cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Investigation upon Mechanical Properties of Thin Film Silicon Under Cryogenic Temperature

Thin film silicon material has an extensive application in cooling satellite instrumentation under cryogenic environment. The performance and reliability of the cooling system heavily depends on mechanical behavior of the thin films. In this paper, we built an experimental setup and used compressive gas to actuate a silicon thin film under both room temperature and cryogenic temperature. The elastic modulus was derived from the film’s deflection using laser Michelson interferometer. Stress distribution was obtained using Micro Raman spectroscopy. It was found that Young’s modulus derived from the deflection increases with decreasing temperature. Compressive stress concentrated at edge centers of the film and tensile stress occurred at the center. There is a good match between the theoretical predications and experimental observations.
Whole-cell recordings from preoptic/hypothalamic slices reveal burst firing in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons identified with green fluorescent protein in transgenic mice

Central control of reproduction is governed by a neuronal pulse generator that underlies the activity of hypothalamic neuroendocrine cells that secrete GnRH. Bursts and prolonged episodes of repetitive action potentials have been associated with hormone secretion in this and other neuroendocrine systems. To begin to investigate the cellular mechanisms responsible for the GnRH pulse generator, we used transgenic mice in which green fluorescent protein was genetically targeted to GnRH neurons. Whole-cell recordings were obtained from 21 GnRH neurons, visually identified in 200-microm preoptic/hypothalamic slices, to determine whether they exhibit high frequency bursts of action potentials and are electrically coupled at or near the somata. All GnRH neurons fired spontaneous action potentials, and in 15 of 21 GnRH neurons, the action potentials occurred in single bursts or episodes of repetitive bursts of high frequency spikes (9.77 +/- 0.87 Hz) lasting 3-120 sec. Extended periods of quiescence of up to 30 min preceded and followed these periods of repetitive firing. Examination of 92 GnRH neurons (including 32 neurons that were located near another green fluorescent protein-positive neuron) revealed evidence for coupling in only 1 pair of GnRH neurons. The evidence for minimal coupling between these neuroendocrine cells suggests that direct soma to soma transfer of information, through either cytoplasmic bridges or gap junctions, has a minor role in synchronization of GnRH neurons. The pattern of electrical activity observed in single GnRH neurons within slices is temporally consistent with observations of GnRH release and multiple unit electrophysiological correlates of LH release. Episodes of burst firing of individual GnRH neurons may represent a component of the GnRH pulse generator.
Developmental Changes in the Interference Reflectors and Colorations of Tiger Beetles (Cicindela)

Samples of cicindelid cuticle were examined at various stages of adult ecdysis. The multilayered potential reflector was secreted in the initial stages of the moult, verifying that it is not tectocuticle and supporting the contention that it is a form of inner epicuticle. At early stages of ecdysis, the electron-dense layers were visible only when the section was post-stained. During post-ecdysial colour development, the dense layer increased in inherent electron density. Concurrently, the reflector increased in refractive index and the interference coloration increased in intensity and wavelength of maximum reflectance. Black pigment was also deposited simultaneously within the outer portion of the cuticle. It is proposed that electron-dense material was deposited in situ within the inner epicuticle after ecdysis, thereby increasing the wavelength and reflectance of interference colour.
Shape recognition using genetic algorithms

Shape recognition is a challenging task when shapes overlap, forming noisy, occluded, partial shapes. The paper uses a genetic algorithm for matching input shapes with model shapes described in terms of features such as line segments and angles (extracted using traditional algorithms). The quality of matching is gauged using a measure derived from attributed shape grammars. Preliminary results, using shapes with about 30 features each, are extremely encouraging.
Performance-based classifier combination in atlas-based image segmentation using expectation-maximization parameter estimation

It is well known in the pattern recognition community that the accuracy of classifications obtained by combining decisions made by independent classifiers can be substantially higher than the accuracy of the individual classifiers. We have previously shown this to be true for atlas-based segmentation of biomedical images. The conventional method for combining individual classifiers weights each classifier equally (vote or sum rule fusion). In this paper, we propose two methods that estimate the performances of the individual classifiers and combine the individual classifiers by weighting them according to their estimated performance. The two methods are multiclass extensions of an expectation-maximization (EM) algorithm for ground truth estimation of binary classification based on decisions of multiple experts (Warfield et al., 2004). The first method performs parameter estimation independently for each class with a subsequent integration step. The second method considers all classes simultaneously. We demonstrate the efficacy of these performance-based fusion methods by applying them to atlas-based segmentations of three-dimensional confocal microscopy images of bee brains. In atlas-based image segmentation, multiple classifiers arise naturally by applying different registration methods to the same atlas, or the same registration method to different atlases, or both. We perform a validation study designed to quantify the success of classifier combination methods in atlas-based segmentation. By applying random deformations, a given ground truth atlas is transformed into multiple segmentations that could result from imperfect registrations of an image to multiple atlas images. In a second evaluation study, multiple actual atlas-based segmentations are combined and their accuracies computed by comparing them to a manual segmentation. We demonstrate in both evaluation studies that segmentations produced by combining multiple individual registration-based segmentations are more accurate for the two classifier fusion methods we propose, which weight the individual classifiers according to their EM-based performance estimates, than for simple sum rule fusion, which weights each classifier equally.
Efficient Network Reconfiguration Using Minimum Cost Maximum Flow-Based Branch Exchanges and Random Walks-Based Loss Estimations

The efficiency of network reconfiguration depends on both the efficiency of the loss estimation technique and the efficiency of the reconfiguration approach itself. We propose two novel algorithmic techniques for speeding-up the computational runtime of both problems. First, we propose an efficient heuristic algorithm to solve the distribution network reconfiguration problem for loss reduction. We formulate the problem of finding incremental branch exchanges as a minimum cost maximum flow problem. This approach finds the best set of concurrent branch exchanges yielding larger loss reduction with fewer iterations, hence significantly reducing the computational runtime. Second, we propose an efficient random walks-based technique for the loss estimation in radial distribution systems. The novelty of this approach lies in its property of localizing the computation. Therefore, bus voltage magnitude updates can be calculated in much shorter computational runtimes in scenarios where the distribution system undergoes isolated topological changes, such as in the case of network reconfiguration. Experiments on distribution systems with sizes of up to 10476 buses demonstrate that the proposed techniques can achieve computational runtimes shorter with up to 7.78 times and with similar or better loss reduction compared to the Baran's reconfiguration technique .
Vocal tract length and formant frequency dispersion correlate with body size in rhesus macaques

Body weight, length, and vocal tract length were measured for 23 rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) of various sizes using radiographs and computer graphic techniques. Linear predictive coding analysis of tape-recorded threat vocalizations was used to determine vocal tract resonance frequencies (“formants”) for the same animals. A new acoustic variable is proposed, “formant dispersion,” which should theoretically depend upon vocal tract length. Formant dispersion is the averaged difference between successive formant frequencies, and was found to be closely tied to both vocal tract length and body size. Despite the common claim that voice fundamental frequency (F0)provides an acoustic indication of body size, repeated investigations have failed to support such a relationship in many vertebrate species including humans. Formant dispersion, unlike voice pitch, is proposed to be a reliable predictor of body size in macaques, and probably many other species.
Bovine TB and badger culling.

IN his letter ( VR , November 3, 2012, vol 171, p 454) Andrew J. Wilson raises questions over the need to tackle bovine TB in wildlife in order to achieve control and eradication in cattle living in close proximity to those species. As rightly stated, bovine TB occurs in many different species across the world, and the need to address it depends upon the epidemiological importance of that infection and in particular the risk posed to cattle eradication programmes and/or human health. Wildlife species infected with TB can be spill-over hosts (in which infection is not self-sustaining within the population), or maintenance hosts (populations capable of maintaining TB without outside infection). In England, cattle …
Reducing Radiation Dose in Emergency CT Scans While Maintaining Equal Image Quality: Just a Promise or Reality for Severely Injured Patients?

Objective. This study aims to assess the impact of adaptive statistical iterative reconstruction (ASIR) on CT imaging quality, diagnostic interpretability, and radiation dose reduction for a proven CT acquisition protocol for total body trauma. Methods. 18 patients with multiple trauma () were examined either with a routine protocol (), 30% (), or 40% () of iterative reconstruction (IR) modification in the raw data domain of the routine protocol (140 kV, collimation: 40, noise index: 15). Study groups were matched by scan range and maximal abdominal diameter. Image noise was quantitatively measured. Image contrast, image noise, and overall interpretability were evaluated by two experienced and blinded readers. The amount of radiation dose reductions was evaluated. Results. No statistically significant differences between routine and IR protocols regarding image noise, contrast, and interpretability were present. Mean effective dose for the routine protocol was mSv, mSv for the IR 30, and mSv for the IR 40 protocol, that is, 22.1% effective dose reduction for IR 30 () and 30.8% effective dose reduction for IR 40 (). Conclusions. IR does not reduce study interpretability in total body trauma protocols while providing a significant reduction in effective radiation dose.
Antibiotic Resistance and Substrate Profiles of the Class A Carbapenemase KPC-6

The class A carbapenemase KPC-6 produces resistance to a broad range of β-lactam antibiotics. This enzyme hydrolyzes penicillins, the monobactam aztreonam, and carbapenems with similar catalytic efficiencies, ranging from 105 to 106 M−1 s−1. The catalytic efficiencies of KPC-6 against cephems vary to a greater extent, ranging from 103 M−1 s−1 for the cephamycin cefoxitin and the extended-spectrum cephalosporin ceftazidime to 105 to 106 M−1 s−1 for the narrow-spectrum and some of the extended-spectrum cephalosporins.
High-frequency photodiode characterization using a filtered intensity noise technique

Optical filtering of amplified spontaneous emission improves measurement dynamic range for frequency response measurements of optoelectronic receivers. For high bandwidth receivers, a novel periodically filtered intensity noise technique is proposed. Response measurements using these techniques on a 1 GHz and 30 GHz receiver are demonstrated. >
Importance of Estrogen Metabolites

See related article, pp 134–140 The influence of estrogen on blood pressure is complicated and sometimes contradictory. Premenopausal women have a lower incidence of hypertension, but recent clinical trials suggest that postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy does not necessarily decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. Sexually dimorphic hypertension is evident in multiple animal models, yet only some indicate a critical role for estrogen.1 These contradictions emphasize the importance of identifying the critical molecular signaling pathways in the cardiovascular system that are activated by estrogen and pursuing alternative pathways for their activation. One important factor that has been neglected in the study of estrogen’s cardiovascular effects is the conversion of 17-β-estradiol, the most commonly studied ovarian estrogen, to metabolites that are capable of exerting discrete physiological effects (Figure). Figure. In the study by Jennings et al,2 the ability of endogenous estrogen to counteract the blood pressure response to angiotensin II infusion is a result of the metabolism of 17-β-estradiol (17-β-E2) to 2-hydroxyestradiol (2-OHE) by cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) and subsequent conversion by catechol-O-methyl transferase (COMT) to 2-methoxyestradiol (2-MeE2). In contrast, the production of 4-OHE and 4-methoxyestradiol (4-MeE2) exacerbates hypertension in this model. Other 17-β-E2 precursors or metabolites that may impact cardiovascular function include 27-hydroxycholesterol (27-OHC), 16α-OHE, estrone (E1), and estriol (E3). In this issue of Hypertension , Jennings et al2 …
Calibration-Free Measurement of Liquid Permittivity and Conductivity Using Electrochemical Impedance Test Cell With Servomechanically Adjustable Cell Constant

This paper presents a technique and a device for measuring the permittivity and conductivity of liquids and gases that does not require prior calibration by a reference sample. The technique involves precisely controlling the separation between two closely spaced spherical electrodes to make electrical impedance measurements of the sample media as a function of electrode separation. By leveraging the geometrical accuracy of the spheres and precise control of the electrode separation, the permittivity and conductivity of the sample can be extracted using a simple geometrical model of the electrode. Calibration using a reference sample is replaced by mechanical calibration of the sphere diameter and separation control mechanism, which can be engineered simply and accurately using standard components and processes. The electrode separation is adjusted using a flexure stage and a servomechanical actuator, which enables control of the electrode separation with 0.25 nm resolution with a 50 mum range. Permittivity and conductivity measurements within 1% of established values have been demonstrated.
What evolution, the human niche, and imagination can tell us about the emergence of religion

It is highly likely that there is a naturalness to a human imagination that facilitates engagement with, and being in, the world in ways that are distinct from those in other animals, even closely ...
A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Elimination in Hainan Province, 2002–2012

In Hainan Province, China, great achievements in elimination of falciparum malaria have been made since 2010. There have been no locally acquired falciparum malaria cases since that time. The cost-effectiveness of elimination of falciparum malaria has been analyzed in Hainan Province. There were 4,422 falciparum malaria cases reported from 2002 to 2012, more cases occurred in males than in females. From 2002 to 2012, a total of 98.5 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were reported because of falciparum malaria. Populations in the age ranges of 15-25 and 30-44 years had higher incidences and DALYs than other age groups. From 2002 to 2012, malaria-related costs for salaries of staff, funds from the provincial government, national government, and the GFATM were US$3.02, US$2.24, US$1.44, and US$5.08 million, respectively. An estimated 9,504 falciparum malaria cases were averted during the period 2003-2012. The estimated cost per falciparum malaria case averted was US$116.5. The falciparum malaria elimination program in Hainan was highly effective and successful. However, funding for maintenance is still needed because of imported cases.
In-depth review of five fatigue measures in shift workers

Background: Occupational fatigue is commonly reported in shift-working populations. In the literature, there are several well-known fatigue measures that are regularly used to assess either general or specific aspects of employee fatigue. Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to provide an in-depth review of five fatigue instruments frequently used in occupational science over the past two decades. These instruments are: the Checklist Individual Strength, the Fatigue Assessment Scale, the Need for Recovery, the Occupational Fatigue Exhaustion Recovery, and the Swedish Occupational Fatigue Inventory scales. We describe each instrument in detail, including how it was developed and validated, how it can be obtained, psychometric data, and its use in occupational studies. Conclusion: These instruments provide an understanding of fatigue either as a unidimensional or multidimensional construct. Overall, the five measures are brief (10–20 items), user-friendly, and have minimal respondent and administrative bu...
Alcock, J. 2001. Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach. 7th ed. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts, 560 pp. ISBN 0-87893-011-6, price (hardcover), $79.95

J. Alcock 2001. Animal Behavior: An Evolutionary Approach. 7th ed. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Sunderland, Massachusetts, 560 pp. ISBN 0-87893-011-6, price (hardcover), $79.95. The market is flooded with textbooks on animal behavior, and this cornucopia makes it a “buyer's market” for faculty members attempting to select texts for their classes or graduate students attempting to refresh their memory in preparation for oral comprehensive exams. A long-time leader in my estimation has been the very readable and enthusiastic writing of John Alcock. This 7th edition received a considerable makeover, with an estimated 20% reduction in length and the addition of colored graphics (most of the 444 figures are now in color). The strength of this edition is reflected in the author's approach, designed “to help my readers see how researchers have been able to reach satisfactory conclusions about how and why animals do the things they do” (p. xii). The style of writing is pleasing and truly comes from the perspective of a scientist engaged in and enthralled with his research questions and model systems. My impression has always been that this enthusiasm carries over to the student perusing the text. The book consists of 15 chapters that include an evolutionary approach to animal behavior, proximate and ultimate causes of behavior, development of behavior—heredity, development of behavior—environment, control of …
Detailed microscopic unfolding pathways of an α-helix and a β-hairpin: direct observation and molecular dynamics

We present a combined experimental and computational study of unfolding pathways of a model 21-residue α-helical heteropeptide (W1H5-21) and a 16-residue β-hairpin (GB41-56). Experimentally, we measured fluorescence energy transfer efficiency as a function of temperature, employing natural tryptophans as donors and dansylated lysines as acceptors. Secondary structural analysis was performed with circular dichroism and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Our studies present markedly different unfolding pathways of the two elementary secondary structural elements. During thermal denaturation, the helical peptide exhibits an initial decrease in length, followed by an increase, while the hairpin undergoes a systematic increase in length. In the complementary computational part of the project, we performed microsecond length replica-exchange molecular dynamics simulations of the peptides in explicit solvent, yielding a detailed microscopic picture of the unfolding processes. For the α-helical peptide, we found a large heterogeneous population of intermediates that are primarily frayed single helices or helix-turn-helix motifs. Unfolding starts at the termini and proceeds through a stable helical region in the interior of the peptide but shifted off-center toward the C-terminus. The simulations explain the experimentally observed non-monotonic variation of helix length with temperature as due primarily to the presence of frayed-end single-helix intermediate structures. For the β-hairpin peptide, our simulations indicate that folding is initiated at the turn, followed by formation of the hairpin in zipper-like fashion, with Cα···Cα contacts propagating from the turn to termini and hairpin hydrogen bonds forming in parallel with these contacts. In the early stages of hairpin formation, the hydrophobic side-chain contacts are only partly populated. Intermediate structures with low numbers of β-hairpin hydrogen bonds have very low populations. This is in accord with the "broken zipper" model of Scheraga. The monotonic increase in length with temperature may be explained by the zipper-like breaking of the hairpin hydrogen bonds and backbone contacts.
Electron-ion correlations in strong-field molecular ionization with shaped ultrafast laser pulses

We study strong-field molecular ionization with shaped ultrafast laser pulses. We measure both photoions and photoelectrons as a function of laser pulse shape using a velocity map imaging spectrometer. We analyze correlations between photoelectrons and photoions as a function of photoelectron energy and ionic fragment mass-to-charge ratio. Our analysis focuses on resonant structures in the photoelectron spectrum known as Freeman resonances, and highlights both direct and indirect ionization to multiple states of the molecular cation.
Reform on Postgraduate English Teaching And Improvement on English Language Application Ability

Under the influence of examination education,Chinese postgraduate English language teaching has been greatly colored by its undergraduate period and needs an immediate reform.Also society has raised its demand on postgraduate English language appli- cation ability.On analysis of current problems of Chinese postgraduate English language teaching,we suggest reforming postgraduate English teaching from the following aspects:To reform teaching ideas;To apply modern teaching measures;To reform course arrange- ments;To classify students according to their English level;To emphasize construction of the teacher team.
Some observations on the phosphorylation of cytosine arabinoside.

Phosphorylation of cytosine arabinoside, a requisite for drug action, was catalyzed by deoxycytidine kinase. This reaction was strongly inhibited by deoxycytidine and by deoxycytidine nucleotides. An examination of kinetic data indicates the Ki for deoxycytidine was 40-fold smaller than the Km for cytosine arabinoside. This difference apparently explains one site of the reversal of cytosine arabinoside toxicity by deoxycytidine.
The effect of lung deformation on the spatial distribution of pulmonary blood flow.

Key points Pulmonary perfusion measurement using magnetic resonance imaging combined with deformable image registration enabled us to quantify the change in the spatial distribution of pulmonary perfusion at different lung volumes. The current study elucidated the effects of tidal volume lung inflation [functional residual capacity (FRC) + 500 ml and FRC + 1 litre] on the change in pulmonary perfusion distribution. Changes in hydrostatic pressure distribution as well as transmural pressure distribution due to the change in lung height with tidal volume inflation are probably bigger contributors to the redistribution of pulmonary perfusion than the changes in pulmonary vasculature resistance caused by lung tissue stretch. Abstract Tidal volume lung inflation results in structural changes in the pulmonary circulation, potentially affecting pulmonary perfusion. We hypothesized that perfusion is recruited to regions receiving the greatest deformation from a tidal breath, thus ensuring ventilation–perfusion matching. Density-normalized perfusion (DNP) magnetic resonance imaging data were obtained in healthy subjects (n = 7) in the right lung at functional residual capacity (FRC), FRC+500 ml, and FRC+1.0 l. Using deformable image registration, the displacement of a sagittal lung slice acquired at FRC to the larger volumes was calculated. Registered DNP images were normalized by the mean to estimate perfusion redistribution (nDNP). Data were evaluated across gravitational regions (dependent, middle, non-dependent) and by lobes (upper, RUL; middle, RML; lower, RLL). Lung inflation did not alter mean DNP within the slice (P = 0.10). The greatest expansion was seen in the dependent region (P < 0.0001: dependent vs non-dependent, P < 0.0001: dependent vs middle) and RLL (P = 0.0015: RLL vs RUL, P < 0.0001: RLL vs RML). Neither nDNP recruitment to RLL [+500 ml = −0.047(0.145), +1 litre = 0.018(0.096)] nor to dependent lung [+500 ml = −0.058(0.126), +1 litre = −0.023(0.106)] were found. Instead, redistribution was seen in decreased nDNP in the non-dependent [+500 ml = −0.075(0.152), +1 litre = −0.137(0.167)) and increased nDNP in the gravitational middle lung [+500 ml = 0.098(0.058), +1 litre = 0.093(0.081)] (P = 0.01). However, there was no significant lobar redistribution (P < 0.89). Contrary to our hypothesis, based on the comparison between gravitational and lobar perfusion data, perfusion was not redistributed to the regions of the most inflation. This suggests that either changes in hydrostatic pressure or transmural pressure distribution in the gravitational direction are implicated in the redistribution of perfusion away from the non-dependent lung.
Anticipating Transient Problems during the Rapid Filling of Deep Stormwater Storage Tunnel Systems

AbstractDeep storage tunnels are an alternative to mitigate combined sewer overflows, but they may develop transient flow problems during rapid filling conditions. Such issues include excessive surges, formation of pipe-filling bores, entrapped air pockets, and uncontrolled releases of air. Initial decisions on stormwater tunnel designs are generally based on steady-flow considerations but can have a significant impact on the transient hydraulic performance. However, tunnel designers rarely have an opportunity to systematically assess the interplay between geometric characteristics (e.g., tunnel diameter, alignment, and junction areas) and inflow hydrographs. This work aims to provide an examination of the relationship between key design parameters and the performance of stormwater tunnels undergoing rapid filling. A flow regime transition model was used to simulate 216 different scenarios of rapid filling of tunnels, considering air–water interactions such as air pocket entrapment, compression, and expan...
Multicultural Reasoning and The Appreciation of Art

In this article, I explicate the philosophical and pedagogical theory underlying one college art appreciation instructor's approach to teaching and nurturing critical thinking as a seedbed for diversity appreciation and multicultural understanding in art. Discussion focuses on critical thinking, its foundations in constructivist theory, and its role in fostering multilogical reasoning in art. Inextricably intertwined with critical thinking, a tripartite conception of context as it relates to multicultural reasoning is defined, i. e., the interpretive context of students and teacher, the context of artist and artwork, and the cognitive and affective contexts that define thinking in a critical mode. The goal is to explain how these contexts operate synergistically in the art appreciation classroom, ultimately contributing to the complex nature of multicultural reasoning in art.
Death of the secret recipe: “Open source cooking” and field organization in the culinary arts

Abstract Knowledge sharing is an important but understudied aspect of the formation and organization of creative fields. To better understand the relationship between knowledge sharing and field organization, I examine a small but influential movement within the culinary arts known as “modernist cuisine.” This movement eschews many of the protective practices that have traditionally guarded culinary innovations in favor of an open sharing model similar to how knowledge is shared in the sciences or open source software development. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and other primary resources, I find that this open mode of knowledge sharing precipitates a system of peer-based citation, whereby producers receive direct recognition for their discoveries without the endorsement of traditional tastemakers such as restaurant critics. This citation-based prestige system opens the culinary field to participation from new kinds of actors, generates new roles that are better insulated from the economic demands of traditional restaurant work, and may even influence the field’s traditional status hierarchy. These findings suggest that the way knowledge is shared plays a considerable role in the organization of fields where expertise and innovation are highly valued, and that changes in these practices can have other consequences in the field at large.
Modification of Higgs couplings in minimal composite models

We present a comprehensive study of the modifications of Higgs couplings in the $SO(5)/SO(4)$ minimal composite model. We focus on three couplings of central importance to Higgs phenomenology at the LHC: the couplings to top and bottom quarks and the coupling to two gluons. We consider three possible embeddings of the fermionic partners in $\mathbf{5}$, $\mathbf{10}$ and $\mathbf{14}$ of $SO(5)$ and find $t\overline{t}h$ and $b\overline{b}h$ couplings to be always suppressed in $\mathbf{5}$ and $\mathbf{10}$, while in $\mathbf{14}$ they can be either enhanced or suppressed. Assuming partial compositeness, we analyze the interplay between the $t\overline{t}h$ coupling and the top sector contribution to the Coleman-Weinberg potential for the Higgs boson, and the correlation between $t\overline{t}h$ and $ggh$ couplings. In particular, if the electroweak symmetry breaking is triggered radiatively by the top sector, we demonstrate that the ratio of the $t\overline{t}h$ coupling in composite Higgs models over the Standard Model expectation is preferred to be less than the corresponding ratio of the $ggh$ coupling.
The Role of Substance P Receptors in Amygdaloid Modulation of Aggressive Behavior in the Cat

It is well established from studies conducted both in animals [1, 4–6, 11, 25, 53, 61] and humans [13, 17, 19, 21, 30, 34, 43, 57, 59] that the temporal lobe plays an important role in the regulation of aggression and violence. Particular attention has been given to the varied functions of amygdala in regulating aggressive processes. While experimental evidence indicates that, in general, activation of amygdaloid nuclei does not result in the direct elicitation of aggressive responses in animals [50], it is very clear from the literature that amygdaloid nuclei can powerfully modulate aggressive behavior induced by electrical stimulation of the hypothalamus or midbrain periaqueductal gray (PAG) [42, 52].
Remote power systems for sensors on the northern border

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) [1] to field sensors that accurately track different types of transportation across the northern border of the U.S.. To do this, the sensors require remote power so that they can be placed in the most advantageous geographical locations, often where no grid power is available. This enables the sensors to detect and track aircraft/vehicles despite natural features (e.g., mountains, ridges, valleys, trees) that often prevent standard methods (e.g., monostatic radar or visual observers) from detecting them. Without grid power, portable power systems were used to provide between 80 and 300 W continuously, even in bitter cold and when buried under feet of snow/ice. NREL provides details about the design, installation, and lessons learned from long-term deployment of a second-generation of novel power systems that used adjustable-angle photovoltaics (PV), lithium ion batteries, and fuel cells that provide power to achieve 100% up-time.
Locomotor Training and Strength and Balance Exercises for Walking Recovery After Stroke: Response to Number of Training Sessions

Author(s): Rose, Dorian K; Nadeau, Stephen E; Wu, Samuel S; Tilson, Julie K; Dobkin, Bruce H; Pei, Qinglin; Duncan, Pamela W | Abstract: BackgroundEvidence-based guidelines are needed to inform rehabilitation practice, including the effect of number of exercise training sessions on recovery of walking ability after stroke.ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to determine the response to increasing number of training sessions of 2 interventions-locomotor training and strength and balance exercises-on poststroke walking recovery.DesignThis is a secondary analysis of the Locomotor Experience Applied Post-Stroke (LEAPS) randomized controlled trial.SettingSix rehabilitation sites in California and Florida and participants' homes were used.ParticipantsParticipants were adults who dwelled in the community (N=347), had had a stroke, were able to walk at least 3 m (10 ft) with assistance, and had completed the required number of intervention sessions.InterventionParticipants received 36 sessions (3 times per week for 12 weeks), 90 minutes in duration, of locomotor training (gait training on a treadmill with body-weight support and overground training) or strength and balance training.MeasurementsTalking speed, as measured by the 10-Meter Walk Test, and 6-minute walking distance were assessed before training and following 12, 24, and 36 intervention sessions.ResultsParticipants at 2 and 6 months after stroke gained in gait speed and walking endurance after up to 36 sessions of treatment, but the rate of gain diminished steadily and, on average, was very low during the 25- to 36-session epoch, regardless of treatment type or severity of impairment.LimitationsResults may not generalize to people who are unable to initiate a step at 2 months after stroke or people with severe cardiac disease.ConclusionsIn general, people who dwelled in the community showed improvements in gait speed and walking distance with up to 36 sessions of locomotor training or strength and balance exercises at both 2 and 6 months after stroke. However, gains beyond 24 sessions tended to be very modest. The tracking of individual response trajectories is imperative in planning treatment.
Comparison of acute to chronic ratios between silver and gold nanoparticles, using Ceriodaphnia dubia.

As integration of nanoparticles (NPs) into products becomes more common, the need to address the paucity of chronic hazard information for aquatic environments required to determine risk potential ...
A Late Fracture of the Femur Through an External Fixator Pin Site: A Case Report.

We present a late complication associated with an external fixator. A healthy man sustained an open floating knee injury that was initially treated with a spanning external fixator prior to definitive fixation. The femoral and tibial fractures ultimately healed after several procedures. He presented four years later after sustaining a low-energy subtrochanteric fracture of the femur through the pin site of the external fixator that had been previously placed in the proximal part of the femur. A fracture through a pin site is a rare and concerning late complication. The patient was informed that data concerning the case would be submitted for publication, and he provided consent. A healthy thirty-eight-year-old man presented with a 32-B1 subtrochanteric fracture of the left femur. Four years previously, the patient had been involved in a motorcycle accident and had sustained grade-3A open fractures of the distal part of the left femur and the proximal part of the left tibia (Fig. 1). He had originally been treated with irrigation and debridement followed by the placement of a spanning external fixator. The pins had been placed in the proximal part of the femoral shaft and in the distal part of the tibial shaft (Figs. 2-A and 2-B). It is unclear on the operative note as to whether the 5-mm pins had been inserted with or without predrilling. It is also unclear as to whether the pins had been inserted by hand or with power. Fig. 1 Anteroposterior radiograph of the left knee demonstrating the original injuries. Anteroposterior radiographs after external fixator placement in the femoral shaft (Fig. 2-A) and in the tibial shaft (Fig. 2-B). Fig. 2-A Fig. 2-B One week after the initial injuries, the patient had undergone removal of the external fixator, repeat irrigation/debridement, and open reduction and internal fixation of the fractures of the distal part of the femur and the proximal part of the tibia. There had been no immediate complications reported from this procedure. The patient …
Surgical management of gastroesophageal reflux disease in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) is frequently associated with both gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and simultaneous esophageal dysmotility. Anti-reflux procedures in this patient population must account for the existing physiology of each patient and likely disease progression. We aim to compare perioperative and intermediate outcomes of fundoplication versus gastric bypass for the treatment of GERD. After IRB approval, patients with systemic sclerosis undergoing fundoplication or gastric bypass for the treatment of GERD from 2004 to 2016 were identified. Demographics, perioperative data, immediate complications, and symptom improvement were retrieved and analyzed. Fourteen patients with systemic sclerosis underwent surgical treatment of GERD during the defined study period. Average body mass index was 26 kg/m2. Seven fundoplications (2 Nissens, 4 Toupets, and 1 Dor) and 7 Roux-en-Y gastric bypasses (RYGB) were performed. No 30-day mortality was observed in either group. Median follow-up was 97 months for the fundoplication group (range 28–204 months), and 19 months for the RYGB group (range 1–164 months). Preoperatively, dysphagia, heartburn, and regurgitation were present in 71% (n = 10), 86% (n = 12), and 64% (n = 9) of patients, respectively. Eleven patients had pH study prior to surgical intervention, and 91% of them had abnormal acid exposure. Esophagitis was evident in 85% (n = 11) of patients during preoperative upper endoscopy, and two patients had Barrett’s esophagus. Impaired esophageal motility was present in all RYGB patients and 71% of fundoplication patients. Of the patients who had assessment of their GERD symptoms at follow-up, all five patients in the RYGB group and only 3 (50%) patients in the fundoplication group reported symptom improvement or resolution. Laparoscopic RYGB as an anti-reflux procedure is safe and may provide an alternative to fundoplication in the treatment of GERD for systemic sclerosis patients with esophageal dysmotility.
Transgenic Mouse Models in Chemical Carcinogenesis Studies

Cancer research today faces some important dilemmas in the search for causes of cancer. It is well known that certain environmental factors, such as particular chemicals can be a cause of cancers in humans, but that results derived from humans, as well as experimental models, have shown that there is an important genetic aspect to the disease. The genetic component involves many different genes that influence susceptibility to carcinogens and tumor progression, and other genes that may be mutated by chemicals which initiate carcinogenesis, or genes lose the capacity to regulate cancer cells.
Avalanche-Diode Microwave Oscillators, Amplifiers, and Gunn Devices

Microwave systems typically operate in the frequency range from 1 to 100 GHz. Some of the commonly used frequency bands are L band, 1.0–2.6 GHz; S band, 2.60–3.95 GHz; C band, 4.90–7.05 GHz; X band, 8.20–12.40 GHz; Ku band, 15.3–18.0 GHz, and K band, 18.0–26.50 GHz. At X band the wavelength is about 3 cm and above 30 GHz the wavelengths enter the millimeter range.
STRATOSPHERE/TROPOSPHERE EXCHANGE & STRUCTURE | Local Processes

This article is reproduced from the previous edition, volume 4, pp 2143–2150, © 2003, Elsevier Ltd.
Large-scale multiple model for the simulation of anesthesia

During anesthesia, many interacting factors (both intrinsic and extrinsic to the physiological system) affect hemodynamic responses and equilibria. Cardiovascular parameters, which are intrinsic factors of the physiological system regulating the hemodynamic responses, constantly adjust to maintain metabolic demand. External factors such as drug actions exert their influence directly on the cardiovascular parameters, and indirectly through the baroreceptor, chemoreceptor, and hormonal regulators to alter the cardiovascular parameter values and hemodynamic responses. Interactions among the drug actions and the cardiovascular system are complex and varied, producing different responses between and within species. One example of such variations arises with the multiple sites of actions of halothane as identified by [Seag 85], accounting for some inconsistent observations in heart rate and systemic peripheral resistances responses that occur during halothane anesthesia.
Case Report of Subanesthetic Intravenous Ketamine Infusion for the Treatment of Neuropathic Pain and Depression with Suicidal Features in a Pediatric Patient

Chronic neuropathic pain and depression are often comorbid. Ketamine has been used to treat refractory pain. There is emerging evidence for use in depression. We present a case of a pediatric patient who was successfully treated with subanesthetic intravenous ketamine infusion for chronic neuropathic pain and suicidality.
Be All That You Can Be: Targeting Library Orientations to Military Cadets

Abstract At Texas A&M University, the Corps of Cadets is the largest and oldest student organization on campus. Each summer, nearly 1,000 freshman recruits participate in the Corps' Freshman Orientation Week (FOW), a military-style orientation. Because of their participation in FOW, cadets miss out on many other traditional freshman orientation opportunities. To reach this large and highly visible freshman cohort, the University Libraries adopted a military-inspired orientation approach that built on the unique nature of FOW. Librarians strategically used the bonds formed by cadets over the grueling week of FOW by gamifying the presentation, incorporating competition, and relying on the cadets' sense of camaraderie to create a fun and meaningful experience. This chapter presents a case study on how to target particular audiences in first-year orientations, specifically student cadets.
Is brain hemisphericity a correlate of performance in problem-solving courses? A case study from an HBCU

AbstractThe authors set out to determine the brain dominance characteristics of students enrolled in business statistics courses in a historically Black university in a major southeastern Texas cit...
What Biological Functions Are and Why They Matter

The biological functions debate is a perennial topic in the philosophy of science. In the first full-length account of the nature and importance of biological functions for many years, Justin Garson presents an innovative new theory, the 'generalized selected effects theory of function', which seamlessly integrates evolutionary and developmental perspectives on biological functions. He develops the implications of the theory for contemporary debates in the philosophy of mind, the philosophy of medicine and psychiatry, the philosophy of biology, and biology itself, addressing issues ranging from the nature of mental representation to our understanding of the function of the human genome. Clear, jargon-free, and engagingly written, with accessible examples and explanatory diagrams to illustrate the discussion, his book will be highly valuable for readers across philosophical and scientific disciplines.
Comparison of W ± +jet and Z 0 +jet production at hadron colliders

We analyse the lowest-order QCD production mechanisms forp $$\bar p$$ →W ±+jet andp $$\bar p$$ →Z 0+jet to find possible differences in jet properties for the two processes.
Amygdala Versus Local Anesthetic Kindling: Differential Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Clinical Implications

Electrical kindling, first described by Goddard and associates (14), was elicited by repeated intermittent electrical stimulation of a variety of brain areas culminating in the production of major motor seizures to a previously subconvulsant stimulation. This process is accompanied by growth and spread of afterdischarges and a succession of behavioral seizure stages progressing to the onset of major motor seizures (14,38). With sufficient repetition of the kindled seizures, a stage of spontaneity occurs in which exogenous electrophysiological stimulation is no longer required in order for the animal to experience a seizure (20–22,43).
Breast cancer subtype and intracranial recurrence patterns after brain-directed radiation for brain metastases

Brain metastases from breast cancer are frequently managed with brain-directed radiation but the impact of subtype on intracranial recurrence patterns after radiation has not been well-described. We investigated intracranial recurrence patterns of brain metastases from breast cancer after brain-directed radiation to facilitate subtype-specific management paradigms. We retrospectively analyzed 349 patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases from breast cancer treated with brain-directed radiation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute between 2000 and 2015. Patients were stratified by subtype: hormone receptor-positive/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HR+/HER2−), HER2+ positive (HER2+), or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). A per-metastasis assessment was conducted. Time-to-event analyses were conducted using multivariable Cox regression. Of the 349 patients, 116 had HR+/HER2− subtype, 164 had HER2+ subtype, and 69 harbored TNBC. Relative to HR+/HER2− subtype, local recurrence was greater in HER2+ metastases (HR 3.20, 95% CI 1.78–5.75, p < 0.001), while patients with TNBC demonstrated higher rates of new brain metastases after initial treatment (HR 3.16, 95% CI 1.99–5.02, p < 0.001) and shorter time to salvage whole brain radiation (WBRT) (HR 3.79, 95% CI 1.36–10.56, p = 0.01) and salvage stereotactic radiation (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.11–3.10, p = 0.02). We identified a strong association between breast cancer subtype and intracranial recurrence patterns after brain-directed radiation, particularly local progression for HER2+ and distant progression for TNBC patients. If validated, the poorer local control in HER2+ brain metastases may support evaluation of novel local therapy-based approaches, while the increased distant recurrence in TNBC suggests the need for improved systemic therapy and earlier utilization of WBRT.