cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A programmable, low noise, multichannel ASIC for readout of pixelated amorphous silicon arrays

Pixelated amorphous silicon arrays used for detecting X-rays have a number of special requirements for the readout electronics. Because the pixel detector is a high density array, custom integrated circuits are very desirable for reading out the column signals and addressing the rows of pixels to be read out. In practice, separate chips are used for readout and addressing. This paper discusses a custom integrated circuit for processing the analog column signals. The chip has 32 channels of low noise integrators followed by sample and hold circuits which perform a correlated double sample. The chip has several programmable features including gain, bandwidth, and readout configuration.
The social context of tobacco products use among adolescents in Lebanon (MedSPAD-Lebanon).

Abstract Background Current data from the Middle East suggest a rapid increase in the incidence of smoking water-pipes (narguileh in Lebanon) in parallel with cigarettes. The social context in which these two behaviors are initiated and associated has not been studied. Methods Data from a standardized questionnaire to measure the prevalence and practices related to cigarettes and narguileh consumption in a representative sample of 1097 children in grade 9 were extracted and analyzed for elements of the social context in which consumption occurs. Results and discussion Among surveyed children (mean age 14.6), 3.9% were “frequent” cigarette smokers (more than nine times ever). Presence of parents and/or siblings who smoke is a key factor for initiation. Narguileh use is a social phenomenon, rarely smoked alone ( Conclusions Further analysis confirmed that narguileh use is now an accepted familial and social phenomenon, with restrictions apparently decreasing. These results necessitate drawing strategies to address this public health concern that is becoming more prevalent in Lebanon and elsewhere in the Middle East.
Short-Term Primary Cultures in Studies of Growth Regulation in Rat Proximal Tubule Cells

Recent methodological developments have made primary cultures of renal cells a promising model for studies of renal growth regulation. By minimal culture time and single-cell techniques, homogenous populations of highly differentiated cells can be studied. This report reviews the model and recent studies on growth regulation in rat proximal tubule cells (PTC). It is demonstrated that no correlation exists between proliferative rate and intracellular pH (pHi) in PTC, a topic of previous debate. The rate of proliferation in cultured PTC is similar to in vivo and dependent on the postnatal age of the animal. Recent evidence demonstrates that the model is an important tool for studies of postnatal changes in renal growth regulation.
Ring-Opening Copolymerization of (R)-β-Butyrolactone with Cyclic Carbonates: New Biodegradable Poly(ester carbonate)s

The reaction of the (R)-β-butyrolactone with cyclic carbonates catalyzed by distannoxane complexes gives a new series of poly(ester carbonate)s composed of (R)-3-hydroxybutyrate [OCHMeCH 2 CO] m [OCH 2 CR 2 CH 2 OCO] n (R= H, Me). All poly(ester carbonate) films showed degradability by a standard activated sludge
First- and Second-Shell Hyperfine Interactions in Iron-Group-Doped Perovskite Fluorides

An electron-spin-resonance (ESR)/ electron-nuclear double-resonance (ENDOR) investigation of KZn${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$: $M (M={\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}, {\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}, {\mathrm{Co}}^{2+}, {\mathrm{Ni}}^{2+})$ has been carried out with a view toward obtaining an improved understanding of the second-neighbor fluorine (F2) hyperfine interaction in perovskite hosts. The isotropic part of the F2 hyperfine interaction is calculated using the "overlap" model of Davies and improved fluorine-ion wave functions. The results are compared with both the present experiment and recently published data for ${\mathrm{V}}^{2+}$, ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{3+}$, ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$, and ${\mathrm{Cr}}^{1+}$ in KMg${\mathrm{F}}_{3}$. This comparison indicates that the overlap model by itself is inadequate and that covalency effects are of comparable importance for the F2 ions. In addition to the F2 results for ${\mathrm{Mn}}^{2+}$ and ${\mathrm{Fe}}^{3+}$, we report ESR and precise ENDOR measurements of the nearest-neighbor fluorine, the $^{55}\mathrm{Mn}$, and the $^{59}\mathrm{Co}$ hyperfine interactions. The modified nuclear $g$ factor found for $^{59}\mathrm{Co}^{2+}$ is shown to be consistent with theory.
Analysis of a non-structural gene reveals evidence of possible hepatitis C virus (HCV) compartmentalization.

Genetic distances were higher for E1/HVR1 compared to NS5B in both the sera and PBMCs (p = 0.0511 and p = 0.0284). Genetic distances were higher in serum NS5B compared to PBMC NS5B (p = 0.0003); however, they were not different when comparing E1/HVR1 in sera to PBMCs. By phylogenetic analysis of NS5B, evidence of possible PBMC compartmentalization was observed for 1 woman, while statistical methods were consistent with PBMC compartmentalization for 6 women. Evidence of compartmentalization within a non-structural genomic region may suggest that viral adaptation to a unique extracellular microenvironment(s) may be required for efficient replication and could contribute to HCV persistence.
Age-mediated survivorship of ungulate mandibles and teeth in canid-ravaged faunal assemblages

Abstract Previous actualistic studies have demonstrated that adult skeletal elements of different densities and sizes have markedly different survival rates when subjected to carnivore ravaging. In this study we investigate the relationship between age-correlated physical changes in ungulate mandibles and their survival when subjected to ravaging. Samples of mandibles of white-tailed deer and domestic sheep of various ages were measured for density, size, and mechanical strength. From 2 months to full adulthood density doubles, height of horizontal ramus increases by ∼50%, and strength more than triples. A total of 198 demi-mandibles, about half raw and half cooked, were then fed, six or eight at a time, to two medium-sized dogs. Survival rates for ageable demi-mandibles from animals ≥30 months of age (∼25% of lifespan) range from 90 to 100%. For the 3–4 month class survival of mandibles is 17% (raw) to 0% (cooked), with increasingly higher survival rates at the 5–6, 7–9, and 15–21 month classes. Survival rates for juveniles based on individual teeth (emplaced and isolated combined) are higher, but still substantially lower than those of adults; at 3–4 months M 1 survival is 33–58% and dP 4 is 58–83%. The implications are that faunal assemblages that have been subjected to even moderate intensities of ravaging will have mortality profiles that are substantially biased towards older individuals.
Concentration dependence of luminescence in Cr3+-doped NaMgAl(C2O4)3−;9H2O crystals☆

Abstract The 2 E → 4 A 2 emission spectra of Cr:NaMgAl(C 2 O 4 ) 3 −9H 2 O have been recorded as a function of Cr 3+ concentration in the range 0.1 to 100%. The spectral changes in the R lines are ascribed to species in multiple sites and not to exchange interactions. Energy migration to quenching sites occurs at high concentrations via the 4 T 2 (or 2 T 1 ) state. Energy transfer in the 2 E state is inefficient at all Cr 3+ levels. The vibronic sideband intensity is enhanced relative to the R lines as the Cr 3+ concentration is increased.
Measurement of the lithium isotopic concentration

Abstract A method for determining the atomic proportions of 6 Li and 7 Li isotopes in enriched 6 LiF, 7 LiF and lithium metallic samples is presented. This study is based on measuring the energy spectra of alpha particles from proton-induced 7 Li(p,α) 4 He and 19 F(p,α) 16 O nuclear reactions and those of backscattered protons. The enriched LiF targets were obtained by thermal evaporation of thermoluminescent dosimetry chips, TLD-700 ( 7 LiF) and TLD-600 ( 6 LiF), onto self-supporting carbon substrates. Targets of metallic lithium were prepared in the same way. The 6 Li enriched TLD-600 sample was found to contain 4.78 at.% of 7 Li; however, no significant amount of 6 Li was found in the TLD-700 sample. A 7.57 at.% concentration of 6 Li in lithium metallic target was determined by using the TLD-700 as a 7 Li isotope content standard. This value is consistent with the reported 7.5 at.% natural abundance of 6 Li.
Aerobic exercise and HDL2-C: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Purpose Use the meta-analytic approach to examine the effects of aerobic exercise on high-density lipoprotein two cholesterol (HDL2-C) in adults.
Quinone–amine polymers. II. 1,3‐bis(3‐aminophenoxy) benzene‐p‐benzoquinone oligomers

Preparation d'un oligomere adherant aux metaux, non-mouillable apres recuit et adsorbant tres peu l'humidite (0,1% en poids)
Auction-based spectrum sharing in cognitive radio networks with heterogeneous channels

Cognitive radio is a novel communication paradigm that can significantly improve spectrum utilization by allowing the cognitive radio users to dynamically utilize the licensed spectrum. To achieve this, studying efficient spectrum allocation mechanisms is imperative. In this paper, we consider a cognitive radio network consisting of a primary spectrum owner (PO), multiple primary users (PU) and multiple secondary users (SU). We design an auction-based spectrum sharing mechanism where the SUs bid to buy spectrum bands from the PO who acts as the auctioneer, selling idle spectrum bands to make a profit. Existing auction mechanisms assume that all the channels are identical. However, we consider a more general and more realistic case where channels have different qualities. Also, we allow SUs to express their preferences for each channel separately. That is, each SU submits a vector of bids, one for each channel. The proposed auction mechanism results in efficient allocation that maximizes SUs' valuations, and it has desired economic properties that we formally prove in the analysis. In addition, numerical results show performance improvements in terms of social welfare, SUs' utilities and PO's revenue, compared to the case of identical channels.
Effects of channel bandwidth variation on performance of individual messages in spatially and temporally heterogeneous communication networks

As the domain of communication systems grows, heterogeneity among computers and subnetworks employed for a task also increases. Channel bandwidth available for a message on a communication network varies with time and link. This variation can have a significant effect on performance of an individual message and also that of the network as a whole. Therefore, it is important to understand effects of bandwidth heterogeneity on the network performance in order to optimally utilize a heterogeneous communication network. The ability to use such a network optimally is highly desirable in many applications such as network-based data-intensive high performance computing. The main goal of this paper is to analyze effects of temporal and spatial heterogeneity on performance of individual messages in detail via an extensive simulation, in terms of throughput, end-to-end delay, etc. Also, the problems of path selection and multi-path data transfer are considered to illustrate how the analysis results may be used in the future effort of optimizing the network performance by taking channel bandwidth heterogeneity into account.
Procedures for rapid pattern recognition of three-dimensional objects using parallel processing on a hexagonal pixel grid

We present several procedures which are intended to be part of an overall scheme for achieving rapid pattern recognition of three-dimensional objects by using parallel processing on a hexagonal grid. The basic steps of the scheme are edge detection based on gray-level differences within a seven-pixel neighborhood, local edge thinning, local feature detection and feature correction based on comparison of features within a 61-pixel superneighborhood. Experimental tests of these procedures by serial computer algorithms and by hand simulation on real digital images of simple objects such as a cube, a wedge and a cylinder have shown some success at recognizing key features of the object skeletons. The results indicate that implementation and further development of these procedures on a real hexagonal grid of photodetectors with attached parallel-processing units would be very fruitful.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dual-band resonant cavity antenna with a single dielectric superstrate

We present a novel technique to design a dual-band resonant cavity antenna that has only one dielectric superstrate. The technique is based on using a superstrate slab of high permittivity and a thickness of an integer number of half wavelengths. In representative examples, we use a ray-tracing theoretical model to study the dual-band behavior and explain it by observing how the reflection coefficient of the superstrate varies with frequency. The results are validated by simulation using commercial numerical electromagnetics software.
Essential Tremor Associated With Focal Nonnigral Lewy Bodies: A Clinicopathologic Study

Background Essential tremor is one of the most common neurological diseases. Its links with Parkinson disease (PD) are often debated. There have been few published postmortem studies. Objective To study our first case of essential tremor through the recently established Essential Tremor Centralized Brain Repository. Design Report of a case of a patient with a diagnosis of severe essential tremor for 46 years who exhibited no signs of parkinsonism. Results On postmortem examination, gross brain sections showed no abnormalities. Results of microscopic examination of hematoxylin-eosin–stained sections revealed that the locus coeruleus contained multiple Lewy bodies (LBs), although none were found in the substantia nigra, dorsal vagal nuclei, thalamus, substantia innominata, inferior olivary nucleus, or cerebellum. Immunochemical staining using antibodies directed against α-synuclein confirmed the presence of many LBs in the locus ceruleus and showed rare LBs in the substantia innominata and dorsal vagal nuclei. There were no LBs in the substantia nigra. Conclusions Our patient had a very focal presence of LBs in the locus ceruleus, an anatomically restricted form of LB disease. This study provides support for the link between essential tremor and LB disease and raises the question as to what proportion of patients with essential tremor might have unusual forms of LB disease.
Groups as Unions of Proper Subgroups

(2009). Groups as Unions of Proper Subgroups. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 116, No. 5, pp. 413-422.
Polarization of 21 cm Radiation from the Epoch of Reionization

We consider the polarization of 21 cm line radiation from the epoch of reionization due to both intrinsically polarized emission and secondary mechanisms. We argue that Thomson scattering of the 21 cm quadrupole by the reionized universe is likely to produce the largest effect. The 21 cm quadrupole is sourced by baryonic density fluctuations and the fluctuations in the ionization fraction due to discrete H II regions. Since Thomson scattering produces only E-type polarization and is achromatic, its unique fingerprint could in principle be separated from foregrounds associated with polarized synchrotron emission, which should not be correlated with the cosmic signal. We estimate that Poisson fluctuations of H II regions at the end of reionization (zR ~ 6-20) produce a brightness temperature-polarization cross-correlation signal of ~0.1-0.3 mK on angular scales of tens of arcminutes. This cross-correlation signal is within the instrument sensitivities of the future Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and close to the sensitivities of the forthcoming Mileura Widefield Array (MWA) and Low Frequency Array (LOFAR).
Experiences with shape memory alloy: robot grippers for submillimeter hard disk drive components

Grippers for an automated assembly cell are being developed for handling individual sub-millimeter hard-disc drive components. Processing requirements dictate positive gripping with a strong actuator that meets clean room specifications. Proof-of-concept testing of shape memory alloy (SMA) as an actuator was performed. The response time of Ni-Ti 0.076 mm diameter shape memory wire was found to be 0.15 seconds under forced air convection conditions. Positioning accuracy was held to steady-state oscillations of 0.076 mm proving that SMA actuators meet performance requirements for a precision microactuator. SMA was then used for the actuation of several candidate gripper designs. One promising design consisted of a two-fingered gripper with integral spring sections at the arm base. SMA wire provided the closing actuation force and the spring sections returned the fingers to their rest position. Another design used an external spring to provide the gripping force, while the SMA wire provided the force required to open the gripper. The paper describes design methodologies and overall results. The addition of closed-loop control and improved heat dissipation mechanisms are needed before SMA materials can be used robustly as actuators for sub-mm robot grippers in high volume applications.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Induction of malignant skin tumors in mice by topical application of ethylnitrosourea.

A high percentage of squamous cell carcinomas were induced in the skin of Swiss-Webster mice by repeated topical application of ethylnitrosourea, indicating that this nitrosamide possesses a potent carcinogenic action when topically applied.
Response of sphingolipid hydrolases in spleen and liver to increased erythrocytorhexis

Abstract The injection of phenylhydrazine, zymosan, and human erythrocyte stroma caused an increase in the specific activities of various hydrolytic enzymes in rat spleen and liver tissues. The activity of spleen glucocerebrosidase and sphingomyelinase was particularly augmented by the injection of phenylhydrazine whereas the increases obtained with zymosan were not statistically significant. The injection of red-cell stroma brought about a significant increase in the activity of these enzymes; the injection of lipid-extracted stroma had no effect. The injection of partially purified stromal sphingolipids consisting mainly of globoside and sphingomyelin caused an increase in the activity of glucocerebrosidase and sphingomyelinase in liver but not in spleen.
Spatialising Practices: Theory, Text, Practice Towards a Redescriptive Companion to Graeco-Roman Antiquity – A Response

AbstractThis paper is a response to the Spatialising Practices panel that was organised under the auspices of the Greco-Roman Religions Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, November 2012. In the paper I respond to three foci represented in the presentations, namely spatiality theory, narrative space, and spatial practices. Overall the argument is made that conceptions of space arose already earlier in the 20th century with the rise of phenomenology, but that spatiality theories proper were epiphenomena of the emergence of cultural studies since the middle of the 20th century. It is argued that space is not so much an object of study and description but rather that space is a tool of analysis. Moreover, the essentially activist and political character of spatiality theory should continue to infuse studies of religion and space.
ELECTIVE AFFINITIES AND THEIR PHILOSOPHY

Elective Affinities: Musical Essays on the History of Aesthetic Theory collects a selection of Lydia Goehr's recent essays. In them she traces “a history of attraction and reaction … of music to philosophy, drama, birdsong, crime, film, and nationhood” (ix). Goehr examines the ways that philosophers, the ideas that they present, and works of art display “elective affinities”. Her procedure is like that of an art historian who presents parallel slides to reveal visual affinities, even between artists who themselves were unaware of each other. Her analyses are erudite, lucid, and always suggestive, but what I found most admirable in Elective Affinities is Goehr's extraordinarily brave experimentation with a novel form of philosophy-writing, the adumbration of which is the focus of this review. Her book is strange enough to be genuinely magnificent and lastingly influential.
Pharmacologically and Edinger–Westphal stimulated accommodation in rhesus monkeys does not rely on changes in anterior chamber pressure

Abstract This study was undertaken to understand the role of anterior chamber pressure (ACP) during pharmacological and Edinger–Westphal (EW) stimulated accommodation in anesthetized monkeys. Experiments were performed on one iridectomized eye each of 7 anesthetized adolescent rhesus monkeys. Accommodation was induced by EW stimulation (n = 2) and intravenous administration of 0.25–4.0 mg/kg pilocarpine (n = 6). Accommodative refractive and biometric changes were measured with continuous 60 Hz infrared photorefraction (n = 6) and 100 Hz A-scan ultrasound biometry (n = 1). An ocular perfusion system was used to measure and manipulate ACP. Pressure was recorded via a 27-gauge needle in the anterior chamber connected to a pressure transducer (n = 7). The needle was also connected to a fluid reservoir to allow ACP to be manipulated and clamped (n = 4) by raising or lowering the fluid reservoir. In all six pharmacologically stimulated monkeys ACP increased during accommodation, from 0.70 to 2.38 mmHg, four of which showed pressure decreases preceding the pressure increases. Two eyes also showed increases in ACP during EW-stimulated accommodation of 2.8 and 7.2 mmHg. ACP increased with increasing EW stimulus amplitudes (n = 2). Clamping or externally manipulating ACP had no effect on resting refraction or on EW and pharmacologically stimulated accommodation in four eyes. The results show that EW stimulated and pharmacologically stimulated accommodation do not rely on ACP in rhesus monkeys.
Docetaxel in the Treatment of Esophageal Cancer

Esophageal cancer is the ninth most common malignancy in the world and the seventh leading cause of death in American men. Because symptoms are often intermittent and vague, patients typically present at an advanced stage, with limited survival. In operable patients, standard care includes surgery with or without adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy; chemotherapy and radiotherapy is the standard care for inoperable disease. Docetaxel, a taxane that promotes polymerization of tubules and inhibits depolymerization of microtubules, has shown in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects on human gastric cell lines and gastric cancer xenografts. These antitumor effects have led to the evaluation of docetaxel as a single agent and in combination with other agents and modalities in patients with esophageal cancer. Results of relevant trials are reviewed herein.
Modular and numerically stable fast transversal filters for multichannel and multiexperiment RLS

The authors present scalar implementations of multichannel and multiexperiment fast recursive least squares algorithms in transversal filter form, known as fast transversal filter (FTF) algorithms. By processing the different channels and/or experiments one at a time, the multichannel and/or multiexperiment algorithm decomposes into a set of intertwined single-channel single-experiment algorithms. For multichannel algorithms, the general case of possibly different filter orders in different channels is handled. Geometrically, this modular decomposition approach corresponds to a Gram-Schmidt orthogonalization of multiple error vectors. Algebraically, this technique corresponds to matrix triangularization of error covariance matrices and converts matrix operations into a regular set of scalar operations. Modular algorithm structures that are amenable to VLSI implementation on arrays of parallel processors naturally follow from the present approach. Numerically, the resulting algorithm benefits from the advantages of triangularization techniques in block processing. >
Stress-activated Genomic Expression Changes Serve a Preparative Role for Impending Stress in Yeast

Yeast cells respond to stress by mediating condition-specific gene expression changes and by mounting a common response to many stresses, called the environmental stress response (ESR). Giaever et ...
Trial-by-trial adjustments of top-down set modulate oculomotor capture

The role of top-down control in visual search has been a subject of much debate. Recent research has focused on whether attentional and oculomotor capture by irrelevant salient distractors can be modulated through top-down control, and if so, whether top-down control can be rapidly initiated based on current task goals. In the present study, participants searched for a unique shape in an array containing otherwise homogeneous shapes. A cue prior to each trial indicated the probability that an irrelevant color singleton distractor would appear on that trial. Initial saccades were less likely to land on the target and participants took longer to initiate a saccade to the target when a color distractor was present than when it was absent; this cost was greatly reduced on trials in which the probability that a distractor would appear was high, as compared to when the probability was low. These results suggest that top-down control can modulate oculomotor capture in visual search, even in a singleton search task in which distractors are known to readily capture both attention and the eyes. Furthermore, the results show that top-down distractor suppression mechanisms can be initiated quickly in anticipation of irrelevant salient distractors and can be adjusted on a trial-by-trial basis.
Situating Social Attitudes Toward Cultural Pluralism: Between Culture Wars and Contemporary Racism

This research situates attitudes toward cultural pluralism between two bodies of research on socio-political conflicts with a symbolic emphasis: one addressing the culture wars and the other addressing contemporary racial attitudes. Analysis uses data from the 1994 General Social Survey (GSS) “multicultural module” to test a range of discrete claims emerging from each perspective in several thematic areas: attitudinal distribution/polarization; patterns of support/opposition and issue salience; political alignment and crystallization; and the attitudinal gap between principles and policy implementation. A recurring pattern in the data is the association of central theoretical variables with attitudinal extremity rather than (or in addition to) an association with support for or opposition to pluralism. Discussion links that pattern to the symbolic character of conflicts over pluralism and suggests how it impacts both our understanding of cultural pluralism and of symbolic conflicts.
Cell adhesion ligands allow neurite extension on polyethylene glycol hydrogels

The effect of cell adhesion ligands (RGDS, IKVAV, YIGSR) incorporated into polyethylene glycol hydrogels on neurite extension from PC12 cells was examined. Cells were able to adhere to and extend neurites on hydrogels with the adhesion ligands covalently incorporated in them, but not on hydrogels with the non-adhesive control ligand, RGES, incorporated. This indicates that the adhesion and neurite extension were due to the presence of the adhesion ligand. After two days, more cells extended neurites on hydrogels with RGDS than IKVAV. Further, similar numbers of cells extended neurites on hydrogels with RGDS and on hydrogels with a combination of RGDS and IKVAV. Further studies will include examining more cell adhesion ligands and neurite extension from both PC12 cells and dorsal root ganglia seeded inside proteolytically degradable hydrogels with cell adhesion ligands incorporated. Such bioactive hydrogels may be able to serve as nerve guidance conduits for peripheral nerve regeneration.
A high-order WENO-Z finite difference based particle-source-in-cell method for computation of particle-laden flows with shocks

A high-order particle-source-in-cell (PSIC) algorithm is presented for the computation of the interaction between shocks, small scale structures, and liquid and/or solid particles in high-speed engineering applications. The improved high-order finite difference weighted essentially non-oscillatory (WENO-Z) method for solution of the hyperbolic conservation laws that govern the shocked carrier gas flow, lies at the heart of the algorithm. Finite sized particles are modeled as points and are traced in the Lagrangian frame. The physical coupling of particles in the Lagrangian frame and the gas in the Eulerian frame through momentum and energy exchange, is numerically treated through high-order interpolation and weighing. The centered high-order interpolation of the fluid properties to the particle location is shown to lead to numerical instability in shocked flow. An essentially non-oscillatory interpolation (ENO) scheme is devised for the coupling that improves stability. The ENO based algorithm is shown to be numerically stable and to accurately capture shocks, small flow features and particle dispersion. Both the carrier gas and the particles are updated in time without splitting with a third-order Runge-Kutta TVD method. One and two-dimensional computations of a shock moving into a particle cloud demonstrates the characteristics of the WENO-Z based PSIC method (PSIC/WENO-Z). The PSIC/WENO-Z computations are not only in excellent agreement with the numerical simulations with a third-order Rusanov based PSIC and physical experiments in [V. Boiko, V.P. Kiselev, S.P. Kiselev, A. Papyrin, S. Poplavsky, V. Fomin, Shock wave interaction with a cloud of particles, Shock Waves, 7 (1997) 275-285], but also show a significant improvement in the resolution of small scale structures. In two-dimensional simulations of the Mach 3 shock moving into forty thousand bronze particles arranged in the shape of a rectangle, the long time accuracy of the high-order method is demonstrated. The fifth-order PSIC/WENO-Z method with the fifth-order ENO interpolation scheme improves the small scale structure resolution over the third-order PSIC/WENO-Z method with a second-order central interpolation scheme. Preliminary analysis of the particle interaction with the flow structures shows that sharp particle material arms form on the side of the rectangular shape. The arms initially shield the particles from the accelerated flow behind the shock. A reflected compression wave, however, reshocks the particle arm from the shielded area and mixes the particles.
Nuts and coronary heart disease: an epidemiological perspective

The epidemiological evidence for the cardio-protective effect of nut consumption is presented and reviewed. Four large prospective epidemiological studies of primary prevention of coronary heart disease are reviewed and discussed (Adventist Health Study, Iowa Women’s Health Study, Nurses’ Health Study and the Physicians’ Health Study). Other studies of nuts and coronary heart disease risk are addressed. The combined evidence for a cardio-protective effect from nut consumption is summarized and presented graphically. The risk of coronary heart disease is 37 % lower for those consuming nuts more than four times per week compared to those who never or seldom consume nuts, with an average reduction of 8·3 % for each weekly serving of nuts. The evidence for a causal relationship between nut consumption and reduced risk of coronary heart disease is outlined using Hill’s criteria for causality and is found to support a causal cardio-protective relationship. Nuts: Cardiovascular: Coronary heart disease: Diabetes: Cohort studies: Causality: Hill’s criteria Nuts have constituted a part of mankind’s diet since pre-agricultural times (Eaton & Konner, 1985), providing a complex food rich in macronutrients and micronutrients and fibre, as well as other bioactive phytonutrients yet to be discovered. While the amount of nuts in the human diet in the distant past is unknown, recent data indicates nut consumption was declining in the 1980s, although nut consumption in countries following a more Mediterranean diet is twice that of the American diet (Dreher et al. 1996). This decrease in nut consumption relative to other food groups is likely related to commonly held beliefs that highfat foods should be used sparingly as a result of public health messages to reduce fat intake. This was due to the implication of fat as a risk factor for chronic diseases such as coronary heart disease and some cancers, the leading causes of death in Western countries and, increasingly, in the world. Although total fat intake has an important effect, it is now well established that the fatty acid composition rather than the total amount of fat consumed is the predictor of serum cholesterol. Nuts are approximately 60 % fat by weight but, unlike animal foods that are a primary source of saturated fat and offer little fibre, are comprised mainly of unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids and are a good source of fibre. This difference has focused attention on the investigation of the effects of nut consumption in lessening coronary disease risk and prompted the hypothesis on how a diet that includes nuts may favourably influence plasma lipids (Sabate ´ & Fraser, 1994). This paper reviews and summarizes the epidemiological evidence of nut consumption in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease (CHD). The epidemiological data relating nuts and CHD risk has been reviewed pre
A generalized approximation for the meshfree analysis of solids

This paper presents a new approach in the construction of meshfree approximations as well as the weak Kronecker-delta property at the boundary, referred to as a generalized meshfree (GMF) approximation. The GMF approximation introduces an enriched basis function in the original Shepard's method. This enriched basis function is introduced to meet the linear or higher order reproducing conditions and at the same time to offer great flexibility on the control of the smoothness and convexity of the approximation. The construction of the GMF approximation can be viewed as a special root-finding scheme of constraint equations that enforces that the basis functions are corrected and the reproducing conditions with certain orders are satisfied within a set of nodes. By choosing different basis functions, various convex and non-convex approximations including moving least-squares (MLS), reproducing kernel (RK), and maximum entropy (ME) approximations can be obtained. Furthermore, the basis function can also be translated or blended with other functions to generate a particular approximation for a special purpose. One application in this paper is to incorporate a blending function at the boundary based on the concept of local convexity for the non-convex approximation, such as MLS, to acquire the weak Kronecker-delta property. To achieve the higher order GMF approximation, two possible methods are also introduced. Several examples are presented to examine the effectiveness of various GMF approximations. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Independence in assisted living

The aims of this study were to understand the meaning of independence for residents of assisted living and to identify factors influencing the operationalization of independence in this setting. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 17 providers and 55 residents in 17 assisted-living facilities in Georgia. Data were analyzed by using the grounded theory method. Findings show that assisted-living residents retained a strong value for independence and that independence had multiple dimensions of meaning. Whereas independence in most cases was reduced to performing everyday activities of daily living (ADLs), the multidimensional nature of meaning allowed residents with significant disability both to continue to perceive themselves as independent and to find satisfaction in their remaining abilities. Resident self-care requires significant effort from both residents and providers, but it also has far-reaching potential to help residents maintain intact identities and may hold the key to extending their stay in the assisted-living facility (ALF) environment.
Simulation results for missile autopilot design based on extended mean assignment

This paper presents simulation case studies of a missile autopilot design as presented in a previous paper. The autopilot design is for angle of attack and normal acceleration tracking using a previously developed extended-mean assignment (EMA) control technique for linear time varying (LTV) systems. The EMA control technique is based on a new eigenvalue concept called series D-eigenvalue, for LTV systems. Closed-loop stability is achieved by the assignment of the extended-mean of these time-varying SD-eigenvalues to the left-half complex plane in a way similar to the eigenvalue (pole) assignment technique for linear time invariant (LTI) systems. The simulation results are for three desired command tracking case studies and are all very good.
Factors Affecting the Stiffening Potential of Mineral Fillers

The workability and performance of bituminous mixes is known to be affected by the filler-asphalt mixture (or mastic) properties. The addition of fillers is known to stiffen asphalt. The degree of stiffening is a function of several filler and asphalt properties, which are not well understood. A fundamental approach to understanding the influence of such factors on the stiffening potential of filler in asphalt is discussed. This complex problem is simplified by introducing two intermediate measurable parameters, the maximum packing fraction, ϕm, and the generalized Einstein coefficient, KE. This enables a better understanding of the influence of various factors such as average particle size, gradation, particle shape, presence of agglomerates, degree of dispersion, and the asphalt-filler interface on the stiffening potential of asphalt. First, the relationship between these two parameters and stiffening is thoroughly examined. The physical meaning of these parameters is discussed. Second, the influence of...
Location verification and trust management for resilient geographic routing

In this paper, we consider the security of geographic routing (GR) protocols. In GR, neighbors exchange their location information. Based on this information, a node forwards packets to the neighbor that is closest to the destination. Although GR is widely used in ad hoc and wireless sensor networks, its security has rarely been studied; there are a number of attacks that are possible on GR. In one attack, misbehaving nodes can falsify their location information. Also, malicious nodes can drop packets that they need to forward towards the destination. The first contribution of the paper is to propose a location verification algorithm to address the attacks falsifying the location information. The second contribution of the paper is to propose approaches for trust-based multi-path routing, aiming to defeat attacks on GR. We discuss the proposed approaches in detail, outlining possible attacks and defenses against them. In addition, we show, via simulation, how trust-based route selection is able to circumvent attackers and route around them. This paper summarizes and extends results reported by the authors in a previous article [K.-D.K. Nael, B. Abu-Ghazaleh, K. Liu, Towards resilient routing in WSNs, in: Proceedings of the First IEEE/ACM Workshop on QoS and Security in Wireless Networks (Q2SWinet 2005), 2005, pp. 71-78].
Trace element composition of Atriplex grown with saline drainage water

Abstract In the western San Joaquin Valley, California, there has recently been emphasis on identifying suitable halophytes for irrigation with agricultural effluent and grown as crops using standard farming practices. Five perennial halophyte species belonging to the genus Atriplex (common name, saltbush) were established with fresh water, irrigated with saline drainage water, and mechanically harvested four times during the first 27 months of growth. Bale samples collected from three regrowth harvests were analysed for Selenium (Se), Boron (B), Sulfur (S), Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn) and Copper (Cu). The mean tissue concentrations for all species over regrowth harvests were 129 mg kg−1 dry weight for B and 0.6 mg kg−1 dry weight for Se. Tissue levels of B and S were above, and the remaining trace elements were below the maximum tolerable levels recommended for ruminants. All species showed trends of increased tissue B concentrations with cumulative age of plants. Over all the species the highest Se concentrations were measured in forage harvested 27 months after planting. The trace element composition of the harvested forage from this site does not appear to be a limiting factor when considering the use of Atriplex bales as a blend in animal feed rations.
Bifurcation analysis for a rate-sensitive, non-associative, three-invariant, isotropic/kinematic hardening cap plasticity model for geomaterials: Part I. Small strain

Localized deformations such as shear bands, compaction bands, dilation bands, combined shear/compaction or shear/dilation bands, fractures, and joint slippage are commonly found in geomaterials like soil and rock. Thus, modeling their inception, development, and propagation, and effect on mechanical response of the body or structure is important. The paper will focus on one, now classical, analysis method for modeling the inception of these localized deformations for a rate-sensitive, non-associative, three-invariant, isotropic/kinematic hardening cap plasticity model. Bifurcation analysis, in terms of continuous and discontinuous conditions (Int. J. Solids Struct. 1980; 16:597–605), provides the mathematical conditions under which a localized deformation mode could be admissible, and it should not to be confused with attempting to model the microstructural evolution of the geomaterial as it transitions from a nearly uniform to localized deformation response at a material point. Analysis determines that continuous and discontinuous bifurcation are different for weak discontinuity and the same for strong discontinuity, and such conditions are identified for the plasticity model. Rate sensitivity will preclude bifurcation regardless of viscosity value. Numerical examples demonstrate various plasticity model features that enable detection of localization using bifurcation analysis. All analyses are conducted currently in the small strain regime. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dynamical transition, hydrophobic interface, and the temperature dependence of electrostatic fluctuations in proteins.

Molecular dynamics simulations have revealed a dramatic increase, with increasing temperature, of the amplitude of electrostatic fluctuations caused by water at the active site of metalloprotein plastocyanin. The increased breadth of electrostatic fluctuations, expressed in terms of the reorganization energy of changing the redox state of the protein, is related to the formation of the hydrophobic protein-water interface, allowing large-amplitude collective fluctuations of the water density in the protein's first solvation shell. On top of the monotonic increase of the reorganization energy with increasing temperature, we have observed a spike at $\ensuremath{\simeq}220\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ also accompanied by a significant slowing of the exponential collective Stokes shift dynamics. In contrast to the local density fluctuations of the hydration-shell waters, these spikes might be related to the global property of the water solvent crossing the Widom line or undergoing a weak first-order transition.
Shoulder Arthroscopy Simulator Performance Correlates with Resident and Shoulder Arthroscopy Experience

Background: The technical skills required to perform arthroscopy are multifaceted and require supervised training and repetition. Obtaining this basic arthroscopic skill set can be costly and time-consuming. Simulation may represent a viable training source for basic arthroscopic skills. Our goal was to evaluate the correlation between timed task performance on an arthroscopic shoulder simulator and both resident experience and shoulder arthroscopy experience. Methods: Twenty-seven residents were voluntarily recruited from an orthopaedic residency program. Each subject was tested annually for three consecutive years on an arthroscopic shoulder simulator and objectively scored on time to completion of a standardized object localization task. Each subject’s total number of shoulder arthroscopies, all arthroscopies, and cases were calculated according to postgraduate year from their Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log. Generalized estimating equation multivariate regression analysis was performed to determine the correlation between simulation performance and total numbers of shoulder arthroscopies, all arthroscopies, and cases. Results: Univariate analyses revealed that postgraduate year, total number of shoulder arthroscopies, total number of arthroscopies of any joint, and total number of surgical cases performed during residency training prior to testing were associated with the mean time required to complete the simulator task. The number of prior shoulder arthroscopies performed (r = 0.55) and postgraduate year in training (r = 0.60) correlated most strongly with simulator basic task performance. In the multivariate analysis, the number of prior shoulder arthroscopies and postgraduate year remained independent predictors of faster completion of the simulator task. For every additional postgraduate year, there was a sixteen-second improvement in the time required to complete the simulator task (p < 0.005). Similarly, after controlling for the influence of postgraduate year, there was a twelve-second decrease in the time to complete the simulator task for every additional fifty shoulder arthroscopies performed during residency training (p < 0.008). Conclusions: These results showed a significant relationship between performance of basic arthroscopic tasks in a simulator model and the number of shoulder arthroscopies performed. The data confirmed our hypothesis that simulator performance is representative of both resident experience and shoulder arthroscopy experience. Clinical Relevance: This study suggests that greater resident clinical experience and shoulder arthroscopy experience are both reflected in improved performance of basic tasks on a shoulder simulator. These findings warrant further investigation to determine if training on a validated arthroscopic shoulder simulator would improve clinical arthroscopic skills.
The interferon-regulated gene signature is elevated in subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus and correlates with the cutaneous lupus area and severity index score.

Background There is increased expression of type I interferon (IFN)-regulated proteins in the blood and target tissues of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Patients with SLE have increased IFN-regulated gene expression pointing towards a possible underlying genetic defect.