cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Efficient computer aided design of GaAs and InP millimeter wave transferred electron devices including detailed thermal analysis

Abstract An accurate calculation of the large-signal a.c. behavior with detailed thermal considerations is presented for GaAs and InP transferred electron devices. This is accomplished by sequentially solving the temperature dependent drift and diffusion equations along with a novel heat flow analysis to update the temperature profile in the device. The drift and diffusion equations employ both field and temperature dependent mobility and diffusivity derived from Monte Carlo simulations, and the thermal analysis includes all regions of the device. Simulation results are compared to experimental devices with good agreement. The relationship between the graded active layer doping profiles, device area and device length, with the device temperature, output power and device admittance is clearly illuminated by the temperature dependent large-signal a.c. simulator. For the devices simulated, the complex device admittances are calculated over the range of stable operation and at the maximum power point.
Conserving analyst attention units: use of multi-agent software and CEP methods to assist information analysis

Although the capability of computer-based artificial intelligence techniques for decision-making and situational awareness has seen notable improvement over the last several decades, the current state-of-the-art still falls short of creating computer systems capable of autonomously making complex decisions and judgments in many domains where data is nuanced and accountability is high. However, there is a great deal of potential for hybrid systems in which software applications augment human capabilities by focusing the analyst’s attention to relevant information elements based on both a priori knowledge of the analyst’s goals and the processing/correlation of a series of data streams too numerous and heterogeneous for the analyst to digest without assistance. Researchers at Penn State University are exploring ways in which an information framework influenced by Klein’s (Recognition Primed Decision) RPD model, Endsley’s model of situational awareness, and the Joint Directors of Laboratories (JDL) data fusion process model can be implemented through a novel combination of Complex Event Processing (CEP) and Multi-Agent Software (MAS). Though originally designed for stock market and financial applications, the high performance data-driven nature of CEP techniques provide a natural compliment to the proven capabilities of MAS systems for modeling naturalistic decision-making, performing process adjudication, and optimizing networked processing and cognition via the use of “mobile agents.” This paper addresses the challenges and opportunities of such a framework for augmenting human observational capability as well as enabling the ability to perform collaborative context-aware reasoning in both human teams and hybrid human / software agent teams.
A Model-Based Failure Identification and Propagation Framework for Conceptual Design of Complex Systems

In this paper, a model-based failure identification and propagation (MFIP) framework is introduced for early identification of potential safety issues caused by environmental disturbances and subsystem failures within a complex avionic system. The MFIP framework maps hazards and vulnerability modes to specific components in the system and analyzes failure propagation paths. Block definition diagrams (BDD) are used to represent system functional requirements in the form of demonstrating the relationships between various requirements, their associations, generalizations, as well as dependencies. These concept models help to identify hazardous factors and the relationships through which their detrimental effects are transferred through-out the proposed system architecture. As such, the approach provides the opportunity to reduce costs associated with redesign and provide important information on design viability. Using this technique, designers can examine the impacts of environmental and subsystem risks on the overall system during the early stages of design and develop hazard mitigation strategies.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Surgical management of double-orifice tricuspid valve.

Background and Aim of the Study: Double-orifice tricuspid valve (DOTV) is a very rare cardiac malformation. We sought to describe our experience with surgical management of this defect in three cases. Material and Methods: Between September 2008 and October 2010, three patients (one male, two females) with DOTV were treated at our institute. They were 62, 20, and 32 years of age, respectively. The diagnosis of DOTV was made during the operation for other congenital cardiac malformations including partial atrioventricular septum defect, tetralogy of Fallot, and Ebstein's anomaly. The DOTV was regurgitant inall(moderateinonecaseandmildintwocases)withoutstenosis.Surgicalmanagementincludedtricuspid valve annuloplasty in two cases and suture of the accessory orifice in one case. Associated malformations were simultaneously corrected. Results: Echocardiography after the surgery revealed good coaptation of the tricuspid valve with trivial regurgitation and no tricuspid stenosis. No operative complication or late deaths occurred. All three patients were asymptomatic on follow-up. Conclusions: The occurrence of the DOTV is extremely rare and it is difficult to diagnose by echocardiography. It is always associated with other congenital cardiac malformations that determine patient outcome.doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8191.2011.01254.x (J Card Surg 2011;26:425-428)
Simple additivity of stochastic psychological processes: Tests and measures

In this article, some additive models of behavioral measures are defined, and distributional tests of them are proposed. Major theoretical results include (a) conditions for additivity of components to predict the highest level of dominance in a model-free stochastic dominance hierarchy, (b) methods of identifying the shape of the hazard rate function of an added component from certain relationships among the observable density and distribution functions, and (c) effects of stochastic dependence between components on the distributional tests. Feasibility and usefulness of the methods are demonstrated by application to choice RT and ratings experiments.
Decay Method for Measuring Complex Dielectric Constants During Microwave Processing

We have developed a fast in-situ method for measuring the quality factor, Q, and resonant frequency, fr, for an isolated microwave resonant mode. The mode resonant frequency was continuously monitored using a phase modulation frequency tracking technique.
A v-groove Schottky/pn diode

Abstract V-groove Schottky/pn diodes were fabricated and their current-voltage characteristics were investigated. These diodes were found to have low cut-in voltages as in conventional Schottky diodes. However, their reverse current-voltage characteristics were found to resemble those of conventional pn diodes.
Hyperquadrics: smoothly deformable shapes with convex polyhedral bounds

We present a new approach to the problem of modeling smoothly deformable shapes with convex polyhedral bounds. Our hyperquadric modeling primitives, which include superquadrics as a special case, can be viewed as hyperplanar slices of deformed hyperspheres. As the original hypersphere is deformed to its bounding hypercube, the slices undergo corresponding smooth deformations to convex polytopes. The possible shape classes include arbitrary convex polygons and polyhedra, as well as taperings and distortions that are not naturally included within the conventional superquadric framework. By generalizing Blinn's “blobby” approach to modeling complex objects, we construct single equations for nonconvex, composite shapes starting with our basic convex primitives. Hyperquadrics are of potential interest for the generation of synthetic images, for automated image interpretation and for psychological models of geometric shape representation, manipulation, and perception.
Hemoglobin catabolism and the killing of intraerythrocytic Plasmodium falciparum by chloroquine

To evaluate how chloroquine kills malaria parasites, hemoglobin catabolism was studied at the various stages of intraerythrocytic parasite development. We found that hemoglobin catabolism is switched off when Plasmodium falciparum parasites mature to the late trophozoite or early schizont stages and is switched on again during the ring stage. When hemoglobin catabolism is switched off, the parasites are resistant to the morphologic effects of chloroquine. Although the ring stage parasites failed to mature in the presence of chloroquine, some of them switched on hemoglobin ingestion and became stuffed with hemoglobin-filled vesicles, indicating a distal block in catabolism. In fact, we demonstrated a high-grade block in hemozoin production during a 22 h incubation of synchronized ring forms; ferriprotoporphyrin IX (FP) incorporation into the beta-hematin of hemozoin decreased from 900 to 50 pmol/10(6) parasitized erythrocytes. We propose that the primary effect of chloroquine on hemoglobin catabolism is to block FP polymerization to beta-hematin. Secondarily, toxic FP and FP-chloroquine complexes accumulate and are available to exert their several toxicities, which include inhibition of hemoglobin-degrading proteases and membrane damage. As a consequence, maturation is arrested and eventually the parasites die and lyse.
Sedimentation versus cytocentrifugation in the cytologic study of craniospinal fluid

A sedimentation technique for cytologic study of CSF was compared with the standard cytocentrifugation method. Seventy-five samples from 37 children with leukemia and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma were processed by both methods. Total yield of cells and cytomorphology with differentials were analyzed. The techniques are comparable and both allow good cytologic study of the CSF even with very low cell counts/mm3. The sedimentation method can be used as an alternative, especially if a cytocentrifuge is not available. When both methods are used, the possibility of negative cell yield is decreased.
Determinants of operative mortality in valvular heart surgery.

Objective In some respects, outcome reporting in valvular surgery has been hampered by focusing on specific populations, reluctance to publish high-risk subgroups, and possibly skewed or inadequate samples. The goal of this study was to evaluate risk factors for operative mortality comprehensively across the entire spectrum of cardiac valvular procedures over the past decade. Methods All 409,904 valve procedures in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons database performed between 1994 and 2003 were assessed, and Society of Thoracic Surgeons preoperative and operative variables were related to operative mortality by using a multivariable logistic regression model. Data were greater than 95% complete, and the relative importance of relevant risk factors was determined by ranking odds ratios. The analysis had a high predictive power, with a C statistic of 0.735. Results In the model, 19 variables independently influenced operative mortality (all P Conclusions These data illustrate the significance of acute presentation in determining operative risk, and earlier surgical intervention under elective conditions might be emphasized for all types of significant valve lesions. Because aortic root reconstruction doubles mortality compared with simple aortic valve procedures, root replacement should be reserved for specific root pathology. Finally, issues related to reoperation, endocarditis, valve repair, gender, and the various procedures deserve more detailed examination.
ECONOMICAL GENERATING SETS FOR THE SYMMETRIC AND ALTERNATING GROUPS CONSISTING OF CYCLES OF A FIXED LENGTH

The symmetric group Sn and the alternating group An are groups of permutations on the set {0, 1, 2, …, n - 1} whose elements can be represented as products of disjoint cycles (the representation is unique up to the order of the cycles). In this paper, we show that whenever n ≥ k ≥ 2, the collection of all k-cycles generates Sn if k is even, and generates An if k is odd. Furthermore, we algorithmically construct generating sets for these groups of smallest possible size consisting exclusively of k-cycles, thereby strengthening results in [O. Ben-Shimol, The minimal number of cyclic generators of the symmetric and alternating groups, Commun. Algebra35(10) (2007) 3034–3037]. In so doing, our results find importance in the context of theoretical computer science, where efficient generating sets play an important role.
Structure and dielectric properties of Ln3NbO7 (Ln = Nd, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb and Y)

Abstract The structure and dielectric properties of Ln 3 NbO 7 (Ln = Nd, Gd, Dy, Er, Yb and Y) ceramics are investigated. With decreasing ionic radius of Ln 3+ , the stable crystal structure of the compounds shifts from orthorhombic weberite to defect fluorite. It is experimentally observed that, with the exception of Gd 3 NbO 7 , the room temperature real part of the relative permittivity of Ln 3 NbO 7 ceramics decreases from approximately 40 to 30 (at 1 MHz) with increasing ionic radius of Ln 3+ . The observed imaginary part of the relative permittivity is in order of 10 −2 to 10 −1 (room temperature and 1 MHz) and it is relatively stable up to 80 °C, where it increases with a rise in temperature. Interesting exceptions of these trends are Nd 3 NbO 7 that crystallizes with a weberite-type structure and shows large positive temperature variation of the dielectric properties, and Gd 3 NbO 7 that crystallized in a weberite related structure and displays frequency and temperature dependent dielectric relaxation behavior.
Food Sources and Dietary Intakes of Vitamin K-1 (Phylloquinone) in the American Diet

Abstract Objective To identify important food sources and estimate dietary intake of vitamin K-1 (phylloquinone) in the American diet. Design Core foods from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Total Diet Study (TDS), which was based on the 1987-88 Nationwide Food Consumption Survey (NFCS), were analyzed for vitamin K-1. These nutrient values were then applied to the FDA TDS consumption model. Subjects Of the NFCS participants within the 14 selected age-gender groups, 3,634 who had 3 days of dietary data were included in the FDA TDS consumption model. Main outcome measures Vitamin K-1 intakes were estimated for each of the age-gender groups; the percentage contribution of each food item to total intake of vitamin K-1 was calculated from the FDA TDS model. Results Of the 14 age-gender groups selected, the 25- to 30-year-old women and men consumed less than the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin K. In contrast, formula-fed infants had estimated vitamin K-1 intakes six times greater than the RDA. All other groups consumed amounts within the recommended daily intakes but lower than 90 μg/day. The top contributors to total vitamin K-1 intake were dark-green vegetables, although the fats and oils added to mixed dishes and desserts were also important contributors. The proportion of vitamin K-1 obtained from vegetables increased with age. Applications The data identify important dietary sources of vitamin K-1 in the American diet. This knowledge can be used to develop dietary assessment instruments for use in epidemiologic studies. J Am Diet Assoc. 1996; 96:149-154 .
A revised identification of the oldest sea-floor spreading anomalies between Australia and Antarctica

We propose that magnetic anomalies south of Australia and along the conjugate margin of Antarctica that were originally identified as anomalies 19 to 22 may be anomalies 20 to 34. The original anomaly identification has two troublesome aspects: (1) it does not account for an “extra” anomaly between anomalies 20 and 21, and (2) it provides no explanation for the rough topography comprising the Diamantina Zone. With our revised identification there is no “extra” anomaly and the Diamantina Zone is attributed to a period of very slow spreading (∼4.5mm/yr half rate) between 90 and 43 m.y. The ages bounding the interval of slow spreading (90 and 43 m.y.) correspond to times of global plate reorganizations. Our revised identification opens up the possibility that part of the magnetic quiet zone south of Australia formed during the Cretaceous long normal polarity interval. Breakup of Australia and Antarctica probably occurred sometime between 110 and 90 m.y. B.P. The “breakup unconformity” identified by Falvey in the Otway Basin may correspond to a eustastic sea level change.
Automatic Derivation of Code Generators from Machine Descriptions

Work with compiler compilers has dealt principally with automatic generation of parsers and lexical analyzers. Until recently, little work has been done on formalizing and generating the back end of a compiler, particularly an optimizing compiler. This paper describes formalizations of machines and code generators and describes a scheme for the automatic derivation of code generators from machine descriptions. It was possible to separate all machine dependence from the code generation algorithms for a wide range of typical architectures (IBM-360, PDP-11, PDP-10, Intel 8080) while retaining good code quality. Heuristic search methods from work in artificial intelligence were found to be both fast and general enough for use in generation of code generators with the machine representation proposed. A scheme is proposed to perform as much analysis as possible at code generator generation time, resulting in a fast pattern-matching code generator. The algorithms and representations were implemented to test their practicality in use.
Irradiation-induced densification of UO2 pellet fuel

Abstract The results of this experimental study to elucidate the effects of microstructure and irradiation conditions on irradiation-induced densification of UO2 pellet fuel show that sintered UO2 pellets with specific ranges of microstructural characteristics are stable with respect to densification. The largest in-reactor density changes occurred for those fuel types having a combination of the smallest pore size, the largest percent of porosity
Mesangial cell apoptosis induced by stimulation of the adenosine A3 receptor: signaling and apoptotic events.

Mesangial cell apoptosis has been proposed as a means of resolution of glomerular hypercellularity in proliferative forms of glomerular disease. We previously demonstrated that adenosine causes mesangial cell apoptosis by stimulating the A3-type adenosine receptor. This is a G protein-coupled receptor shown to activate kinases involved in apoptotic signaling. In this work, we assessed changes in phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 and in levels of specific pro- and antiapoptotic proteins following exposure of mesangial cells to the A3 adenosine receptor agonist N(6)-(3-iodobenzyl)-adenosine-5′-N-methyluronamide (IB-MECA). Cultured mesangial cells were incubated with IB-MECA for 30 minutes and 6, 24, and 48 hours. IB-MECA was used at a concentration (30 μM) that induces a reproducible degree of mesangial cell apoptosis. Changes in ERK1/2 phosphorylation and in protein levels of Bcl-2, Bax, and caspase 3 were assessed by Western blot analysis. IB-MECA markedly increased phosphorylation of ERK1/2. This effect peaked at 5 minutes, dissipated by 20 minutes, and was abolished by the inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation, compound U0126, in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitor had no effect on the extent of IB-MECA-induced apoptosis. Bcl-2 levels progressively declined, whereas those of Bax and activated caspase 3 increased. These observations indicate that stimulation of the A3-type adenosine receptor causes mesangial cell apoptosis via mechanisms independent of ERK activation. The observations also point to an imbalance in the expression of antiapoptotic (Bcl-2) and proapoptotic (Bax, caspase 3) proteins as a potential mechanism underlying adenosine-induced mesangial cell apoptosis.
An Analysis of Three Models of Early Number Development

Three models each posit a sequence of developmental levels that culminate with the child's construction of the part-whole concept. Two are information-processing models of arithmetical word problem-solving performance, and the third is a model of children's counting types and thinking strategies. The three research teams make several of the same basic psychological assumptions. Nevertheless, the models offer qualitatively different explanations of similar behaviors. The models are compared in terms of detail, scope, attention to individual differences, and how they deal with qualitative change and semantic processing.
Analysis of combined adaptive bandwidth allocation and admission control in wireless networks

An analytical model is developed for cellular networks with a combined adaptive bandwidth allocation and traffic-restriction mechanism. Instead of focusing only on the bandwidth utilization and forced-termination probability, we derive two important quality-of-service (QoS) metrics, degradation ratio and upgrade/degrade frequency. We show numerically that these two metrics must be taken into account in order to support the QoS specified by each client. The effects of system loads and clients' mobility on system performance are also investigated. Even under the various distributions of mobility, the simulation results are shown to match our analytical results, implying the applicability of our analytical model to more general cases.
The Dynamics of Coupled Spin-Torque Nano Oscillators: An Initial Exploration

In this work we explore the use of Spin Torque Nano Oscillators (STNOs) to produce a spintronics voltage oscillator in the microwave range. STNOs are quite small—on the order of 10 nm—and frequency agile. However, experimental results to date have produced power outputs that are too small to be viable. We attempt to increase power output by investigating the dynamics of a system of electrically-coupled STNOs. To set the foundation for further analysis, we consider both Spherical and Complex Stereographic coordinates for the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert Equation with spin torque term. Both coordinate systems effectively reduce the equation of a single STNO from three dimensions to two. Further, the Complex Stereographic representation transforms the equation into a nearly polynomial form that may prove useful for advanced dynamics analysis. Qualitative bifurcation diagrams show a rich set of behaviors in the parallel and series coupled systems and serve to develop intuition in system dynamics.
Chemotaxis of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in a Microfluidic Device

Adult bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent an important source of cells for tissue regeneration. Control of MSC migration and homing is still unclear. The goal of this study was to identify potent chemoattractants for MSCs and characterize MSC chemotaxis using a microfluidic device as a model system and assay platform. The three chemokines compared in this study were CXCL7, CXCL12, and AMD 3100. Microfluidic devices made of polydimethysiloxane (PDMS) were fabricated by soft lithography techniques and designed to generate a stable linear chemokine gradient. Cell movements in response to the gradient were captured by timelapse photos and tracked over 24 hours. Chemokine potency was measured via several chemotaxis parameters including: velocity in the direction of interest (V), center of mass (Mend), forward migration indice (YFMI). The migratory paths of the cells were mapped onto a displacement plot and compared. The following results were measured in the direction of interest (towards higher concentrations of chemokine): For velocity, only cells exposed to CXCL12 had a statistically significant (p=.014) average velocity (V=0.19 ± 0.07 um/min) when compared to the control condition (V=0.06 ±0 .04 um/min). For the center of mass, where the displacement of cells from their starting positions were compared, again only CXCL12 (Mend= 53.9 ± 10.8 um) stimulated statistically significant (p = .013) displacement of cells compared to the control condition (Mend = 19.3 ± 16.1 um). For the forward migration index, the efficiency of cell movement was measured. Indices in both the CXCL12 (YFIM = 0.19 ± 0.08) and CXCL7 (YFIM = 0.09 ±0.03) conditions were statistically significant (p = .023 for CXCL12 and p = .035 for CXCL7) when compared with the control index (YFIM = .04 ± .02). This study demonstrated the use of microfluidic devices as a viable platform for chemotaxis studies. A stable linear chemokine gradient was maintained over a long time scale to obtain cell migration results. CXCL12 was quantitatively determined to be the most potent chemoattractant in this research; these chemoattractive properties promote its use in future developments to control MSC homing.
Limited durability of viral control following treated acute HIV infection.

Background Early treatment of acute HIV infection with highly active antiretroviral therapy, followed by supervised treatment interruption (STI), has been associated with at least transient control of viremia. However, the durability of such control remains unclear. Here we present longitudinal follow-up of a single-arm, open-label study assessing the impact of STI in the setting of acute HIV-1 infection. Methods and Findings Fourteen patients were treated during acute HIV-1 infection and subsequently subjected to an STI protocol that required retreatment if viral load exceeded 50,000 RNA copies/ml plasma or remained above 5,000 copies/ml for more than three consecutive weeks. Eleven of 14 (79%) patients were able to achieve viral loads of less than 5,000 RNA copies/ml for at least 90 d following one, two, or three interruptions of treatment. However, a gradual increase in viremia and decline in CD4+ T cell counts was observed in most individuals. By an intention-to-treat analysis, eight (57%), six (43%), and three (21%) of 14 patients achieved a maximal period of control of 180, 360, and 720 d, respectively, despite augmentation of HIV-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses. The magnitude of HIV-1-specific cellular immune responses before treatment interruption did not predict duration of viremia control. The small sample size and lack of concurrent untreated controls preclude assessment of possible clinical benefit despite failure to control viremia by study criteria. Conclusions These data indicate that despite initial control of viremia, durable viral control to less than 5,000 RNA copies/ml plasma in patients following treated acute HIV-1 infection occurs infrequently. Determination of whether early treatment leads to overall clinical benefit will require a larger and randomized clinical trial. These data may be relevant to current efforts to develop an HIV-1 vaccine designed to retard disease progression rather than prevent infection since they indicate that durable maintenance of low-level viremia may be difficult to achieve.
Hardware-software architecture for priority queue management in real-time and embedded systems

The use of hardware-based data structures for accelerating real-time and embedded system applications is limited by the scarceness of hardware resources. Being limited by the silicon area available, hardware data structures cannot scale in size as easily as their software counterparts. We assert a hardware-software co-design approach is required to elegantly overcome these limitations. In this paper, we present a hybrid priority queue architecture that includes a hardware accelerated binary heap that can also be managed in software when the queue size exceeds hardware limits. A memory mapped interface provides software with access to priority-queue structured on-chip memory, which enables quick and low overhead transitions between hardware and software management. As an application of this hybrid architecture, we present a scalable task scheduler for real-time systems that reduces scheduler processing overhead and improves timing determinism of the scheduler.
Analysis of Wireless Ad-Hoc and Sensor Networks in Finite Regime

In the past, many analytic results for wireless networks have been reported for the case where the number of nodes n in the network tends to infinity (large-scale networks). These include connectivity, coverage, and capacity. These results have not been extended for small or moderate values of n, although in many practical networks n is not very large. In this paper, we first show that previous asymptotic results provide poor approximations for the finite networks (small-scale networks). We then aim to develop a framework to analytically study network properties without assuming that n is large. We provide a set of differences between small-scale and large-scale analysis. We consider wireless networks in which the location of the nodes is random. We study routing algorithms, coverage, connectivity and capacity of finite wireless networks. We provide easily computable expressions for different network properties. With validation from simulations, we show that these analytic expressions give very good estimates of these quantities for finite wireless networks. Our investigation suggests that the small- scale networks posses unique characteristics that require a new framework for analysis and design.
Some Effects of Arsanilic Acid and/or Penicillin upon Egg Production

ABSTRACT MOREHOUSE (1949) reported that 3-nitro 4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid at .0025% concentration in the drinking water for growing pullets improved growth, shortened the time required for sexual maturity and increased egg production for the first laying year. Later Morehouse (1954) reported that 90 ppm. of 3-nitro 4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid in the diet also showed the same effects on growth, sexual maturity and egg production but had little effect upon hatchability. On the other hand, Libby et al. (1953) reported that arsanilic acid at 90 gm./ton of feed had no effect upon egg production, whereas at 180 gm./ton egg production was improved. This latter improvement, however, was mostly attributed to low production during the pretreatment period. These workers also reported arsanilic acid to have no effect upon hatchability or progeny growth. Their particular interest was in the possibility of arsenic being toxic and the extent of arsenic deposition in eggs and body tissues. In . . .
Military GATM: a concept for communication and cooperation using datalink

This paper provides summary details for understanding the operations of a commercial Airline Operational Control (AOC) Center (AOCC), including functionality and capabilities. Included is a discussion on how these commercial operations can be applied to a military environment. To that end, this paper provides the Rockwell Collins concept of operations for a military airline operational control, including a concept for both the airborne and ground infrastructure to support the US Military's Global Air Traffic Management (GATM) initiatives.
A new analog voltage sorter

An analog circuit for comparing and sorting two input voltages is described. Using the circuit as a basic unit, a four-input sorter is designed. A technique to determine which of the four inputs corresponds to (address of the input of) a given output is also presented. The procedure can be extended to design an n-input sorter. >
Healing With the Needles

A child’s spontaneous desire to help her mother during an office visit prompts me to reflect upon the multidimensional nature of healing and how, as family physicians, we often encounter these unique moments in our day-to-day practice.
Westward extension of the Devils River uplift–Implications for the Paleozoic evolution of the southern margin of North America

The Devils River uplift is inferred to continue westward into Trans-Pecos Texas. Both the known Devils River uplift and the Tascotal uplift are bounded on the north by east-west fault zones (Chalk Draw and Carta Valley fault zones) separating them from Late Pennsylvanian clastic foredeep basins (Marfa and Val Verde basins). The exposed, much-shortened Marathon thrust belt may have been emplaced in the earliest Permian by gravity gliding. Meager evidence suggests that the Devils River block represents a Cambrian or Infracambrian rift and that the uplift is an aulacogen. The early Cambrian continental margin probably continued southwest into Mexico but has been displaced by Mesozoic left-lateral movement.
Rate of bilirubin regression after stenting in malignant biliary obstruction for the initiation of chemotherapy: how soon should we repeat endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography?

BACKGROUND. This study was conducted to evaluate the rate of regression of bilirubin after stent placement for malignant biliary obstruction. METHODS. Records were reviewed from October 2002 to September 2005 for patients who underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography with stent placement. The time to achieve a bilirubin level ≤2 mg/dL was the primary endpoint because this is the level required by most chemotherapy protocols. Patient variables included type of cancer, liver metastasis, recent chemotherapy, baseline creatinine, and international normalized ratio (INR). Stent variables included type, dimension, stricture location, and sphincterotomy. RESULTS. In total, 156 patients were included in the analysis: Ninety-three patients achieved a poststent bilirubin level ≤2 mg/dL, 29 patients failed because of stent failure, and 34 patients failed because of inadequate follow-up. The time required for 80% of patients to achieve normalization was more than doubled in those who had prestent bilirubin levels ≥10 mg/dL (6 weeks) compared with those who had prestent bilirubin levels <10 mg/dL (3 weeks). The following variables were identified as statistically significant: prestent bilirubin level, stricture location, liver metastasis, and INR. The cancer type, recent chemotherapy, stent type and diameter, and sphincterotomy were not statistically significant variables. CONCLUSIONS. The rate of bilirubin normalization after biliary stenting was highly dependent on the prestent bilirubin level. Endoscopic intervention should be considered in patients who fail to achieve adequate normalization of serum bilirubin in 6 weeks if prestent bilirubin level was ≥10 mg/dL and in 3 weeks if their prestent bilirubin level was <10 mg/dL. Independent variables, such as diffuse liver metastases, stricture outside the common bile duct, and elevated INR had predictive value for bilirubin normalization. Cancer 2008. © 2008 American Cancer Society.
Total Solar Irradiance Trend During Solar Cycles 21 and 22

Results from Active Cavity Radiometer Irradiance Monitor (ACRIM) experiments show an upward trend in total solar irradiance of 0.036 percent per decade between the minima of solar cycles 21 and 22. The trend follows the increasing solar activity of recent decades and, if sustained, could raise global temperatures. Trends of total solar irradiance near this rate have been implicated as causal factors in climate change on century to millennial time scales.
Three-dimensional visualization of fish morphometry and acoustic backscatter

Theoretical acoustic models of fish are used to explain variability in backscatter measurements, improve estimation of target size, and improve target recognition and discrimination among acoustic targets. Acoustic backscatter models that incorporate fish morphology potentially provide more realistic predictions of echo amplitudes than models that approximate morphology using simple geometric shapes. Procedures to obtain digital representations of a fish’s body and swimbladder are presented. These digital images are used in a Kirchhoff ray-mode model to predict backscatter amplitude as a function of fish length, acoustic frequency, and angle of insonification. Backscatter amplitude can be displayed as one-dimensional curves, two-dimensional response surfaces, and a three-dimensional backscattering surface (i.e., ambit).
Singlet oxygen oxidation of foods.

(1992). Singlet oxygen oxidation of foods. Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition: Vol. 31, No. 3, pp. 211-236.
Rapamycin Resistant Murine Th9 Cells Have a Stable In Vivo Phenotype and Inhibit Graft-Versus-Host Reactivity

The cytokine micro-environment can direct murine CD4(+) T cells towards various differentiation lineages such as Th1, Th2 and Tregs even in the presence of rapamycin, which results in T cells that mediate increased in vivo effects. Recently, a new lineage of T cells known as Th9 cells that secrete increased IL-9 have been described. However, it is not known whether Th9 differentiation occurs in the presence of rapamycin or whether adoptively transferred donor Th9 cells would augment or restrict alloreactivity after experimental bone marrow transplantation. We found that CD4(+) T cells that were co-stimulated and polarized with TGF-β and IL-4 in the presence or absence of rapamycin each yielded effector cells of Th9 phenotype that secreted increased IL-9 and expressed a transcription factor profile characteristic of both Th9 and Th2 cells (high GATA-3/low T-bet). Augmentation of T cell replete allografts with manufactured rapamycin resistant Th9 cells markedly reduced both CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cell engraftment and strongly inhibited allo-specific T cell secretion of IFN-γ. The potency of Th9 cell inhibition of alloreactivity was similar to that of rapamycin resistant Th2 cells. Importantly, rapamycin resistant Th9 cells persisted and maintained their cytokine phenotype, thereby indicating limited differentiation plasticity of the Th9 subset. As such, Th9 differentiation proceeds in the presence of rapamycin to generate a cell therapy product that maintains high IL-9 expression in vivo while inhibiting IFN-γ driven alloreactivity.
Mitigating greenhouse gases: the importance of land base interactions between forests, agriculture, and residential development in the face of changes in bioenergy and carbon prices

Abstract The forest sector can contribute to atmospheric greenhouse gas reduction, while also providing other environmental, economic, and social benefits. Policy tools for climate change mitigation include carbon-related payment programs as well as laws and programs to impede the loss of agricultural and forest lands to development. Policy makers will base their expectations of the effectiveness of these strategies to some degree on anticipated land use impacts. We examine a number of scenarios about carbon prices, urban development rates, and potential future land transfers between forestry and agriculture to provide information about the potential effectiveness of policies to address climate change in the U.S. Because large areas of land can move between forestry and agricultural uses, we used the Forest and Agriculture Sector Optimization Model-Greenhouse Gases model to examine responses between sectors as part of GHG policy analysis. The model projects changes in land uses, has full carbon accounting for both forestry and agriculture, and can examine a broad range of adaptation and climate change mitigation options. Modeling results suggest that receipt of carbon-related payments by landowners in forestry and agriculture can have substantial impacts on future land use patterns, levels of terrestrial carbon sequestration, forest resource conditions, agricultural production trends, and bioenergy production.
Glucocorticoid-binding macromolecules in the lactating mammary gland of the vole.

Macromolecules binding 3H-triamcinolone acetonide specifically were detected in the cytosol fraction of the lactating mammary gland of the vole (Microtus montanus). These receptors exhibited sedimentation coefficients of 7-8 Svedbergs and dissociated into lower molecular weight components (4-5 Svedbergs) when separated on sucrose gradients containing 0.4M KCl. The dissociation constant (Kd) of the 3H-triamcinolone acetonide-receptor complexes, using a charcoaladsorption procedure, was 1.3 × 10−8M; the number of binding sites was 250 fmoles/mg cytosol protein. (Endocrinology 95: 1770, 1974)
Mimicry of Non-distinctive Phonetic Differences Between Language Varieties

A delayed mimicry paradigm was used to assess speakers′ awareness of non-distinctive phonetic differences which in part distinguish languages. The notion of “phonological filtering” implies that second language learners may not be able to perceive phonetic differences between their native language and a foreign language unless the phonetic differences are linguistically relevant in the native language. If cross-language phonetic differences are in fact perceived poorly, it is unlikely that phonetic modification will occur in the course of naturalistic second language acquisition. In this study native English speakers familiar with Spanish-accented English attempted to read sentences with a Spanish accent. Acoustic measurements showed that two phonetic characteristics of English—the long VOT values associated with /p, t, k/ and final-syllable lengthening—were altered in the direction of Spanish and Spanish-accented English. These results provide tentative evidence that non-distinctive phonetic differences between languages are detectable by language learners and thus do not present an insuperable barrier to phonetic learning in second language acquisition.
Vector quantization of transform components for speech coding at 1200 bps

A transform-based system is described for vector quantizing speech at and below 1200 b/s. A fixed-dimension codebook is used to quantize low-resolution harmonic components of speech. To reduce the errors of the low-resolution process, transform components, within the baseband and adjacent to the pitch-harmonic components, are also encoded. Speech produced at 1200 b/s using this method was found to be intelligible, particularly for female speakers. This is because the number of harmonic components required for female (high-pitch) speakers is generally smaller than the number required for male (low-pitch) speakers. >
Saudi Arabia and the Islamic Revival

The seizure of the grand mosque of Mecca on 1 Muharram 1400/20 November 1979 by a group of Muslim fundamentalists protesting alleged religious laxity in Saudi Arabia raised the issue of Islamic revival in the very birthplace of the Islamic faith. This dramatic action and the ensuing battle for control of the holiest site in Islam, the Kaaba, caused concern and anxiety among hundreds of millions of Muslims. It turned the minds of many to the phenomenon of religious revival. The attack on the Meccan Haram also showed that the revival of Islam was an issue for all Muslim countries, for Saudi Arabia was already one of the most publicly devout and religious nations in the world. If the Saudi government could be seriously accused of a lack of religious fervor, even though the accusers in Mecca were few in number and ultimately unsuccessful in their military action, then other Muslim states might well be liable to even more severe challenges.
Case report: the "yin-yang" sign-seen with spiral computed tomography for pulmonary embolus.

Abstract The diagnostic evaluation of pulmonary embolism has recently been modified to include contrast-enchanced spiral computed tomography of the chest. CT has found acceptance as not only an imaging modality for diagnosing pulmonary embolus, but is also useful in depicting alternate diagnoses to explain acute shortness of breath. This article describes a unique pattern of contrast enhancement observed during a routine spiral contrast-enhanced CT to evaluate suspected pulmonary embolism. The appearance has been named the “yin-yang” sign due to the alternating areas of contrast enhancement seen in the cardiac chambers on sagittal and coronaly reformatted images. This article describes the appearance of the sign and attempts to explain how intravenous contrast assumes this configuration with rapid spiral acquisition of images. The importance of recognizing this normal variant of contrast enhancement which may appear on routine examinations for pulmonary embolus is also discussed.
Gender-specific medicine in the genomic era.

This article is intended to illuminate several important changes in our concept of gender-specific medicine in the genomic era. It reviews the history of gender-specific medicine, pointing out the changes in our perception of the nature of biological sex and our expanding knowledge of how it affects the phenotype. The old debate about ‘nature versus nurture’ is now largely resolved; the two are inextricably intertwined as a result of epigenomic regulation of gene expression; many of the resulting phenotypic changes are inherited and affect future generations. More accurate, rapid and cheaper methods of editing genomic composition are implementing a more sophisticated understanding of how genes function and how individual components of the genome might be added or eliminated to maintain health and prevent disease. As Venter predicted, the new discipline of synthetic biology, based on the creation and use of novel ‘designer’ chromosomes is an inevitable expansion of our ability to decipher the naturally occurring genome and the factors that control its expression. As we move with unexpected and stunning rapidity into our exploration and manipulation of the genetic code, our investigations must acknowledge the solidly established fact that biological sex will have a profound impact on the interventions we have made and will make in the future. Unfortunately, in spite of the recent urging of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) that sex be included as an essential variable in all levels of scientific investigation, genuine issues remain to be resolved before all scientists accept not only the importance of doing this, but also how to implement it.
Un territoire de cent pas de côté : récits de la création d’une réserve indienne en territoire innu au milieu du XXe siècle

Cet article se base sur des recits recueillis dans le cadre d’un projet de recherche en histoire orale mene avec des membres de la communaute innue de Nutashkuan, sur la Cote-Nord, et qui portait sur la creation de leur reserve dans les annees 1950. Il se veut un exemple d’une utilisation possible de l’histoire orale ou les recits, places au coeur de la trame narrative, permettent d’ecrire une histoire des Autochtones qui soit portee par leur propre comprehension des evenements. Au-dela de leur ancrage dans des lieux tres precis, les recits presentes ici ouvrent la porte a une histoire plus vaste de l’imposition de la Loi sur les Indiens aux communautes autochtones du Quebec.
Three New Species of Armored Scales from Mexico and Puerto Rico

Three new species in the genus Haliaspis are described and illustrated. Haliaspis arecibo n. sp., from Puerto Rico, has modified marginal macroducts similar to those found in H. uniolae. Haliaspis milleri n. sp., from Mexico, resembles H. distichlii , while H. nakaharai n. sp., from Puerto Rico, is fairly similar in appearance to H. peninsularis . A key is provided for the separation of species.
Understanding regional variation in Medicare expenditures for initial episodes of prostate cancer care.

Objectives:To evaluate the contributions of patient and treatment factors to overall expenditures and regional variation for initial treatment of localized prostate cancer (CaP) in the Medicare program.Research Design:Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare database, we identi