent bond between the sulfur atom and cytochrome P-450 suggested that about 50% becomes bound to the side chain of the cysteine in the cytochrome P-450 apoenzyme, forming a hydrodisulfide. Binding of the sulfur to cytochrome P-450 of the reconstituted system apparently leads to cross-linking of the proteins of the reconstituted system to form high molecular weight complexes. Examination of the binding of sulfur to the macromolecules of intact rat liver microsomes on incubation with parathion revealed that the majority of the atomic sulfur is bound to protein(s) precipitated by an antibody to rat liver cytochrome P-450. This binding of sulfur to the macromolecules of intact microsomes also leads to the formation of high molecular weight complexes as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.
Integration of Protein Network Activation Mapping Technology for Personalized Therapy: Implications for Pancreatic Cancer

Genomic analysis of pancreatic cancer and other solid tumors has revealed that cancer is a proteomic network disease at the functional level. Protein pathway activation is measured by posttranslational modifications such as phosphorylation that control cellular signaling, and these events are not effectively measured by DNA or RNA analysis alone. In fact, these signaling pathways represent the targets for the molecularly targeted therapeutics, and so it is critical that we begin to define human cancer at a functional pathway activation level. Reverse phase protein microarrays is a key enabling new technology that can generate a functional map of activated protein networks directly from a biopsy specimen. This patient-specific “circuit diagram” provides key information for individualized therapy and can be integrated into a multi-omic systems-level portrait of genomic-to-proteomic information content. The identification of activated protein drug target networks in pancreatic tumors can then be used for drug selection and patient stratification wherein the activated protein “circuit diagram” becomes the ultimate companion diagnostic assay for systems medicine.
Chronic Heart Failure

Objectives:The objectives of this review are to discuss the paradigms used to stage heart failure in children, the classification and physiologic profile of cardiomyopathies, and the acute and chronic pharmacologic management of heart failure.Data Source:MEDLINE, PubMed.Conclusion:The etiology of ch
Adverse Effects of Supplemental l-Arginine in Atherosclerosis: Consequences of Methylation Stress in a Complex Catabolism?

Atherothrombosis and its risk factors are associated with endothelial dysfunction,1 one manifestation of which is inadequate production of bioactive endothelial NO. Two basic mechanisms account for the loss of endothelial NO: decreased synthesis and increased oxidative inactivation. In the atherothrombotic vessel, both mechanisms appear to be active. Vascular production of reactive oxygen species creates an environment in which NO can be oxidatively inactivated to peroxynitrite and other derivatives. The sources of one of these reactive oxygen species—superoxide anion—include NAD(P)H oxidase elaborated on the plasma membrane of leukocytes, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells; mitochondria; and the NO synthases. Both endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and inducible NO synthase (iNOS) isoforms are expressed in the atherothrombotic vasculature and, owing to a loss of substrate or reducing cofactors required for NO synthesis, undergo enzymatic “uncoupling” leading to both a loss of NO production and an increase in superoxide anion generation. See page 97 The semiessential amino acid l-arginine is the principal substrate of the NO synthases, which catalyze its five-electron oxidation to l-citrulline and NO. As early as 1992, Creager and colleagues2 showed that supplemental dietary l-arginine improved endothelial vasodilator response in hypercholesterolemic subjects, and Dubois-Rande and coworkers3 showed that intravenous l-arginine improved endothelial vasodilator response in patients with atheromatous left anterior descending coronary arteries. These initial observations were followed by numerous studies supporting the benefits of acute and chronic l-arginine supplementation on endothelial NO production in animal models and human subjects. These studies were all predicated on the view that l-arginine will enhance the production of NO by eNOS, and that eNOS-derived NO is antiatherogenic. In established atherothrombosis, however, iNOS is upregulated, and its expression and activity can promote atherogenesis. The high flux of NO from iNOS in an environment rich in …
Measured wave dispersion in tubes excited with acoustic radiation force matches theoretical guided wave dispersion

Acoustic radiation force (ARF) has been used to generate shear waves in many different tissues for the purpose of quantifying material properties of those tissues. This method has also been applied to arteries, but care must be taken in this application because waves produced in the arterial wall are guided waves. To obtain accurate measurements of mechanical properties of arteries, guided wave inversion can be used, where experimental wave dispersion is iteratively matched with theoretical dispersion curves. In this paper we study wave propagation in three sets of rubber tubes with different mechanical properties, and compare their measured and theoretical dispersion curves. Three sets of tubes were made with outer diameters of 8 mm and wall thicknesses of 1 mm to mimic an adult carotid artery. A different rubber mixture was used for each set of tubes, VytaFlex 10, VytaFlex20, and ReoFlex 30. Reference samples were also poured for testing with hyper-frequency viscoelastic spectroscopy (HFVS) instrument for measurement of the material complex modulus. Wave propagation measurements were made with a Verasonics system and linear array with water inside and surrounding the tubes. Acoustic radiation force was used to generate the waves with a 200 µs push at 4.1 MHz and plane wave imaging at a frame rate of 14.9 kHz was used for measuring the propagating waves. A two-dimensional Fourier transform method was used to extract the dispersion curves from the measured particle velocity. Theoretical dispersion curves for flexural modes with circumferential wavenumber n = 1, 2, 3 were calculated from the material properties measured with HFVS for comparison with the ultrasound-based results. The measured dispersion curve matches well with theoretical results. However, the match is not with a single theoretical dispersion curve, but with different theoretical curves at different frequencies. This new approach of matching with multiple theoretical curves can be used for better understanding of wave propagation in arterial walls and improved characterization of their mechanical properties.
Applying Scrum project management in ECE curriculum

Scrum is a cyclical project management technique whereby members of a development team work together to define product development strategies in pursuit of a common objective in an adaptable and incremental manner. We have found that Scrum is a promising approach for exposing students to project management of undergraduate engineering projects. But, the technique is not used often in undergraduate education, and it is virtually unknown outside of software engineering circles. We are experimenting with using Scrum in projects across several years of undergraduate engineering education. Our goal is to gradually expose students to project management in order to make their project experiences and learning more efficient and effective. We report on successful initial implementations in freshman courses and senior capstone design courses. Obstacles include expanding practice across all four years, accommodating a diverse student population, and overcoming a lack of experience in assessing Scrum project management.
Deep Self-Burial of Radioactive Wastes by Rock-Melting Capsules

The rock-melting-capsule concept utilizes decay heat from high-level radioactive wastes in a container to melt rock. Descent by gravity achieves deep disposal. Molten rock resolidifies in the wake ...
Classification of footwear outsole patterns using Fourier transform and local interest points

Abstract Successful classification of questioned footwear has tremendous evidentiary value; the result can minimize the potential suspect pool and link a suspect to a victim, a crime scene, or even multiple crime scenes to each other. With this in mind, several different automated and semi-automated classification models have been applied to the forensic footwear recognition problem, with superior performance commonly associated with two different approaches: correlation of image power (magnitude) or phase, and the use of local interest points transformed using the Scale Invariant Feature Transform (SIFT) and compared using Random Sample Consensus (RANSAC). Despite the distinction associated with each of these methods, all three have not been cross-compared using a single dataset, of limited quality ( i.e. , characteristic of crime scene-like imagery), and created using a wide combination of image inputs. To address this question, the research presented here examines the classification performance of the Fourier–Mellin transform (FMT), phase-only correlation (POC), and local interest points (transformed using SIFT and compared using RANSAC), as a function of inputs that include mixed media (blood and dust), transfer mechanisms (gel lifters), enhancement techniques (digital and chemical) and variations in print substrate (ceramic tiles, vinyl tiles and paper). Results indicate that POC outperforms both FMT and SIFT+RANSAC, regardless of image input (type, quality and totality), and that the difference in stochastic dominance detected for POC is significant across all image comparison scenarios evaluated in this study.
Clinical Outcomes after Surgery for Linitis Plastica of the Stomach: Analysis of a Population Cancer Registry

Linitis plastica (LP), a subset of gastric adenocarcinoma (GA), has been considered as a fatal disease with few management options. Little evidence has been reported regarding the role for surgical therapy in treating LP. A retrospective review of GA patients with LP from the surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database (2004-2009) was performed. 29,440 patients with GA were identified, of whom 948 (3.2%) had LP. After matching for American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) stage, LP patients had significantly worse 5-year disease specific survival (DSS) compared with GA (6 vs 34%, P < 0.001). For potentially resectable LP patients (i.e., stage I-III), 5-year DSS was 0 per cent for no treatment and for radiation therapy alone, 18 per cent for both and surgery and radiation, and 20 per cent for surgery alone(P < 0.001). LP is a marker of poor survival in patients with GA. However, surgical resection provides the best oncologic outcomes in these patients with a 20 per cent 5-year DSS in patients with loco-regional disease.
Digital Youth Seattle Think Tank: White Paper

Every generation faces a world different from previous ones because that world is the culmination of all that came before. However, the pace of human discovery, invention, and innovation has accelerated exponentially over millennia. Today — in the early 21st century — we live in an increasingly digital environment. This environment is characterized by instant and continual access to information of all kinds, improved tools for creating, processing, and making sense of information, and new capabilities for communicating and sharing information with anyone, anywhere, at any time. For those of us concerned about the lives, education, and aspirations of young people, understanding the nature and scope of these revolutionary developments and their impact on every aspect of life is crucial. Igniting ideas, sharing contexts, and sparking change were the driving motivations for the Digital Youth Seattle Think Tank (DYSTT). On October 16–17, 2014, the Information School (iSchool) at the University of Washington hosted an invitation-only event, bringing together thought leaders in the areas of policy, research, and practice to exchange ideas and experiences, brainstorm research agendas, and confront obstacles in the practice of study and learning from digital youth. Funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), with additional support from Facebook, King County Library System, Microsoft Research, and Seattle Public Library, supported this event. It is not easy for youth today to grow up in an increasingly digital environment that is constantly changing (Gardner & Davis, 2013). The study and reflection of scholars and practitioners on the nature and scope of digital advances is crucial to understanding the impact of the digital world on young people, and necessary to providing better learning opportunities and support services to young people for learning and living in the digital age. Over the course of a day and a half, the DYSTT attendees engaged in highly interactive formal and informal sessions including a keynote, a youth panel, featured speakers’ panels, and discussion breakouts.
The Scientific Pursuit of Happiness

We review the history of happiness research that gave rise to our 1995 review. We then summarize-and update with a quick synopsis of more recent research-each of our conclusions regarding the associations of subjective well-being with age, gender, income, personal traits, social support, and religious engagement. Finally, we briefly review new research on the benefits of happiness, and of happiness interventions at both individual and national levels.
Species-Reaction Graph Foundations

The very powerful Theorem 11.6.1 told us that, when a nondegenerate network’s Species-Reaction Graph satisfies certain mild conditions, behavior is severely constrained to be largely stable and dull, provided only that the kinetics associated with the network resides in the large and natural weakly monotonic class. The underlying idea was that, when those graphical conditions are satisfied, the network’s fully open extension is concordant. Nondegeneracy of the original network then ensured that it too is concordant, in which case the original network inherits all the dynamical attributes that concordance mandates.
Physical Comfort and Safety

Parenting a child or children on the autism spectrum is a tremendous job. Parents must be strong advocates for their children within the local community, school, and every other entity that interfaces with their child. Every professional service provider must be made aware of the unique circumstances of a child on the autism spectrum. Behavior, best ways to gain the child’s attention, communication with the child, triggers, challenges, reinforcers for appropriate behavior, and health challenges must be communicated effectively by parents. Technology is covered in this chapter as a useful vehicle for sharing information with professionals in the community, tracking the location of the individual with ASD, creating personalized documentation, and describing an emergency plan with procedures for natural disasters and emergency situations.
Student Interest and Engagement in Middle School Physical Education: Examining the Role of Needs Supportive Teaching

This study examines the complexities of the social learning environment in middle school physical education. Specifically, we investigate the independent and interactive predictive effects of situational interest and needs supportive teaching on students’ personal interest and class engagement. Middle school students (N = 388) in compulsory physical education courses completed questionnaires on situational interest, needs supportive teaching, personal interest, and behavioral and emotional engagement. Results from structural equation modeling tests revealed independent predictive effects of situational interest and needs supportive teaching on personal interest, and behavioral and emotional engagement. There was also an interactive effect between situational interest and needs supportive teaching on personal interest. This association was conditional on a minimum level of needs support in the social learning environment. To date, the conceptualization of situational interest has focused on student – activity interactions; however, our findings highlight the importance of social learning environment on student – activity interactions.
The Influence of Engineering Constraints on Confinement Time Requirements of Advanced Fuel Fusion Reactors

A survey of large scale DT tokamak design studies shows that the confinement time required to achieve self-sustaining operation can be much less than that predicted by the recently reported neo-Alcator scaling. The excess containment is, in most cases, more than an order of magnitude larger than that required for a steadystate burning plasma. If neo-Alcator scaling remained valid to reactor conditions, means must be found to reduce confinement times to levels consistent with steady-state operation. The problem of excess confinement has not been addressed adequately in the available literature. A positive aspect is that this excess confinement is likely to be available without engineering or physics penalty. A constructive use to which this excess confinement can be put is to burn advanced fusion fuels instead of the DT reaction, and thereby reap the practical benefits of reduced energetic neutron fluxes.
Trophic discrimination factors for invasive lionfish (Pterois volitans and P. miles) in Bermuda

Invasive lionfishes have spread throughout the west central Atlantic Ocean, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, with the potential to impact prey species populations as well as marine ecosystem structure and function. Lionfishes are known to be opportunistic predators with a broad, generalist diet, yet there has been little exploration of their trophic position, or of how this might vary between locations across the invaded range. Stable isotope analysis provides a means of comparing trophic position across locations with different suites of available prey species, but requires the calculation of species-specific trophic discrimination factors (TDFs) for proper interpretation. This study experimentally derived the TDFs for lionfish in Bermuda, where Δ15N = 2.7‰ and Δ13C = 2.4‰, providing an opportunity to calculate the trophic position of this invasive population. It also furthers our ability to compare lionfish trophic position across the many locations in the invaded range to help gauge their potential impacts as both predators and competitors.