cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Asymptotic Probability Extraction for Nonnormal Performance Distributions

While process variations are becoming more significant with each new IC technology generation, they are often modeled via linear regression models so that the resulting performance variations can be captured via normal distributions. Nonlinear response surface models (e.g., quadratic polynomials) can be utilized to capture larger scale process variations; however, such models result in nonnormal distributions for circuit performance. These performance distributions are difficult to capture efficiently since the distribution model is unknown. In this paper, an asymptotic-probability-extraction (APEX) method for estimating the unknown random distribution when using a nonlinear response surface modeling is proposed. The APEX begins by efficiently computing the high-order moments of the unknown distribution and then applies moment matching to approximate the characteristic function of the random distribution by an efficient rational function. It is proven that such a moment-matching approach is asymptotically convergent when applied to quadratic response surface models. In addition, a number of novel algorithms and methods, including binomial moment evaluation, PDF/CDF shifting, nonlinear companding and reverse evaluation, are proposed to improve the computation efficiency and/or approximation accuracy. Several circuit examples from both digital and analog applications demonstrate that APEX can provide better accuracy than a Monte Carlo simulation with 104 samples and achieve up to 10times more efficiency. The error, incurred by the popular normal modeling assumption for several circuit examples designed in standard IC technologies, is also shown
Parent participation in a treatment program for overweight adolescents.

Thirty-one adolescents were assigned to either a parent participation or a no-parent participation group. All adolescents attended weekly classes to learn weight loss and self-management skills via videotape, role play, and group discussion. Monetary deposits were returned to adolescents when they achieved weight loss goals. Parents of adolescents in the parent participation group met in classes to learn skills for helping their children lose weight. Monetary deposits were returned to parents for completion of weekly assignments. At postreatment, adolescents in the parent participation group showed the greatest decreases in percent above ideal weight. They maintained the reductions at a nine month follow-up. Adolescents in the noparent group matched the parent participation groups' performance at follow-up. Participants reported significant changes in dietary habits relevant to cardiovascular health. Significant relationships between changes in percent above ideal weight and physical activity and HDL were also observed.
You look “mahvelous”: The pursuit of beauty and the marketing concept

Research has repeatedly shown that substantial benefits accrue to those who are attractive. Knowledge of such benefits seems to be shared by the general public, and billions of dollars annually are spent on appearance-enhancing products. This article examines the functions of adornments and their linkage to attractiveness assessments. In addition, a number of influences on level of adornment usage are described. Finally, consequences for marketers are discussed along with a proposed research agenda.
Mind the gap: means–end discrimination by pigeons

Four experiments examined the discrimination performance of four pigeons in two means–end tasks. The pigeons were required to discriminate between two ribbon/food dish assemblies in a simultaneous discrimination. In the connected condition, the ribbon was attached to an out-of-reach food dish, allowing it to be retrieved by the pigeon pulling it with its beak. In the unconnected condition, the ribbon was unattached to the dish, preventing it from being used to retrieve the food. In experiment 1, the pigeons learned this means–end task in fewer than 160 trials. Experiment 2 established that this discrimination was controlled by the gap between the ribbon and dish, and, to a limited extent, by the ribbon's colour. Experiment 3 showed no transfer of this prior means–end training to a second means–end task using a different physical arrangement of ‘connectedness’. Experiment 4 revealed that control of this second task was also related to the perceptual features of the gap between the ribbons. The results indicate that the pigeons did not comprehend the conceptual nature of connectedness across these means–end tasks, but did successfully learn each discrimination based on its relevant perceptual features.
Shape of concept: color percept. . .graphics, geometry, and gestalt

The relationship of shape and color, which are two of the parts of a composition, and their relation to the comprehension of written language are discussed. A composition is described as a gestalt that has shape and color within a geometric construct, affecting comprehension and meaning. Therefore, what is seen can be modified by changes in shape and color within a geometric construct modifying comprehension and meaning. Geometric constructs, shape concepts, and color percepts and their implementation in a composition are considered. >
A multi-institutional pilot survey of anesthesia practices during proton radiation therapy

Abstract Background and purpose Physicians responsible for anesthesia and/or sedation (A/S) at emerging proton radiation therapy centers (PTCs) seek information about practices at established centers. We conducted a survey of A/S practices at established PTCs to provide this information for physicians at new PTCs. Methods and materials A web-based survey was sent to physicians responsible for A/S at 37 established PTCs. Questions were based on practice patterns and the preferred method of A/S delivery during proton-radiation therapy. One representative per institution was surveyed. Results A response rate of 38%, with a combined case load of more than 15,000 anesthetics per year was obtained. Children younger than 4 years old often (72%) required A/S. The most favored A/S techniques involved total intravenous anesthesia with propofol and an unprotected airway (57%) or general anesthesia with sevoflurane and a laryngeal mask airway (36%). It was notable that 21% of facilities did not have dedicated recovery rooms. Also, anesthesia gas evacuation outlets were absent at 43% of treatment rooms. Conclusions A/S is commonly delivered to patients undergoing proton radiation therapy, most often with total intravenous anesthesia. To avert potential obstacles to the safe delivery of care, anesthesiologists at emerging centers are encouraged to participate throughout the design and planning phases of new PTCs.
Life Span Extension in Mice by Food Restriction Depends on an Energy Imbalance

In this study, our main objective was to determine whether energy restriction (ER) affects the rate of oxygen consumption of mice transiently or lastingly and whether metabolic rate plays a role in the ER-related extension of life span. We compared rates of resting oxygen consumption between C57BL/6 mice, whose life span is prolonged by ER, and the DBA/2 mice where it is not, at 6 and 23 mo of age, following 40% ER for 2 and 19 mo, respectively. Mice of the 2 strains that consumed food ad libitum (AL) had a similar body mass at the age of 4 mo and consumed similar amounts of food throughout the experiment; however, the body weight subsequently significantly increased (20%) in the C57BL/6 mice but did not increase significantly in the DBA/2 mice. The resting rate of oxygen consumption was normalized as per g body weight, lean body mass, organ weight, and per mouse. The resting rate of oxygen consumption at 6 mo was significantly higher in AL DBA/2 mice than the AL C57BL/6 mice for all of the criteria except organ weight. A similar difference in AL mice of the 2 strains was present at 23 mo when resting oxygen consumption was normalized to body weight. Resting oxygen consumption was lowered by ER in both age groups of each strain according to all 4 criteria used for normalization, except body weight in the C57BL/6 mice. The effect of ER on resting oxygen consumption was thus neither transient nor age or strain dependent. Our results suggest that ER-induced extension of life span occurs in the mouse genotype in which there is a positive imbalance between energy intake and energy expenditure.
Incorporating On-demand Stereo for Real Time Recognition

A new method for localising and recognising hand poses and objects in real-time is presented. This problem is important in vision-driven applications where it is natural for a user to combine hand gestures and real objects when interacting with a machine. Examples include using a real eraser to remove words from a document displayed on an electronic surface. In this paper the task of simultaneously recognising object classes, hand gestures and detecting touch events is cast as a single classification problem. A random forest algorithm is employed which adaptively selects and combines a minimal set of appearance, shape and stereo features to achieve maximum class discrimination for a given image. This minimal set leads to both efficiency at run time and good generalisation. Unlike previous stereo works which explicitly construct disparity maps, here the stereo matching costs are used directly as visual cue and only computed on-demand, i.e. only for pixels where they are necessary for recognition. This leads to improved efficiency. The proposed method is assessed on a database of a variety of objects and hand poses selected for interacting on a flat surface in an office environment.
Categorizing Temporal Patterns of Arrest in a Cohort of Adults with Serious Mental Illness

Temporal patterns of arrest among mental health systems' clientele have not been well explored. This study uses “trajectory analysis,” a methodology widely employed by criminologists exploring patterns of desistence in offending, to examine patterns of criminal justice involvement in a cohort of mental health service recipients. Data for this study are from a statewide cohort of individuals who received services from the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health in 1991 (N = 13,876) and whose arrests were followed for roughly 10 years. Zero-inflated Poisson trajectory analysis applied to cohort members having two or more arrests identified five trajectories with widely varying arrest patterns. Analysis of differences in the composition of the five trajectory-based groups revealed few between-group differences in members' demographic and service use characteristics, while certain offense types were disproportionately prevalent among particular trajectory-based groups. The implications of these findings for understanding criminal justice involvement in this population and the utility of the trajectory model for system planning are discussed.
Herpes Viral Oncolysis: A Novel Cancer Therapy

c he history of herpes simplex virus (HSV) is fascinating and arallels that of scientific progress, ultimately enabling scienists to use a human pathogen as a cancer remedy.The ancient reeks first identified the mucocutaneous lesions of HSV inection in the year 3000 BC. Hippocrates coined the phrase herpes’ from the Greek adjective ‘herpestes,’ meaning ‘creepng,’ when describing the herpetic blisters that seemed to rawl along the skin. More than a century has passed since scientists first oberved that viruses that cause human disease could also nhibit tumor growth. In 1893, remission of leukemia after atural viral infections was reported. Shortly thereafter, asteur observed tumor regression in a patient with cervical ancer after vaccination with an attenuated rabies virus. necdotes of tumor inhibition in cancer patients after outs of severe viral illnesses such as measles or mumps ave been reported. Sporadic attempts to treat cancer with iruses demonstrate encouraging results. But this notion f viral cancer killing was eventually abandoned from fear f uncontrolled viral infection and lack of effective antiiral agents. A period of viral classification, molecular characterizaion, and experimentation ensued. In the late 1970s, widepread recognition of genital herpes as a sexually transmited disease, with potentially severe consequences, was the ubject of intense media scrutiny. As public awareness grew, o did efforts to develop effective anti-viral agents. This esulted in the development of the first selective HSV inibitor, acyclovir, by Dr Gertrude Elion who received the obel Prize for her breakthrough. Acyclovir currently reains a primary agent for the treatment of various herpetic nfections. With better understanding of viral pathogenesis and the evelopment of effective anti-viral treatments, old notions f employing viruses to treat cancer were revisited. In the arly 1990s, scientists genetically engineered attenuated erpes viruses as potential cancer therapies. Mutations in he viral genome could further improve the safety of viral herapy and better target virus to tumors. During the past
The sequential view: From rapidly fading stimulus traces to the organization of memory and the abstract concept of number.

The development ofthe sequential approach to instrumentallearning from about 1958 to the present is described. The sequential model began as an attempt to explain a particular dass of neglected partial reward phenomena, those in wh ich performance in acquisition and extinction is influenced by the particular sequence in which rewarded and nonrewarded trials occur in ac­ quisition, and it was subsequently applied to a variety of other phenomena. Over time, the se­ quential model grew, sometimes through the replacement of older assumptions by novel ones, as when retrieved memories replaced stimulus traces, and sometimes simply through the addi­ tion of novel assumptions, such as that animals are capable of remembering retrospectively one, two, three or more prior nonrewarded outcomes--the N-Iength assumption. The most recent assumption added to the sequential model is that on a given trial the animal may utilize its memory of prior reward outcomes to anticipate both the current reward outcome and one or more sub­ sequent reward outcomes. One way to view the sequential model is to say that it is a specific theory in various degrees of competition with other specific theories. Several examples of this are provided. Another way to view the sequential model, a more important way in my opinion, is to see it as a representative of a general theoretical approach, intertrial theory, which differs in fundamental respects from another much more generaIly utilized theoretical approach, intra­ trial theory. I suggest that there is a substantial body of data that can be explained by inter­ trial mechanisms but not by intratrial mechanisms. The future may weIl reveal that the inter­ trial mechanisms have greater explanatory potential than the currently more popular intratrial mechanisms. The cognitive abilities of rats are far greater and more varied than was dreamed of even remotely until recently. Even now they are familiar to only a relative few. As Wright (1992) has recently indicated, an animal may per­ form poorly not because of its cognitive limitations, but because the experimenter has employed a task ill suited to the particular species. Varied reward situations, em­ phasized in this paper, have demonstrated themselves to be ideally suited to revealing a variety of complex abili­ ties in rats. To be sure, varied reward situations were em­ ployed initiaIly to test the simplest of hypotheses. But varied reward situations, as we shall see, are very flexi­ ble, and when appropriately modified they can be ern­ ployed in the service of many ends. Within the context ofthe author's sequential hypothesis, varied reward tasks have been repeatedly modified to reveal increasingly com­ plex processes in the rat, an activity that is ongoing. In the present paper, varied reward refers to situations with the following characteristics. Animals receive two or more different reward outcomes, such as food reward
Biological evaluation of Mycoplasma pulmonis temperature-sensitive mutants for use as possible rodent vaccines

Temperature-sensitive mutants (TSMs) of Mycoplasma pulmonis were produced by treating the wild-type strain with N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine. Three TSMs were selected at 38 degrees C, as a restrictive temperature, and at 34 degrees C, as a permissive temperature. Two TSMs, UTCMI and UTCMII, were proven to be nonpathogenic but immunogenic. In addition, they did not induce pneumonia, tracheitis, or tympanitis but did induce mild rhinitis. They were stable after 10 passages in vitro and in vivo. They elicited excellent antibody production and cell-mediated immunity in vaccinated rats. They also were not mitogenic to rat lymphocytes. Rats immunized intranasally with these TSMs were significantly protected against challenge with wild-type organisms. These mutants were morphologically and serologically indistinguishable from the wild-type organisms. The growth characteristics and antibiotic sensitivities were similar to those of wild-type organisms, except that they grew only at 34 degrees C. In contrast to wild-type organisms, they did not bind to or lyse sheep erythrocytes. Thus, these TSMs may qualify as a vaccine to prevent M. pulmonis infection in rats.
Entropy Based Approximation to Cell Monolayer Development

Our analysis is based on the assumption that the metabolic and signal pathways substantiate non-linear dynamic processes which are responsible for asymptotic stability of biological systems. Observed events, not pathways themselves, are the elementary asymptotically stable objects to be studied. This assumption is theoretically supported by observed structures in a relatively simple pseudo-chemical agentbased model. The state space is given by coefficients of Renyi information entropy. Each combination of Renyi coefficients gives us one subtraction of the whole trajectory. The single cell trajectory should be divided into several clusters, once the trajectory is constructed. Each cluster of the trajectory represents an event or subset of the states of the cell. Size and position of clusters depends on the trajectory and on number of clusters. We propose a recipe, using the rules of the generalized stochastic system theory, how to extract individual trajectories of the multifractal system - the biological stochastic attractor. This set of trajectories is then utilized for thermodynamic representation of the biological chaotic attractor. Our analysis is strictly based on experiment with all its practical limits. We present implementation of analysis of development of cell monolayer observed by microphotography
The impact of educational workshops on individuals at risk for glaucoma in the Philadelphia Glaucoma Detection and Treatment Project

Abstract Objectives The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of educational workshops, led by community health educators, on the level of knowledge, perceived risk of glaucoma, and rate of attendance in a subsequent glaucoma detection examination. Methods Participants attended an educational workshop about glaucoma and completed an 8-question pre- and post-test to assess knowledge. A paired samples t -test assessed mean differences in composite pre- and post-test scores, correct responses for each question, and perceived risk of glaucoma after the workshop. Results Seven hundred and seven (707) pre- and post-test surveys were completed. There was a significant increase in the level of knowledge about glaucoma as reflected in the pre- and post-test composite scores ( M = 3.86, SD = 1.95 vs. M = 4.97, SD = 1.82, P n = 221/480) of the participants who attended an educational workshop scheduled a glaucoma detection examination appointment and 76% ( n = 160/211) of these participants completed this eye examination in the community setting. Conclusions Educational workshops increased knowledge and awareness about glaucoma and were helpful in recruiting patients for community-based glaucoma detection examinations. Practice implications We recommend including educational workshops when conducting community-based outreach programs.
What It Takes to Win: Questioning “Gender Neutral” Outcomes in U.S. House Elections

When women run for office, they win at the same rate as men. A significant body of research substantiating this claim has been touted by scholars and women's groups alike. “Gender neutral” outcomes, however, mask important sex differences in congressional candidacies. Indeed, extensive research has revealed a gender gap in political ambition: women are more hesitant to run for office and are more concerned about their credentials and viability than similarly situated men.
Stability of drift-cyclotron loss-cone waves in H-mode plasmas

The drift-cyclotron loss-cone mode was first studied in mirror machines. In such devices, particles with small pitch angles are not confined, creating a hole in the velocity distribution function that is a source of free energy and leads to micro-instabilities in the cyclotron-range of frequencies. In the edge region of tokamak devices operating under H-mode conditions, ion loss also occurs. In this case, gradient drift carries ions moving opposite to the plasma current preferentially into the divertor, creating a one-sided loss cone. A simple analysis shows that for the quiescent H-mode plasmas in DIII-D the critical gradient for instability is exceeded within 2 cm of the separatrix, and the maximum growth rate at the separatrix is 3×107 s-1.
Updated analysis of an outpatient chemoimmunotherapy regimen for treating metastatic melanoma.

PURPOSE Aggressive inpatient chemoimmunotherapy protocols for metastatic melanoma have yielded encouraging response rates but have required lengthy hospitalizations. To reduce or eliminate the need for hospitalization, we have developed an outpatient chemoimmunotherapy regimen and assessed its efficacy and toxicity in 53 patients treated at the University of Washington Medical Center. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eligible patients with measurable metastatic melanoma received carmustine (150 mg/m2 every 6-8 weeks) and dacarbazine (660 mg/m2) and cisplatin (75 mg/m2) every 3 to 4 weeks in an infusion center plus tamoxifen (20 mg/day). Patients self-administered subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) at 3 MIU/m2/day on days 3 to 9, and recombinant interferon alfa-2a (rIFN-alpha 2a) at 3 MIU on day 3 and at 5 MIU/m2/day on days 5, 7, and 9. Maintenance rIFN-alpha 2a was self-administered subcutaneously at 5 MIU/m2 tiw for 12 months after complete or stable partial response. Response and survival were assessed. RESULTS Fifty-three patients (median age = 49 years) have received 181 cycles. To date, there have been 10 complete responses (19%) lasting 2 to 28+ months and 12 partial responses (23%) lasting 2 to 11 months, for an overall response rate of 42% (95% confidence interval, 28%-55%). The median overall survival was 12 months. Grade 3/4 vomiting occurred in 32% of cycles, but hospitalization for supplemental intravenous fluids was required in only 11% of cycles for a median of 3 days. Grade 4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia occurred in 9% and 8% of cycles, respectively. Grade 3 renal dysfunction occurred in only one cycle and was reversible. CONCLUSION A chemoimmunotherapy regimen for patients with metastatic melanoma has been defined that is well tolerated on an outpatient basis and is associated with a median survival comparable to that with aggressive inpatient chemoimmunotherapy regimens.
Effects of combined behavioral intervention and tolterodine on patient-reported outcomes.

OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of tolterodine extended release (ER) plus behavioral intervention on urgency and other patient-reported outcomes in subjects with overactive bladder (OAB) who were previously dissatisfied with antimuscarinic treatment. METHODS In this 16-week, multicenter, open-label study, eligible adults (aged > or = 18 y) reported dissatisfaction with their most recent antimuscarinic OAB medication; > or = 8 micturitions and > or = 2 urgency episodes per 24 hours and > or = 1 UUI episode in 5 day bladder diaries; and OAB symptoms for > or = 3 months. Subjects received tolterodine ER plus a behavioral educational handout with verbal reinforcement of behavioral intervention content for 8 weeks. Those satisfied with treatment at week 8 continued with this therapy; those dissatisfied received tolterodine ER plus individualized behavioral intervention (pelvic floor muscle training, tailored behavioral techniques) for 8 weeks. Endpoints were changes from baseline in daytime and nocturnal micturition-related urgency episodes and frequency-urgency sum (a measure of urgency severity and frequency) reported in 5 day bladder diaries at weeks 4, 8, 12, and 16; Patient Perception of Bladder Condition (PPBC), Overactive Bladder Questionnaire (OAB-q), and Urgency Perception Scale (UPS) scores at weeks 8 and 16. RESULTS Daytime and nocturnal urgency episodes and frequency-urgency sum were significantly reduced at all time points (all p < 0.0001). Significant improvements were also observed in PPBC, OAB-q Symptom Bother and Health-Related Quality of Life, and UPS scores at weeks 8 and 16 (all p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with OAB who are dissatisfied with antimuscarinic therapy may experience improved treatment outcomes by adding a self-administered behavioral intervention to their drug regimen.
Proteomics analyses of subcutaneous adipocytes reveal novel abnormalities in human insulin resistance

Objective To provide a more global view of adipocyte changes in human insulin resistance by proteomics analyses. Methods Baseline biopsies of abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue were obtained from 23 subjects without diabetes. Euglycemic clamps were used to divide subjects into an insulin-resistant group (IR, N = 10) and an insulin-sensitive (IS, N = 13) group, which were of similar age and gender but unequal adiposity (greater in IR). Proteins of isolated adipocytes were quantified by mass spectrometry using normalized spectral abundance factors. Results Of 1,245 proteins assigned, 30 were detected in at least 12 of the 23 subjects that differed significantly in abundance ≥1.5-fold between IR and IS. IR displayed a pattern of increased cytoskeletal proteins and decreased mitochondrial proteins and FABP4 and FABP5. In subgroup analyses of adiposity-matched subjects, several of these changes were less pronounced in IR, but the abundance of proteins related to lipid metabolism and the unfolded/misfolded protein response were significantly and unfavorably altered. Conclusions These results confirm lower abundance of mitochondrial proteins and suggest increased cytoskeletal proteins and decreased FABP4 and FABP5 in subcutaneous adipocytes of typical IR individuals. Changes in proteins related to lipid metabolism and the unfolded/misfolded protein may discriminate IR and IS individuals of equal adiposity.
Extended N-terminal region of the essential phosphorelay signaling protein Ypd1 from Cryptococcus neoformans contributes to structural stability, phosphostability and binding of calcium ions.

Rapid response to external stimuli is crucial for survival and proliferation of microorganisms. Pathogenic fungi employ histidine-to-aspartate multistep phosphorelay systems to respond to environmental stress, progress through developmental stages and to produce virulence factors. Because these His-to-Asp phosphorelay systems are not found in humans, they are potential targets for the development of new antifungal therapies. Here we report the characterization of the histidine phosphotransfer (HPt) protein Ypd1 from the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans . Results from this study demonstrate that CnYpd1 indeed functions as a phosphorelay protein in vitro , and that H138 is confirmed as the site of phosphorylation. We found that CnYpd1 exhibits unique characteristics in comparison to other histidine phosphotransfer proteins, such as an extended N-terminal amino acid sequence, which we find contributes to structural integrity, a longer phosphorylated life time and the ability to bind calcium ions.
Preemptive Anticoagulation in Patients With a High Pretest Probability of Pulmonary Embolism: Are Guidelines Followed?

Background Guidelines suggest anticoagulation of patients with high pretest probability of pulmonary embolism (PE) while awaiting diagnostic test results (preemptive anticoagulation). Data relevant to the practice of preemptive anticoagulation are not available. Methods We reviewed 3,500 consecutive patients who underwent CT pulmonary angiography (CTPA) at two EDs. We classified the pretest probability for PE using the revised Geneva Score (RGS) as low (RGS 0-3), intermediate (RGS 4-10), or high (RGS 11-18). We classified patients with a high pretest probability of PE as receiving preemptive anticoagulation if therapeutic anticoagulation was given before CTPA completion. Patients with a high bleeding risk and those receiving treatment for DVT before CTPA were excluded from the preemptive anticoagulation analysis. We compared the time elapsed between ED registration and CTPA completion for patients with a low, intermediate, and high pretest probability for PE. Results We excluded three of 3,500 patients because CTPA preceded ED registration. Of the remaining 3,497 patients, 167 (4.8%) had a high pretest probability for PE. After excluding 29 patients for high bleeding risk and 21 patients who were treated for DVT prior to CTPA, only two of 117 patients (1.7%) with a high pretest probability for PE received preemptive anticoagulation. Furthermore, 37 of the remaining 115 patients (32%) with a high pretest probability for PE had a preexisting indication for anticoagulation but did not receive preemptive anticoagulation. The time from ED registration to CTPA completion did not differ based on the pretest probability of PE. Conclusions Physicians rarely use preemptive anticoagulation in patients with a high pretest probability for PE. Clinicians do not expedite CTPA examinations for patients with a high pretest probability for PE.
Nonlinear elastodynamics of piezoelectric macro-fiber composites with interdigitated electrodes for resonant actuation

Abstract Macro-fiber composite (MFC) piezoelectric materials are used in a variety of applications employing the converse piezoelectric effect, ranging from morphing and bioinspired actuation to vibration control in flexible structures. Most of the existing literature to date considered linear material behavior for geometrically linear oscillations. However, in many applications, such as bioinspired locomotion using MFCs, material and geometric nonlinearities are pronounced and linear models fail to represent and predict the governing dynamics. The predominant types of nonlinearities manifested in resonant actuation of MFC cantilevers are piezoelectric softening, geometric hardening, and inertial softening. In the present work, we explore nonlinear actuation of MFC cantilevers and develop an experimentally validated mathematical framework for modeling and analysis. In the experimental setting, an in vacuo actuation scenario is considered for a broad range of voltage levels (from low to moderate values) while eliminating nonlinear fluid damping. Experiments are conducted for an MFC bimorph cantilever, and model simulations based on the method of harmonic balance are compared with experimental frequency response curves under resonant actuation. The resulting experimentally validated framework can be used for simulating the dynamics of MFCs under resonant actuation, as well as parameter identification and structural optimization for linear to moderately nonlinear regime.
Smart & Safe Energy Society

Abstract Since the Industrial Revolution, the human race has been pursuing material and economic richness, convenience, etc., with many countries aiming for economic growth. As a result, the world now faces great environmental risks such as abnormal weather resulting from global warming, pollution problems, waste problem. In order to solve such environmental problems and aim for a sustainable development and growth of the world, cities where more than one-half of the world’s population concentrate need to play a major role. On 11 March 2011, the Fukushima-Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan was hit by an earthquake and subsequent tsunami and had lost the external power source and almost all of the internal power supply. Therefore, the nuclear reactor and the spent fuel pool became unable to cool down which resulted in the release of significant amounts of radioactive material. Tens of thousands of people around the power plant were forced to evacuate. At the present time, the problems such as global environmental problems and major accidents like critical accidents in the nuclear power plants, we are entering a new phase and we are in the turning point of energy. In 1879, Thomas Edison invented incandescent light bulb and electricity rapidly spread as a light energy source. In the 20th century, gasoline cars become popular due to the evolution of technology, roads and energy sources together. In the future of the world, it is required to realize smart and safe energy society which is a sustainable peace society and evolve with the times. In order to realize that, I think that pursuing further energy conservation, expanding utilization of renewable energy and introduction of hydrogen energy considering safety and implement best mix of these energy are important and essential for the near future.
Feature-Tracking Global Longitudinal Strain Predicts Death in a Multicenter Population of Patients With Ischemic and Nonischemic Dilated Cardiomyopathy Incremental to Ejection Fraction and Late Gadolinium Enhancement.

Abstract Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) feature-tracking–derived global longitudinal strain (GLS) in a large multicenter population of patients with ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Background Direct assessment of myocardial fiber deformation with GLS using echocardiography or CMR feature tracking has shown promise in providing prognostic information incremental to ejection fraction (EF) in single-center studies. Given the growing use of CMR for assessing persons with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, we hypothesized that feature-tracking–derived GLS may provide independent prognostic information in a multicenter population of patients with ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Methods Consecutive patients at 4 U.S. medical centers undergoing CMR with EF Results Of the 1,012 patients in this study, 133 died during median follow-up of 4.4 years. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, the risk of death increased significantly with worsening GLS tertiles (log-rank p Conclusions CMR feature-tracking–derived GLS is a powerful independent predictor of mortality in a multicenter population of patients with ischemic or nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, incremental to common clinical and CMR risk factors including EF and LGE.
Investigation of Fault-Tolerant Capabilities in an Advanced Three-Level Active T-Type Converter

A novel fault-tolerant three-level power converter topology, named advanced three-level active T-Type (A3L-ATT) converter, is introduced to increase the reliability of multilevel power converters used in safety-critical applications. This new fault-tolerant multilevel power converter is derived from the conventional T-Type converter topology. The topology has significantly improved the fault-tolerant capability under any open circuit or certain short-circuit faults in the semiconductor devices. In addition, under healthy condition, the redundant phase leg can be utilized to share overload current with other main legs, which enhances the overload capability of the converter. The conduction losses in the original outer devices can be reduced by sharing the load current with the redundant leg. Moreover, unlike other existing fault-tolerant power converters in the literature, full output voltages can be always obtained in this proposed A3L-ATT converter during fault-tolerant operation. A 13.5-kW ATT-A3L converter prototype was developed and constructed using silicon carbide MOSFETs. Simulation and experimental results were obtained to substantiate the theoretical claims of this new fault-tolerant power converter.
Effects of Sodium Pentachlorophenate and 2,4-Dinitrophenol on Hepatopancreatic Enzymes in the Blue Crab, Callinectes sapidus

In view of the lack of information on the mechanism of PCP-induced toxicity in crustaceans, this investigation was undertaken to evaluate the effects of sodium pentachlorophenate (Na-PCP) in vivo and in vitro on certain hepatopancreatic enzymes in the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus. Fumarase, malate dehydrogenase and succinate dehydrogenase were inhibited by Na-PCP and DNP in vivo, whereas isocitrate dehydrogenase was stimulated. Of those tested, lactic dehydrogenase was the least affected cytoplasmic (soluble) enzyme in vivo while pyruvate kinase and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase were inhibited at least 50% by Na-PCP. Glutamate-pyruvate transaminase was also inhibited. Na-PCP and DNP had an inhibitory effect on the various enzymes tested in vitro at concentrations of 10-4 M or higher. In general, the mitochondrial enzymes were more susceptible than cytoplasmic enzymes to DNP and Na-PCP. The calcium activated ATPase from the microsomal fraction of the crab hepatopancreas was inhibited by Na-PCP and DNP in vitro and in vivo. Na-PCP was more potent than DNP in inhibiting the ATPase activity. The effects of PCP on the blue crab enzymes have been compared to the results of previous investigations on other organisms.
A study of the reactions K-P[right facing arrow] K-P[pion]+[pion]-[pion]0 and K-P[right facing arrow] K-N[pion]+[pion]+[pion]- at 4.6 and 5.0 BeV/c

The f inal states K Pir*"jt 3t° and K Nir"*"ir were studied in K P inter­ actions at 4.6 and 5*0 BeV/c. The data were prepared from 28000 pictures at each momentum taken in the 80" bubble chamber at Brookhaven National Laboratory. The cross sections for production of the f inal state K Ptc"*"n Jt° are >7^ .09 mb and .93 .12 mb, and for the f inal state K NJC"*" j t*"t : .42 .06 mb and .39 .07 mb at 4.6 and $.0 BeV/c, respectively. The effective mass distr ibutions were studied by combining the data from both momenta. The effective cross sections for the combined data are .83 .12 mb for the K f inal state and .41 . 07 mb for the K st j t f inal state. The combined data consists of 701 events. The resonance production includes K ° (890); 29 4%, A (1236); 17 3% and A (I236): 7,0 2.0%. There is, in addit ion, evidence for an enhancement at 96O MeV/c^ in the jr" '"-strt mass spectrum of magnitude 6 2%. A lower l imit on double resonance production is estimated to be 5% with some evidence for A" 3« 7 1 « 7%' No resonance observed in this f inal state could be understood exclusively on the basis of a single part icle exchange process. The combined K Pn'^'xc data consists of I3O5 events. The resonance production includes (890); 19 3%, K (890); 7«2 1.7%, ( 1236); 15 3%, (1236); 8 3%, A ° (1236); < 2% u)° (784): 14.5 3%, Ti (548): 3.3 1.3%, Al° (I080); 10.5 3%, A2° (1300); 3 1.5%, P *(760); 9 2.5% and p (76O): 5'5 2%. A spin analysis of the Al° (IO8O) indicates an unnatural spin and parity assignment with l"*" preferred. A lower l imit
Secondary Production in the Oceans

Our food supply from the land is divided between plants and herbivores. The proportion is a matter of taste and of dietary requirement as well as of the overall energetics of the system. Our food supply from the sea is predominantly carnivorous and the exceptions, shellfish such as mussels, form a very small fraction of our harvest. Is this difference solely a matter of taste? Could we tap a source of food potentially an order of magnitude greater than our present yield?
Digital Beamforming Based RFI Mitigation for Synthetic Aperture Radar

An increasing challenge for P-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is Radio Frequency Interference (RFI). RFI results in image distortions and degrades the derived science products. This makes it critical to apply RFI removal techniques to restore the image quality. New advanced techniques can be achieved with Digital Beamforming (DBF) radars such as EcoSAR. In this paper, we present a Range-Dependent Time Minimum Variance Distortionless Response (RDTMVDR) Beamformer and apply it to EcoSAR flight data during post-processing. The antenna pattern (AP) is adaptively changed for each range line which increases the RFI suppression compared to a fixed AP for each pulse. The interferometric image quality is assessed before and after RFI suppression.
Prenatal ethanol exposure attenuates sensitivity to the aversive effects of ethanol in adolescence and increases adult preference for a 5% ethanol solution in males, but not females

Abstract The present set of experiments investigated the effects of a moderate dose of ethanol (2 g/kg; 20% v/v intragastrically) during late gestation (G17–20 [gestational day]) on ethanol-induced conditioned taste aversion (CTA) in adolescence, and on ethanol consumption during adolescence and early adulthood. In experiment 1, male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were given 30-min access to a sweetened “supersaccharin” (SS) solution or sodium chloride (NaCl), followed by an intraperitoneal injection of 20% ethanol (0, 1, 1.25, or 1.5 g/kg) for three conditioning/test sessions. Among animals conditioned with SS, prenatally ethanol-exposed males exhibited attenuated ethanol-induced CTA relative to males prenatally gavaged with water or non-manipulated, whereas prenatal treatment had no effect on CTA in females. Among animals conditioned with NaCl, there were no exposure group differences in males, with modest evidence for attenuated CTA in prenatally ethanol-exposed females. In experiment 2, the effects of prenatal ethanol exposure on ethanol consumption in adolescents (P35 ± 1 day [postnatal day]) and adults (P56–60) were explored. At the beginning of the dark cycle, pair-housed rats were given three bottles containing 0, 5, and 10% ethanol for 18 h every other day (i.e., Monday, Wednesday, Friday) for 3 weeks. Relative to water controls, adult males prenatally exposed to ethanol showed greater preference and more intake (g/kg) of 5% ethanol, while showing lower intake of 10% ethanol. These intake and preference differences were not evident in adolescent males. Among females at both ages, ethanol-exposed animals showed lower preference and intake (g/kg) of 5% ethanol than their water-exposed controls. Thus, moderate ethanol exposure during late gestation produced a largely male-specific attenuation in the aversive effects of ethanol during adolescence that could contribute to later increases in preference and intake of a 5% ethanol solution, although this emergent effect was not evident in adolescence (or in females), but only manifested in adulthood.
Right Transabdominal Robotic Adrenalectomy

Since its introduction in the early 2000s, some surgeons have adapted a robotic platform and combined the benefits of minimally invasive surgery and the advanced robotic surgery such as 3D visualization, magnification, refined dissection, and instrument maneuverability.
Design Using Case-Based Reasoning

Design is one of the most knowledge- and expertise-intensive processes in product development. Expert designers are individuals with deep understanding of the domain, of the physical laws governing it, of the manufacturing operations available, of the industrial setups, and so forth. A good designer does not produce only a functional design, but also one that is producible, maintainable, testable, and marketable. This paper will describe our work in automating the design process for the manufacturing domain. We are using an innovative technique in Artificial Intelligence called Case-Based Reasoning. This paper will briefly describe Case-Based Reasoning, and will concentrate on our work in process planning, product redesign for criteria other than functionality, and product design testing. We describe a total of three systems that we have developed and which are parts of a large project in Intelligent, Computer-Aided Design (ICAD).
Identity Research That Engages Contextual Forces to Reduce Socioeconomic Disparities in Education

A growing amount of psychological research contributes to the understanding of complex social issues, including socioeconomic disparities in academic outcomes. At a basic level, several studies dem...
Noncompete Clauses Used in Employment Contracts Comment of the Global Antitrust Institute, Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University

This comment is submitted by the Global Antitrust Institute (GAI) at the Antonin Scalia Law School, George Mason University to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in relation to its proposed examination of whether there is “a sufficient legal basis and empirical economic support” to promulgate a Commission rule that would restrict the use of non-compete clauses in employer-employee contracts.
Novel method of thermal behavior prediction of evacuated tube solar collector

Abstract Heat pipe evacuated tube solar collectors (HPETCs) are a type of solar collectors with appealing characteristics for the application in solar water heating (SWH) technologies. In order to better understand the heat transfer phenomena in HPETCs and improve their efficiency, there is a need for a fast and robust numerical tool. Due to the complexity of the heat transfer processes involved in modeling a collector’s performance, direct numerical analysis solutions (DNS) are computationally cumbersome. Recent studies have shown that resistance network (RN) models are suitable tools for studying the performance and thermal behavior of HPETCs. In this work, a novel method of resistance network based proper orthogonal decomposition (RNPOD) is presented which can not only consider the geographical and meteorological characteristics of the ambient surroundings, but also take into account the peripheral temperature distribution of a single HPETCs. Once the temperatures at each instance in time have been calculated, a POD method is used to predict the thermal behavior of the collector with desired temporal accuracy. The obtained results of this study are cross-validated with the previous experimental work of the authors, illustrating that the model is able to predict the peripheral temperature distribution with a maximum error of 10%.
The Influence of CNT Structural Parameters on the Properties of CNT and CNT-Reinforced Epoxy

The main objective of this research is to review and investigate the influence of carbon nanotube structure on the properties of carbon nanotube and carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy. Carbon nanotube and carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy are currently being frequently used in many applications such as aerospace, automotive, and electronics industries due to their excellent properties such as high tensile strength, high Young’s modulus, and electrical and thermal conductivity. In this study, the obstacles to apply carbon nanotubes as fibers within the matrix have been introduced and discussed. Additionally, the epoxy properties and application have been cited, and failure mechanisms of carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy and geometries of carbon nanotubes have been reviewed. Furthermore, with using experimental data and applying an analytical method, the effect of carbon nanotube diameter on interlaminar shear stress within the carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy interface has been evaluated. Additionally, the effect of temperature variation on the value of interlaminar shear stress within the single-walled carbon nanotube-reinforced epoxy interface has been discussed. Finally, the influence of the number of hexagons in the unit cell on the Young’s modulus of zigzag and armchair single-walled carbon nanotubes has been evaluated.