cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Class of Gallium Arsenide Transistor: Realization Through a Molecular Designed Insulator

Materials chemistry is a rapidly maturing area of chemical research,* and there is ever growing opportunities for chemists to make significant contributions to area of electronic materials. However, any research program should follow two criteria. First, the area to be tackled should involve a real (not perceived) problem in materials science. Finding new syntheses for commercially available materials, while intellectually of interest, has little practical purpose. Second, it is counter productive to investigate issues that are clearly engineering problems. Chemists are experts at molecular manipulation, and it is in this arena that unique solutions will be found. In this regard we have set out to create a chemical solution to a problem that has plagued the electronics industry for approximately 30 years: the lack of insulating gate transistor device for gallium arsenide.
Using dynamic Bayesian networks as simulation metamodels based on bootstrapping

Abstract Modeling and Simulation (M&S) is an ever growing field that utilizes increasingly complex and expensive simulations often requiring lots of time to run, can be difficult to maintain and analyze, but whose use continues to provide useful insight into leadership decisions. In a time critical decision situation, running such models may not be a practical approach to provide leadership the insights they need when they need those insights. Bayesian Networks (BN) are a useful analytical tool that offer understandable probabilistic relationships between variables, efficient computation, and quick analytical results. A BN indexed by time is a Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN). A drawback to their use as a meta-model is the number of runs needed to train either the BN or DBN. This research introduces and demonstrates the use of bootstrapping techniques to reduce the number of actual simulation runs necessary to sufficiently train DBNs used as simulation meta-models. DBNs trained with independent simulation runs are compared to DBNs trained with bootstrapped-based samples developed on various sized subsets of actual simulation runs, the DBNs are compared statistically, and empirical examples are used to demonstrate the methodology. A method extending the DBN meta-model to multiple dimensions is presented and demonstrated. A case study using an actual combat simulation model completes the presentation.
System-level benchmark of synaptic device characteristics for neuro-inspired computing

Synaptic devices based on emerging non-volatile memory devices have been proposed to emulate analog synapses for neuro-inspired computing. However, the non-ideal device characteristics such as nonlinear and asymmetric weight increase/decrease, and finite on/off ratio, may adversely affect the learning accuracy at the system-level. In this paper, we present a device-circuit-algorithm co-simulation framework, i.e. NeuroSim, to systematically the metrics such as accuracy, area, latency and energy for online learning with synaptic devices. We surveyed a few representative synaptic devices in literature, and concluded that today's realistic devices are difficult to achieve accurate and fast learning. Finally, the targeted and ideal specifications for synaptic device engineering are proposed.
fMRI as a Measure of Cognition Related Brain Circuitry in Schizophrenia

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has played a prominent role in the quest to identify the brain systems responsible for cognitive dysfunction in schizophrenia. This chapter describes the evolution of these research efforts, which have alternated between efforts to localize specific cognitive impairments to work trying to understand broader network dysfunction. After a concise summary of localization efforts, the remainder of the chapter describes how different groups of scientists have developed and tested broader network theories. This includes a description of both task-activation and resting state studies, and involves a wide array of analytic techniques. The chapter closes with an understanding of how current default-mode and task-positive network theories grew out of these earlier resting-state and task-activation approaches, and provides some recommendations about future directions.
Exon 16 del: a novel form of human neutral endopeptidase (CALLA).

The enzyme neutral metalloendopeptidase (E.C. 3.4.24.11), also known as the common acute lymphocytic leukemia antigen, neutral endopeptidase, or enkephalinase, functions as an inactivator of a wide...
Finding malware on a web scale

In recent years, attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in browsers and their associated plugins have increased significantly. These attacks are often written in JavaScript and millions of URLs contain such malicious content. Over the last several years, we have created a series of techniques designed to detect and prevent malicious software or malware. These techniques focus on detecting malware that infects web pages. Much of this research has been done in close collaboration with a major search engine, Bing, which is interested in making sure it does not present malicious results to its users, independently of the user's browser, location, or operating system. As such, detection needs to be as general and wide-reaching as possible. While some of the techniques summarized below can be deployed within a web browser, our primary deployment model involves crawling the web in an effort to find and blacklist malicious pages. In the rest of this paper, we will summarize three related projects: Nozzle, Zozzle, and Rozzle. Nozzle is a runtime malware detector. Zozzle is a a mostly static malware detector. Finally, Rozzle is a de-cloacking technique that amplifies both.
Long-Range Electron Transfer in Ruthenium-Modified Proteins

Long-range-electron transfer (ET) reactions are important mechanistic steps in many biological processes.1 Current research in this area has focused on elucidating the factors that control these ET processes in donor-acceptor (D-A) systems.2–9 A general two-site model consists of a donor (D) and acceptor (A) that are fixed in a rigid structure (e.g., protein matrix) and separated by a through-space distance, d. Donor to acceptor ET pathways through chemical bonds are also possible, but generally are longer than the through-space distance.
Proving Mincer Right: Mincer’s Overtaking Point and the Lifecycle Earnings Distribution

In 1958, Jacob Mincer pioneered an important approach to understanding earnings distribution. In the years since Mincer’s seminal work, he as well as his students and colleagues extended the original human capital model, reaching important conclusions about a whole array of observations pertaining to human wellbeing. This line of research explained why education enhances earnings; why earnings rise at a diminishing rate throughout one’s life; why earnings growth is smaller for those anticipating intermittent labor force participation; why men earn more than women; why whites earn more than blacks; why occupational distributions differ by gender; why geographic and job mobility predominate among the young; why unemployment is lower among the skilled; and why numerous other labor market phenomena occur. This paper surveys the answers to these and other questions based on research emanating from Mincer’s original discovery. In addition, this paper provides new empirical evidence regarding Mincer’s concept of the “overtaking age” — a topic not currently well explored in the literature. In this latter vein, the paper shows that Mincer’s original finding of a U-shaped (log) variance of earnings over the life cycle is upheld in recent data, both for the U.S. as well as at least seven other countries.
When Does a Diagnosis Become a Clinical Judgment

To ask whether diagnosis is an art or a science is to make some interesting prior assumptions about the properties of diagnosis: That it is verifiable; that diagnosticians presented with identical data will concur in identical diagnoses; that the diagnosis usefully conveys information about the present status and prognosis of the patient; that it has treatment implications; and that it is not likely to be clouded by negative umbrella effects.
Murine colitis reveals a disease-associated bacteriophage community

The dysregulation of intestinal microbial communities is associated with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Studies aimed at understanding the contribution of the microbiota to inflammatory diseases have primarily focused on bacteria, yet the intestine harbours a viral component dominated by prokaryotic viruses known as bacteriophages (phages). Phage numbers are elevated at the intestinal mucosal surface and phages increase in abundance during IBD, suggesting that phages play an unidentified role in IBD. We used a sequence-independent approach for the selection of viral contigs and then applied quantitative metagenomics to study intestinal phages in a mouse model of colitis. We discovered that during colitis the intestinal phage population is altered and transitions from an ordered state to a stochastic dysbiosis. We identified phages specific to pathobiotic hosts associated with intestinal disease, whose abundances are altered during colitis. Additionally, phage populations in healthy and diseased mice overlapped with phages from healthy humans and humans with IBD. Our findings indicate that intestinal phage communities are altered during inflammatory disease, establishing a platform for investigating phage involvement in IBD.
Sleep Apnea is not Associated with Elevations in Pulmonary Artery Pressure in a Clinical Cohort

Introduction Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with adverse patient outcomes. Apneic events during sleep cause transient elevations in pulmonary artery pressure, however the association between sleep apnea and persistent daytime PH is less clear. Hypothesis We hypothesized that sleep apnea would be associated with elevated pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) through both direct effects of hypoxia and indirect effects on left ventricular function. Methods We examined the electronic medical records of patients age ≥ 18 years undergoing sleep study within our large multisite hospital system between March 1999 and December 2015 who had an echocardiogram within 12 months of sleep study. Patients with severe left-sided valve disease (n=33), missing PASP (n=736), or missing apnea hypopnea index (AHI) (n=9) were excluded. An AHI ≥15 events/hour was used to define sleep apnea. PASP was noninvasively estimated by Doppler interrogation of the tricuspid regurgitant jet. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine associations between AHI and measures of left ventricular function and PASP. Results A total of 5,075 patients (age 58.2 ± 14.4 years; 53.0% female) were included. Sleep apnea was found in 45.4% of patients. Mean PASP was 33 ± 15 mm Hg with 34.8% having PASP ≥ 36 mmHg. Patients with higher AHI were older, more likely to be male, and had higher body mass index (BMI). Compared to patients without sleep apnea, those with sleep apnea had lower ejection fraction (EF) (53.6 vs 55.4%), higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (105 vs 92 g/m 2 ), and higher early mitral inflow to early diastolic mitral annual velocity ratio (E/e’) (11.9 vs 10.8). After adjustment for age, sex, site, and BMI, EF was 0.9 percentage points lower (95% CI [0.4, 1.4]), LVMI was 7.0 g/m 2 higher [5.1, 8.9], and E/e’ was 0.6 higher [0.1, 1.0] in patients with sleep apnea. In contrast, patients with and without sleep apnea had similar PASP (33.9 vs 33.2 mmHg; p=0.08). These findings persisted when limiting analysis to the 1,784 patients who underwent sleep study prior to echocardiogram. Conclusions In this analysis of real world patients referred for sleep study and echocardiogram, although sleep apnea was associated with markers of left ventricular dysfunction, we found no association between sleep apnea and PASP. This finding suggests sleep apnea does not directly elevate daytime pulmonary artery pressure. Elevations in PASP from left ventricular dysfunction may take time to develop and may not be apparent on cross-sectional analysis. Longitudinal follow-up of pulmonary artery pressure trajectories in patients with sleep apnea will provide greater insights on the impact of sleep apnea on PH.
Applications of Core Retraction in Manufacturing Low-Density Polypropylene Foams with Microcellular Injection Molding:

Without modifying existing part and mold designs, the conventional microcellular injection molding (MIM) process can typically save about 5–10% material without encountering problems such as incomp...
Toward a Sociology of Colonial Subjectivity: Political Agency in Haiti and Liberia:

The authors seek to connect global historical sociology with racial formation theory to examine how antislavery movements fostered novel forms of self-government and justifications for state format...
Brick: Toward A Model for Designing Synchronous Colocated Augmented Reality Games

Augmented reality (AR) games have been growing in popularity in recent years. However, current AR games offer limited opportunities for a synchronous multiplayer experience. This paper introduces a model for designing AR experiences in which players inhabit a shared, real-time augmented environment and can engage in synchronous and collaborative interactions with other players. We explored the development of this model through the creation of Brick, a two-player mobile AR game at the room scale. We refined Brick over multiple rounds of iteration, and we used our playtests to investigate a range of issues involved in designing shared-world AR games. Our findings suggest that there are five major categories of interactions in a shared-world AR system: single-player, intrapersonal, multiplayer, interpersonal, and environmental. We believe that this model can support the development of collaborative AR games and new forms of social gameplay.
CircConv: A Structured Convolution with Low Complexity

Deep neural networks (DNNs), especially deep convolutional neural networks (CNNs), have emerged as the powerful technique in various machine learning applications. However, the large model sizes of DNNs yield high demands on computation resource and weight storage, thereby limiting the practical deployment of DNNs. To overcome these limitations, this paper proposes to impose the circulant structure to the construction of convolutional layers, and hence leads to circulant convolutional layers (CircConvs) and circulant CNNs. The circulant structure and models can be either trained from scratch or re-trained from a pre-trained non-circulant model, thereby making it very flexible for different training environments. Through extensive experiments, such strong structure-imposing approach is proved to be able to substantially reduce the number of parameters of convolutional layers and enable significant saving of computational cost by using fast multiplication of the circulant tensor.
Availability and quality of published data on the purine content of foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements.

Abstract Gout, the most common type of inflammatory arthritis and associated with elevated uric acid levels, is a global burden. “Western” dietary habits and lifestyle, and the resulting obesity epidemic, are often blamed for the increased prevalence of gout. Purine intake has shown the biggest dietary impact on uric acid. To manage this situation, data on the purine content of foods are needed. To assess availability and quality of purine data and identify research gaps, we obtained data for four purine bases (adenine, guanine, hypoxanthine, and xanthine) in foods, alcoholic beverages, and dietary supplements. Data were predominantly from Japan, and very little from the United States. Data quality was examined using a modified version of the USDA Data Quality Evaluation System. Purine values in 298 foods/19 food groups, 15 alcoholic beverages, and 13 dietary supplements were reported. Mean hypoxanthine (mg/100 g) in the soups/sauces group was 112 and mean adenine in poultry organs was 62.4, which were the highest among all groups. Regular beer had the highest adenine (1.63 mg/100 mL) and hypoxanthine (0.96 mg/100 mL) among alcoholic beverages reported. Overall, purine was highest in animal-based products and beer. Data were limited in scope, food descriptions, and quality. Additional studies on purine content in U.S. foods may support gout management.
Open Texture and Analyticity

The purpose of this article is to compare and contrast the underlying accounts of language and linguistic communication in Waismann’s “Verifiability” [1945] and the “Analytic-Synthetic” series [1949]–[1953]. There is some overlap, and the two reinforce each other, but the “Analytic-Synthetic” series presents a more far-reaching view.
Intimate Partner Violence and Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP): A Rapid Review of Current Evidence for Women’s HIV Prevention

Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a valued component of HIV prevention and increasing attention is focusing on women’s PrEP use. Common HIV prevention options (e.g., condoms) remain underused and fail to consider the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). PrEP presents an opportunity to expand viable options for women. A systematic rapid review using key word searches of PubMed and proceedings from six national and international conferences related to HIV, women’s health, or interpersonal violence identified nine studies which met set inclusion criteria. Studies were coded using a structured abstraction form and summarized according to relevant themes. IPV was found to have implications on women’s interest and willingness to use PrEP, partner interference or interruptions in PrEP use, and adherence. Findings indicate a dearth of research on women’s PrEP use and IPV and highlight the urgency for research, public heath practice, and policy attention around the HIV risk context and needs of women who experience IPV.
Choosing a good toolkit, II: Bayes-rule based heuristics

Abstract We study heuristics for a class of complex multi-armed bandit problems, the period-by-period choice of a set of objects or “toolkit” where the decision maker learns about the value of tools within the chosen toolkit. This paper studies heuristics that involve a decision maker who employs Bayesian inference. Analytical results are combined with simulations to gain insights into the relative performance of these heuristics. We depart from the extensive bandit-learning literature in computer science and operations research by employing the discounted-expected-reward formulation that stresses the importance of the classic exploration–exploitation tradeoff. A companion paper, Francetich and Kreps (2019), studies a variety of prior-free heuristics.
High-throughput screening for discovery of benchtop separations systems for selected rare earth elements

Rare earth (RE) elements (scandium, yttrium, and the lanthanides) are critical for their role in sustainable energy technologies. Problems with their supply chain have motivated research to improve separations methods to recycle these elements from end of life technology. Toward this goal, we report the synthesis and characterization of the ligand tris[(1-hydroxy-2-oxo-1,2-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamido)ethyl]amine, H31·TFA (TFA = trifluoroacetic acid), and complexes 1·RE (RE = La, Nd, Dy). A high-throughput experimentation (HTE) screen was developed to quantitatively determine the precipitation of 1·RE as a function of pH as well as equivalents of H31·TFA. This method rapidly determines optimal conditions for the separation of RE mixtures, while minimizing materials consumption. The HTE-predicted conditions are used to achieve the lab-scale separation of Nd/Dy (SFNd/Dy = 213 ± 34) and La/Nd (SFLa/Nd = 16.2 ± 0.2) mixtures in acidic aqueous media. Rare earth elements are critical components of clean energy technologies, but less than 1% are recycled due to high costs of recovery. Here the authors develop a ligand that selectively precipitates rare earth elements from aqueous media as a function of pH to facilitate the separation of binary rare earth mixtures.
Focused cardiac ultrasound training in medical students: Using an independent, simulator-based curriculum to objectively measure skill acquisition and learning curve.

BACKGROUND Using simulators built and validated at the University of Washington (UW), the study sought to test whether medical students can learn the basic skills of focused cardiac ultrasound (FoCUS) from an individually paced, simulator-based curriculum, how skills improve, and the rate at which these skills are acquired. METHODS The curriculum presented didactic material interspersed with hands-on practice. Psychomotor skill was measured by the angle error of the acquired image view plane relative to the correct image view plane. The rate of learning was assessed at baseline, after 7 practice cases, and after 10 cases. To assess the rate of learning, the same case was repeatedly presented at all three tests. To assess students' ability to apply their learning, a previously unseen post-test was included. RESULTS A total of 41 students completed the course. Average angle error improved from 43° ± 24 pretraining to 23° ± 16 post-training, with most students falling within one SD of the view angle acquired by sonographers. Regarding learning curve, or the rate of skill acquisition, an angle error of 43 ± 24° (pre) changed to 22 ± 14° (interim test, P < .0001 vs. pretest) and remained at that level for the post-test evaluation on both the repeated case (23 ± 16°) and the new case (26 ± 18°). CONCLUSIONS This study describes the learning curve and technical skill acquisition in FoCUS. A simulator-based curriculum improved medical student's skills in an objective and quantifiable manner. The individually paced curriculum allowed for independent knowledge and skill attainment, without facilitator oversight.
Open Inguinal Hernia Repair

This chapter discusses technical aspects of open inguinal repair, including instrumentation and equipment, patient positioning, and surgical steps. The authors also offer pearls and pitfalls.
Four-Element Beam Switching Antenna for Compact IoT Devices

This work presents a pattern reconfigurable antenna system at X-band for the Internet of Thing (IoT) devices. The system is composed of a printed circular array composed of four Yagi-Uda elements and an electrically controlled feeding network. The feeding network incorporates PIN diode RF switches that provide independent activation of each antenna element while maintaining overall system matching stability. The suggested technique results in pattern reconfigurability between 16 modes. The isolation between the elements is improved by incorporating a reflector between them. Simulation results reveal that such a pattern flexible antenna is a strong candidate for IoT devices in a multipath environment.
Phytoplankton composition in a eutrophic estuary: Comparison of multiple taxonomic approaches and influence of environmental factors

To assess the comparability between taxonomic identification methods for phytoplankton, multiple approaches were used to characterize phytoplankton community composition within the Neuse River Estuary (NRE), North Carolina. Small subunit 18S rRNA gene sequencing and accessory pigment analysis displayed similar trends, indicating chlorophytes were the dominant microalgal group during most of the year, whereas results from microscopic cell counts, biovolume analysis and metatranscriptomics suggested diatom and dinoflagellate-dominated communities. Spatial environmental gradients drove variation in taxonomic composition due to preferences for specific environmental conditions among different microalgal groups. Cryptophytes were a greater proportion of the phytoplankton community within high nutrient, fresher environments whereas diatoms and dinoflagellates dominated higher salinity sections of the estuary. This study provides a detailed examination of phytoplankton communities associated with environmental gradients present in the NRE. The high level of taxonomic resolution offered by DNA sequencing (i.e., species to sub-species level) provides a better understanding of population dynamics at the base of estuarine food webs.
Cost-Related Nonadherence and Mortality in Patients With Chronic Disease: A Multiyear Investigation, National Health Interview Survey, 2000-2014.

INTRODUCTION Prescription costs are rising, and many patients with chronic illnesses have difficulty paying for prescriptions. Missing or delaying medication because of financial concerns is common; however, the effects of cost-related nonadherence (CRN) on patient outcomes have not been described. Our objective was to determine if CRN is associated with higher all-cause and disease-specific mortality among patients living with diabetes and cardiovascular disease in a representative sample of US adults. METHODS We ascertained CRN, vital status, and cause of death for 39,571 patients with diabetes, 61,968 patients with cardiovascular disease, and 124,899 patients with hypertension in the 2000 through 2014 releases of the National Health Interview Survey. We used adjusted Cox proportional hazards models to estimate associations between CRN and all-cause mortality and CRN and disease-specific mortality. RESULTS On average, 15% of the sample reported CRN in the year before interview. After adjusting for confounders, CRN was associated with 15% to 22% higher all-cause mortality rates for all conditions (diabetes hazard ratio [HR] = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.1-1.3; cardiovascular disease [CVD] HR = 1.15; 95% CI, 1.1-1.2; hypertension HR = 1.22; 95% CI, 1.2-1.3). Relative to no CRN, CRN was associated with 8% to 18% higher disease-specific mortality rates (diabetes HR = 1.18; 95% CI, 1.0-1.4; CVD HR = 1.09; 95% CI, 1.0-1.2; hypertension HR = 1.08; 95% CI, 0.9-1.3). CONCLUSION Relative to full adherence, CRN is associated with higher mortality rates for patients with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension, although associations may have weakened since 2011. Policies that increase prescription affordability may decrease mortality for patients experiencing CRN.
Current and future treatment options for MET exon 14 skipping alterations in non-small cell lung cancer:

It has been over three decades since the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) ligand and its receptor MET proto-oncogene (MET) pathway was established as promoting cancer growth and metastasis. MET exon ...
Optimization of the Critical Speed Concept for Tactical Professionals: A Brief Review

Tactical professionals often depend on their physical ability and fitness to perform and complete occupational tasks to successfully provide public services or survive on the battlefield. Critical speed (CS), or maximal aerobic steady-state, is a purported measure that predicts performance, prescribes exercise, and detects training adaptions with application to tactical professionals. The CS concept has the versatility to adapt to training with load carriage as an integrated bioenergetic system approach for assessment. The aims of this review are to: (1) provide an overview of tactical populations and the CS concept; (2) describe the different methods and equipment used in CS testing; (3) review the literature on CS associated with tactical occupational tasks; and (4) demonstrate the use of CS-derived exercise prescriptions for tactical populations.
Malignant Proliferating Trichilemmal Tumor of the Scalp: A Systematic Review.

Objectives Malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumors of the scalp can exhibit aggressive presentation and recurrences. Our objective was to perform an evidence-based systematic review evaluating clinical presentation, tumor characteristics, and treatment modalities used to determine which treatment strategies had the best outcomes. Methods The databases PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant literature by the authors. Patient demographics, imaging, treatments, and other clinical characteristics were obtained. The results were reported using the Preferred Reporting Systems for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Results Thirty-nine studies with a total of 65 patients were identified. The most common presentation was a history of slow-growing, painless swollen mass on the scalp. In total, 10 patients (15.4%) presented with spread to the regional lymph nodes and 6 (9.2%) additional patients presented with metastasis to distant locations. In total, 61 patients (93.8%) underwent surgery. Various chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimens were used. Of the 45 cases with documented follow-up, 11 (24.4%) patients had one or multiple instances of local, lymph node or metastatic tumor recurrence. Conclusions Surgery is favored, and the exact approach should be based on clinical judgment. However, Mohs micrographic surgery should strongly be considered because of its superior margin control against such an invasive tumor. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy have been used as adjuvant therapy in aggressive cases or recurrence. Patients should be followed closely and examined often to frequently assess recurrence or metastasis. Randomized controlled trials are needed to further clarify these findings.
Space applications of artificial intelligence; 1990 Goddard Conference, Greenbelt, MD, May 1, 2, 1990, Selected Papers

The papers presented at the 1990 Goddard Conference on Space Applications of Artificial Intelligence are given. The purpose of this annual conference is to provide a forum in which current research and development directed at space applications of artificial intelligence can be presented and discussed. The proceedings fall into the following areas: Planning and Scheduling, Fault Monitoring/Diagnosis, Image Processing and Machine Vision, Robotics/Intelligent Control, Development Methodologies, Information Management, and Knowledge Acquisition.
Ion beam transport in a preionized plasma channel

We discuss a collisionless mechanism for transporting an ion beam in a pinched state. The beam is injected into a low density gas (∼ 1014–1016 cm−3) in which a partially ionized plasma channel, with a radius somewhat larger than that of the beam, has previously been formed, by a laser for example. The plasma electron density exceeds the beam ion density. PIC simulations show that die space charge of the beam induces an inward radial flow of plasma electrons to neutralize the beam charge, as well as a large axial current of plasma electrons in the same direction as die beam current, in the region in front of the beam. The resulting net current I n actually exceeds die beam current I b near the front of die beam. The resulting pinch effect is much stronger than that expected for self-pinched propagation in a higher gas density (resistive) regime where I n ≪ I b . Even if die channel density is initially underdense, the beam body will pinch, provided that the rate of plasma production from beam impact ionization of die neutral gas is sufficiently rapid. Analytic calculations support the simulation results. This scheme shows promise as a method for propagating heavy or light ion beams in a fusion target chamber.
On the complexity of nonlinear nonbinary sequences

The complexity of a sequence can be increased by nonlinear operations on the output sequence of different stages of a linear feedback shift register. E.L. Key's method (1976) is extended to nonbinary sequences in which nonlinear operations using multiplications mode p are applied to the nonbinary maximal-length sequence generators. It is shown that the complexity of the resulting sequence increases rapidly when the sequence is nonbinary. >
Ligand-induced Conformational Changes in Ribonuclease

The rate of formation of ribonuclease-S from ribonuclease A by the action of subtilisin was measured at pH 5.5 in the presence and absence of the strongly bound ribonuclease inhibitor, 2′-cytidylate. Presence of the inhibitor in the active center significantly reduced the rate of formation of ribonuclease-S. Since bond 20–21 (and, to a lesser extent, 21–22), the cleavage of which is responsible for the formation of this derivative, is well removed from the active center region, and thus from the binding site of the inhibitor, steric hindrance by the latter can be excluded as the cause for this reduced rate. Instead, it is concluded that the presence of the inhibitor in the active center caused a conformational change which affected a distant region of the molecule. Amino-terminal analysis confirmed cleavage at the expected major site, bond 20–21. The presence of the competitive inhibitors, 2′- and 3′-cytidylate, afforded considerable protection against inactivation of ribonuclease A by trypsin and by chymotrypsin, when digested at 60°. End group analysis confirmed that the bonds split were those expected from previous work of others. The presence of 2′-cytidylate completely prevented the temperature-induced optical rotatory change characteristic of ribonuclease, indicating a high degree of structural stabilization by the ligand. The data presented support the view that the presence of the competitive inhibitor in the active center region alters the proteolytic susceptibility of bonds at multiple sites, situated outside of this region.
On the accuracy of nonsurvey regional input- output multipliers : An empirical study

OF THE DISSERTATION ON THE ACCURACY OF NONSURVEY REGIONAL INPUT-OUTPUT MULTIPLIERS: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY by Pierre Kebreau Alexandre Florida International University, 1998 Miami, Florida Professor Maria Willumsen, Major Professor Correct specification of the simple location quotients in regionalizing the national direct requirements table is essential to the accuracy of regional input-output multipliers. The purpose of this research is to examine the relative accuracy of these multipliers when earnings, employment, number of establishments, and payroll data specify the simple location quotients. For each specification type, I derive a column of total output multipliers and a column of total income multipliers. These multipliers are based on the 1987 benchmark input-output accounts of the U.S. economy and 1988-1992 state of Florida data. Error sign tests, and Standardized Mean Absolute Deviation (SMAD) statistics indicate that the output multiplier estimates overestimate the output multipliers published by the Department of Commerce-Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) for the state of Florida. In contrast, the income multiplier estimates underestimate the BEA's income multipliers. For a given multiplier type, the Spearman-rank correlation analysis shows that the multiplier estimates and the BEA multipliers have statistically different rank ordering of row elements. The above tests also find no significant different differences, both in size and ranking distributions, among the vectors of multiplier estimates. vi
Conditions for Multi-functionality in a Rhythm Generating Network Inspired by Turtle Scratching

Rhythmic behaviors such as breathing, walking, and scratching are vital to many species. Such behaviors can emerge from groups of neurons, called central pattern generators, in the absence of rhythmic inputs. In vertebrates, the identification of the cells that constitute the central pattern generator for particular rhythmic behaviors is difficult, and often, its existence has only been inferred. For example, under experimental conditions, intact turtles generate several rhythmic scratch motor patterns corresponding to non-rhythmic stimulation of different body regions. These patterns feature alternating phases of motoneuron activation that occur repeatedly, with different patterns distinguished by the relative timing and duration of activity of hip extensor, hip flexor, and knee extensor motoneurons. While the central pattern generator network responsible for these outputs has not been located, there is hope to use motoneuron recordings to deduce its properties. To this end, this work presents a model of a previously proposed central pattern generator network and analyzes its capability to produce two distinct scratch rhythms from a single neuron pool, selected by different combinations of tonic drive parameters but with fixed strengths of connections within the network. We show through simulation that the proposed network can achieve the desired multi-functionality, even though it relies on hip unit generators to recruit appropriately timed knee extensor motoneuron activity, including a delay relative to hip activation in rostral scratch. Furthermore, we develop a phase space representation, focusing on the inputs to and the intrinsic slow variable of the knee extensor motoneuron, which we use to derive sufficient conditions for the network to realize each rhythm and which illustrates the role of a saddle-node bifurcation in achieving the knee extensor delay. This framework is harnessed to consider bistability and to make predictions about the responses of the scratch rhythms to input changes for future experimental testing.
Application of the Transfer Function for Measuring Ultrasonic Wave Speed in Engineering Materials

Ultrasonic testing is used in determining mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity, shear modulus, and Poisson’s ratio, in characterizing microstructures, and in detecting flaws. One application of ultrasound, known as acoustoelasticity, involves the measurement of ultrasonic wave speed in solid materials as a function of applied stress. Due to the high resolution that is required, a type of phase-slope analysis technique known as the transfer function technique is introduced as an alternative to the popular cross-correlation technique for measuring ultrasonic wave speed. Time delay results from software-simulated sinusoidal waveforms and measurements of the acoustoelastic response of aluminum 6061-T6 and stainless steel show that significant improvement in resolution and reduction in calculation time can be achieved by using the transfer function technique.Copyright © 1995 by ASME
Managing the Initial Job Interview: Smile, Schmooze, and Get Hired?

This article addresses several issues concerning initial job interviews. The author discusses the importance of making a solid impression in this stage of the interview process, noting that this is the stage to separate yourself from other applicants. The author discusses tactics that are most successful at influencing interviewers which include self-promotion and self-monitoring. The author notes that research has shown that the actual performance given in the interview is more important than the credentials held by the individual. The author also discusses several behaviors that are considered red flags for employers.
Derivatives of the undecatungstogallate(III) anion. Cupro(II) and mangano(II) undecatungstogallate(III) preparation, properties, structure and salts

Abstract Methods have been developed for the preparation of both Na and NH4Na salts of cupro(II)- and mangano(II)undecatungstogallate(III). X-ray structural studies are in agreement with a “Keggin-type” structure for both of these heteropoly tungstate anions. Visible spectral studies showed that the Cu(II) ions are octahedrally coordinated in its anion. Cryoscopic studies in saturated sodium sulfate decahydrate revealed that both heteropoly anions are quite stable (no detectable dissociation) in this solvent at 33°C. Potentiometric titrations showed that cupro(II)- and mangano (II)undecatungstogallate(III) anions react with 4.3 and 4.0 moles of protons per mole of complex, respectively.
Public information campaigns as policy instruments

Considerable controversy surrounds public information campaigns: government-directed and sponsored efforts to communicate to large numbers of citizens in order to achieve a policy result, or what might be called government propaganda. We analyze the use of campaigns as policy instruments in three ways: (1) effectiveness in achieving substantive outcomes; (2) political benefits for public officials; and (3) consequences for democratic processes. Our review of 100 campaigns from these three perspectives reveals significant advantages and disadvantages of using campaigns in practice. We conclude that the advantages of public information campaigns justify their use as policy intruments when used appropriately and with care to mitigate the disadvantages.
Segregation of European Corn Borer, Ostrinia nubilalis, Aminopeptidase 1, Cadherin, and Bre5-Like Alleles, from a Colony Resistant to Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ab Toxins, are not Associated with F2 Larval Weights when Fed a Diet Containing Cry1Ab

Abstract Protein receptors may be required for activated Bacillus thuringiensis Cry toxins (Cry1Ab) to bind midgut epithelium prior to pore formation. Single nucleotide polymorphism markers from two Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) midgut peptide receptors, cadherin (OnCad), aminopeptidase N 1 (OnAPN1), and OnBre5 (Onb3GalT5; a β-1,3-galactosyltransferase family 5 member) were used to examine segregation in F2 families derived from paired matings of Cry1Ab-resistant females and Cry1Ab-susceptible males. Genotypic frequencies for these markers did not deviate from Mendelian expectations. Analysis of F2 larvae indicate the segregation of single nucleotide pores in OnAPN1, OnBre5 (Onb3GalT5), and OnCad marker loci were independent of the segregation of logio weights of larvae feeding on Cry1Ab diet.
Risk of hand-foot skin reaction with the multitargeted kinase inhibitor sunitinib in patients with renal cell and non-renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

Abstract Hand-foot skin reaction (HFSR) is an emerging issue in cancer treatment with multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), leading to morbidity, suboptimal dosing, and poor compliance. The overall risk of HFSR is not clear for sunitinib, a TKI effective for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and gastrointestinal stromal tumor. We therefore conducted a systematic review and a meta-analysis to determine the risk of developing HFSR with sunitinib. Databases from PubMed and Web of Science for articles from July 1966 until July 2007 and abstracts presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology conferences were searched to identify relevant studies. Eligible studies were prospective clinical trials that had described events of HFSR for patients who received singleagent sunitinib. Incidence and relative risk (RR) were calculated using a random-effects or fixed-effects model. A total of 5005 patients with RCC and other cancers from 10 clinical trials were included for analysis. Among patients receiving sunitinib, the summary incidences of all-grade and high-grade HFSR were 18.9% (95% CI, 14.1%–24.8%) and 5.5% (95% CI, 3.9%–7.9%), respectively. Interestingly, patients with RCC have significantly decreased risk of HFSR compared with patients with non-RCC malignancy (RR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.50–0.64; P
Transactions, transaction costs, and vertical integration: a re-examination

The economic analysis of the transaction has its roots in the work of John R. Commons, and has recently been brought to the fore in the work of the ‘new institutionalists’, and especially in the work of Oliver E. Williamson. This article, drawing in part on the analysis of Commons, raises some important questions about Williamson's analysis of the role of transaction costs, and in doing so, attempts to further improve the relation of the theory of the transaction to the modern economy. The implications of the differences in these two theories of the transaction are brought to the fore in an analysis of Williamson's theory of vertical integration. According to Williamson, vertical integration is the outcome of the firm's transaction–cost minimizing response to forces such as opportunism, bounded rationality, and information impactedness. As this paper demonstrates, however, when one considers the transaction theory of Commons, as well as other factors, the scope of Williamson's analysis is seen to be exces...
Chemotherapy-associated toxicity in a large cohort of elderly patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Background The objective of this study was to examine the risks for short-term (≤3 months) and long-term (>3 months) chemotherapy-associated toxicities in a large population-based cohort of patients with non-small cell lung cancer from 1991 to 2002. Methods The population consisted of 41,361 men and 30,804 women ≥65 years identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results—Medicare-linked database. The incidence of 50 toxicity-associated end points was calculated for 14 chemotherapy agents. Short- and long-term toxicities with a ≥2-fold increase in incidence compared with the no-chemotherapy group were defined as chemotherapy-associated toxicities. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the risk of toxicity were calculated for the four most common chemotherapy agents for non-small cell lung cancer: cisplatin/carboplatin, paclitaxel, vinorelbine/vinblastine, and gemcitabine. Results The most common short-term toxicities (9.2–60%) included acute anemia, nausea, and neutropenia. The most common long-term toxicities (15–37%) included acute anemia, respiratory failure, pulmonary fibrosis, dehydration, neutropenia, nausea, and fever. Multivariate analysis for selected chemotherapies demonstrated that after adjusting for other risk factors and confounders, some short-term toxicities became nonsignificant; however, almost all long-term toxicities remained significant. Long-term toxicity increased over time and was more likely in women, minority populations, those with fewer baseline comorbidities, and across disease stages. Conclusions The administration of various chemotherapy agents for non-small cell lung was associated with a number of short- and long-term toxicities. The projected survival benefits of chemotherapy must be weighed against the risk of long-term toxicities.
Topical perspective on massive threading and parallelism.

Abstract Unquestionably computer architectures have undergone a recent and noteworthy paradigm shift that now delivers multi- and many-core systems with tens to many thousands of concurrent hardware processing elements per workstation or supercomputer node. GPGPU (General Purpose Graphics Processor Unit) technology in particular has attracted significant attention as new software development capabilities, namely CUDA (Compute Unified Device Architecture) and OpenCL™, have made it possible for students as well as small and large research organizations to achieve excellent speedup for many applications over more conventional computing architectures. The current scientific literature reflects this shift with numerous examples of GPGPU applications that have achieved one, two, and in some special cases, three-orders of magnitude increased computational performance through the use of massive threading to exploit parallelism. Multi-core architectures are also evolving quickly to exploit both massive-threading and massive-parallelism such as the 1.3 million threads Blue Waters supercomputer. The challenge confronting scientists in planning future experimental and theoretical research efforts – be they individual efforts with one computer or collaborative efforts proposing to use the largest supercomputers in the world is how to capitalize on these new massively threaded computational architectures – especially as not all computational problems will scale to massive parallelism. In particular, the costs associated with restructuring software (and potentially redesigning algorithms) to exploit the parallelism of these multi- and many-threaded machines must be considered along with application scalability and lifespan. This perspective is an overview of the current state of threading and parallelize with some insight into the future.