cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Method and Analysis to Enable Efficient Piezoelectric Transducer-Based Ultrasonic Power and Data Links for Miniaturized Implantable Medical Devices

Acoustic links for implantable medical devices (implants) have gained attention primarily because they provide a route to wireless deep-tissue systems. The miniaturization of the implants is a key research goal in these efforts, nominally because smaller implants result in less acute tissue damage. Implant size in most acoustic systems is limited by the piezoelectric bulk crystal used for power harvesting and data communication. Further miniaturization of the piezocrystal can degrade system power transfer efficiency and data transfer reliability. Here, we present a new method for packaging the implant piezocrystal; the method maximizes power transfer efficiency ( $\eta $ ) from the acoustic power at the piezo surface to the power delivered to the electrical load and information transfer across the acoustic link. Our method relies on placing piezo-to-substrate anchors to the piezo regions where the vibrational displacement of the mode of interest is zero. To evaluate our method, we investigated packaged $1\times 1\times1$ mm3 piezocrystals assembled with different sized anchors. Our results show that reducing the anchor size decreases anchor loss and thus improves piezo quality factor ( Q ). We also demonstrate that this method improves system electromechanical coupling. A strongly coupled, high- Q piezo with properly sized and located anchors is demonstrated to achieve significantly higher $\eta$ and superior data transfer capability at resonance. Overall, this work provides an analysis and generic method for packaging the implant piezocrystal that enables the design of efficient acoustic power and data links, which provides a path toward the further miniaturization of ultrasonic implants to submillimeter scales.
A Sub-100fs JitterRMS, 20-GHz Fractional-N Analog PLL using a BAW Resonator Based 2.5GHz On-Chip Reference in 22-nm FD-SOI Process

A 20-GHz Fractional-N Analog PLL leveraging a novel high-speed charge pump is presented. A fully integrable, on-chip 2.5GHz reference, using a MEMS-BAW resonator based DCO, allows a lower division-ratio and enhances suppression of charge pump (CP), phase-frequency detector (PFD) and, loop filter (LF) noise. Capability is built into the design to characterize the PLL with either BAW or external reference. Designed and fabricated in GlobalFoundries 22-nm FD-SOI process, the class-C transformer-coupled VCO is measured to be centered at ∼19.7GHz with 16% tuning range while maintaining a flat |FOM| ∼188dBc/Hz (10MHz offset) over the tuning range. The PLL measures an excellent jitter and |FOM j | of 65/92fs and ∼249/245dB in integer/fractional modes, respectively.
The biology of atherosclerosis comes full circle: lessons for conquering cardiovascular disease.

Atherosclerosis causes myocardial infarction, ischaemic cardiomyopathy, many ischaemic strokes and jeopardized limbs. Despite enormous progress, atherosclerosis has become the major cause of death worldwide. This Comment intertwines clinical and basic advances in atherosclerosis to illustrate their interdependence, which provides a template for a way forwards to conquer the scourge of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Utility of carbon fiber instrumentation in spinal oncology.

Abstract Spinal oncology has had many advancements often necessitating serial imaging for post-surgical treatment planning and close follow up. Traditional spinal instrumentation introduces artifact into MRI and CT imaging, which can reduce the efficacy of follow up imaging and treatment. Newly created carbon-fiber instrumentation can offer many advantages compared to traditional instrumentation while typically maintaining biomechanical stability. The utility of this new instrumentation continues to evolve as more surgeons utilize these materials, which can improve patient outcomes. We illustrate the utility of this new hardware technology through various patient examples.
Epidemiology and Risk Factors in Non-infectious Uveitis: A Systematic Review

Purpose: Non-infectious uveitis is a leading cause of vision loss in the developed world. The purpose of this systematic review is to investigate the epidemiology and risk factors of non-infectious uveitis over the last 50 years. Methods: A systematic literature search of Pubmed/MEDLINE database was performed in the 50-year period from January 1971 to January 2021, according to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies that assessed the epidemiology and risk factors for non-infectious uveitis were included. Results: Few epidemiologic studies focus specifically on non-infectious uveitis. In the Unites States, the estimated prevalence of non-infectious uveitis is 121/100,000. The incidence and prevalence varies considerably worldwide. Females and the working age group (20-50 years) appear to be the most affected. Smoking and vitamin D deficiency are the biggest risk factors for non-infectious uveitis, while pregnancy appears to be protective. Additional risk factors include presence of other autoimmune diseases (thyroid disease, diabetes, celiac), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, psychological stress, and certain medications (bisphosphonates, immune checkpoint inhibitors, female hormone therapy, and etanercept). Discussion: Our systematic review summarizes the incidence and prevalence of non-infectious uveitis and associated modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors.
Pathways and Mechanism of Protein Folding

A short review is presented of models for pathways and mechanism of protein folding. The models are compared with current knowledge of the structures and properties of folding intermediates, with emphasis on molten globule intermediates.
Neighborhood Factors and Dating Violence Among Youth: A Systematic Review.

Context The purpose of this review is to summarize the empirical research on neighborhood-level factors and dating violence among adolescents and emerging adults to guide future research and practice. Evidence acquisition In 2015, a total of 20 articles were identified through a search of the literature using PubMed. Eligible articles included those that (1) had been published in a peer-reviewed journal since 2005; (2) reported a measure of association between at least one neighborhood-level factor and dating violence; and (3) had a study population of youth aged Evidence synthesis Results were summarized into three categories based on the aspect of neighborhood that was the focus of the work: demographic and structural characteristics ( n =11); neighborhood disorder ( n =12); and social disorganization ( n =8). There was some evidence to suggest that neighborhood disadvantage is associated with dating violence, but very little evidence to suggest that residence characteristics (e.g., racial heterogeneity) are associated with dating violence. Results do suggest that perceived neighborhood disorder is associated with physical dating violence perpetration, but do not suggest that it is associated with physical dating violence victimization. Social control and community connectedness are both associated with dating violence, but findings on collective efficacy are mixed. Conclusions Existing research suggests that neighborhood factors may be associated with dating violence. However, there is a limited body of research on the neighborhood context of dating violence, and more rigorous research is needed.
A Pilot Evaluation of Small Group Challenging Horizons Program (CHP): A Randomized Trial

Abstract This study examined the efficacy of an after-school program, the Challenging Horizons Program (CHP), that met four days a week and focused on improving organization, academic skills, and classroom behavior. The CHP was compared with a community control that included involvement in a district-run after-school program that met one to three days a week and focused on preparation for standardized testing. Participants were 48 middle-school youth, referred as experiencing a combination of learning and behavior problems, randomly assigned to either the CHP or the control. Parent and teacher ratings of behavioral and academic functioning were collected at the beginning of the academic year and again after one semester of intervention. Relative to the control, participants in the CHP made significant improvements in parent-rated academic progress, self-esteem, and overall severity of problem. While teacher ratings did not reach significance, CHP participants made medium effect size improvements in academ...
Harsh military environments and microelectromechanical (MEMS) devices

The harsh military environment including operational requirements (temperature, pressure, acceleration and vibration) is described for a few munition applications. A summary of ground based experimentation pertaining to MEMS devices is presented. Results of a high-g shock study suggest that some Microelectromechanical (MEMS) sensors are rugged enough to survive both low-g and high-g launch. Small sensitivities to temperature, shock and vibration are described for a MEMS angular rate sensor. Flight experiments with artillery and rockets instrumented with MEMS angular rate sensors, accelerometers, and telemetry units, were recently completed. Analysis of the angular rate sensor data show encouraging results for surviving and measuring munition pitching and yawing behavior. There is mention of future military applications for MEMS and needed requirements to enable a successful transition.
Nondestructive Evaluation of Structures

This chapter summarizes why nondestructive evaluation (NDE) is important in the aerospace industry, and then reviews both classical and emerging NDE techniques. Classical techniques presented include visual, penetrant testing, magnetic particle, eddy current, ultrasonic, and x-ray. The emerging techniques discussed include thermal imaging, laser based optical, terahertz, microwave, millimeter-wave, and real-time ultrasonic imaging. The strengths, limitations, flaw detectability, and typical aerospace applications of the techniques are discussed. Keywords: nondestructive evaluation; NDE; NDI; NDT; aerospace; inspection; imaging; ultrasonic; eddy current; x-ray; thermography; shearography; terahertz; microwave
Bupropion SR and smoking cessation in actual practice: methods for recruitment, screening, and exclusion for a field trial in a managed-care setting.

Abstract Background Little is known about the effectiveness of bupropion SR for smoking cessation outside the context of clinical efficacy trials, where in-person screening and treatment occur at a higher level than provided in a typical health care system. This article describes the methods for recruitment, screening for exclusions, and resulting sample in a field trial of bupropion SR undertaken in a managed-care setting. Methods A total of 2979 telephone interviews were conducted to screen and identify eligible volunteers using a detailed protocol that allowed for consultation with study physicians when necessary. The volunteers’ primary care physicians were given the option to override their eligibility, and pharmacy databases were used to verify medication reporting. Results A total of 1909 (64%) volunteers were considered eligible for the study. The most common reason for exclusion was use of contraindicated medications (32%), followed by recent use of one of the behavioral cessation programs (14%), brain injury that reduced seizure threshold (14%), current depression (14%), and high levels of alcohol use (13%). Conclusions The methods used in this field trial show that it is possible to enroll subjects in an effectiveness trial that is successful from the standpoint of the consumer, provider, and health care system.
Abstract W P366: Increasing Utilization of Transitional Care Management (TCM) codes for Post-acute Stroke Care

Background and Issues: Stroke patients discharged home often are medically complex with decreased functional independence, especially during the initial transitional period after discharge. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has set transitional care requirements with new TCM coding that includes a 48 hour phone call from a licensed health professional and provider visit within 14 days after discharge. Process improvement methods can help determine the necessary staffing in order to efficiently meet these guidelines and increase utilization of these codes. Purpose: To review our post stroke transitional care program for TCM code utilization before and after addition of an RN to perform the follow-up phone calls. Methods: We performed a retrospective review of our hospital-supported transitional stroke care program. Our program initially consisted of 2 NPs on rotating schedules between inpatient service and outpatient ambulatory clinics to provide continuity of care during the transitional peri...
CP nonconservation in cascade decays of B mesons

General techniques are introduced to expose new $\mathrm{CP}$-nonconserving effects in cascade decays of $B$ mesons. These effects are computed in the Kobayashi-Maskawa model. The $\mathrm{CP}$ asymmetries so obtained range from 2% to 20% if the parameters are in the favorable range ${s}_{3}l{s}_{2}\ensuremath{\lesssim}0.1$. Effects of this size should be observable in upcoming experiments.
Asymmetric cell division in the Drosophila nervous system.

Asymmetric cell division is a fundamental means of generating cell-fate diversity. Our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of asymmetric cell division in the Drosophila nervous system has advanced greatly in recent years, and insights gained from it might help to unravel the role of asymmetric cell division in the development of vertebrate nervous systems.
Hombres Mujeres: An Indigenous Third Gender

This article interrogates West and Zimmerman’s Doing Gender paradigm by examining the Muxes of Juchitan, a little known third gender in El Istmo de Tehuantepec, Oaxaca Mexico. After presenting prel...
Antibiotic Policies and Utilization in Oregon Hospice Programs

Antibiotics are frequently used in hospice care, despite limited data on safety and effectiveness in this patient population. We surveyed Oregon hospice programs on antibiotic policies and prescribing practices. Among 39 responding hospice programs, the median reported proportion of current census using antibiotics was 10% (interquartile range = 3.5%-20.0%). Approximately 31% of responding hospice programs had policies for antibiotic initiation, 17% of hospice programs had policies for antibiotic discontinuation, and 95% of hospice programs had policies for managing drug interactions. Diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, and yeast infections were the most frequently reported antibiotic-associated adverse events, occurring "sometimes" or "often" among 62%, 47%, and 62% of respondents, respectively. In conclusion, less than a third of participating hospice programs reported having a policy for antibiotic initiation and even less frequently a policy for discontinuation. More data are needed on the risks and benefits of antibiotic use in hospice care to inform these policies and optimize outcomes in this vulnerable patient population.
Embryonic Expression of the Divergent Drosophila β3-Tubulin Isoform Is Required for Larval Behavior

We have sought to define the developmental and cellular roles played by differential expression of distinct beta-tubulins. Drosophila beta3-tubulin (beta3) is a structurally divergent isoform transiently expressed during midembryogenesis. Severe beta3 mutations cause larval lethality resulting from failed gut function and consequent starvation. However, mutant larvae also display behavioral abnormalities consistent with defective sensory perception. We identified embryonic beta3 expression in several previously undefined sites, including different types of sensory organs. We conclude that abnormalities in foraging behavior and photoresponsiveness exhibited by prelethal mutant larvae reflect defective beta3 function in the embryo during development of chordotonal and other mechanosensory organs and of Bolwig's organ and nerve. We show that microtubule organization in the cap cells of chordotonal organs is altered in mutant larvae. Thus transient zygotic beta3 expression has permanent consequences for the architecture of the cap cell microtubule cytoskeleton in the larval sensilla, even when beta3 is no longer present. Our data provide a link between the microtubule cytoskeleton in embryogenesis and the behavioral phenotype manifested as defective proprioreception at the larval stage.
Predictive accuracy of ST depression during rapid atrial fibrillation on the presence of obstructive coronary artery disease

Abstract Background Rapid atrial fibrillation (AF) is commonly associated with ST-segment depressions. ST-segment depression during a chest pain episode or exercise stress testing in sinus rhythm is predictive of obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), but it is unclear if the presence or magnitude of ST-segment depression during rapid AF has similar predictive accuracy. Methods One hundred twenty-seven patients with rapid AF (heart rate ≥120 beats per minute) who had cardiac catheterization performed during the same hospital admission were retrospectively reviewed. Variables to compute thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) risk score, demographic profiles, ST-segment deviation, cardiac catheterization results, and cardiac interventions were collected. Results Thirty-five patients had ST-segment depression of 1 mm or more, and 92 had no or less than 1 mm ST depression. Thirty-one patients were found to have obstructive CAD. In the group with ST-segment depression, 11 (31%) patients had obstructive CAD and 24 (69%) did not. In the group with less than 1 mm ST-segment depression, 20 (22%) had obstructive CAD and 72 (78%) did not ( P = .25). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values for presence of obstructive CAD were 35%, 75%, 31%, and 78%, respectively. The presence of ST-segment depression of 1 mm or more was not associated with presence of obstructive CAD before or after adjustment of TIMI variables. The relationship between increasing grades of ST-segment depression and obstructive CAD showed a trend toward significance ( P = .09), which did not persist after adjusting for TIMI risk variables ( P = .36). Conclusion ST-segment depression during rapid AF is not predictive for the presence of obstructive CAD.
The function of concurrent signals: visual and chemical communication in snapping shrimp

Abstract Animal signals are often used in more than one context or by more than one class of signaller. In the big-clawed snapping shrimp,Alpheus heterochaelis, the open chela display is a visual signal produced by both males and females. Thus, to respond appropriately to the open chela display in interactions, shrimp need information about the sex of the other individual. These experiments were performed to determine the effect of sex information from chemical signals on the response of shrimp to the visual signal of the open chela. First, chemical signals from males and females were presented alone. Shrimp did not respond differentially to chemical signals from males and females. Next, chemical signals were presented concurrently with the open chela display. Male shrimp showed a greater response to an open chela with male chemical signals than to an open chela with female chemical signals. Male response to an open chela with female chemical signals was also a function of the chela's relative size, and this size-relative response was less than the response to the open chela alone. Male response to an open chela with male chemical signals was independent of relative size. In contrast, females responded aggressively to open and closed chelae regardless of relative size, and regardless of concurrent chemical signals. The relative costs and benefits associated with aggressive and pair-forming interactions differ for males and females, and these differences are likely to contribute to the differences in assessment observed here.
Assessment of depression in mentally retarded adolescents

The performance of 25 mentally retarded and 25 normal IQ adolescents was investigated on self-report and informant versions of three childhood depression measures. These measures included the Children's Depression Inventory, the Bellevue Index of Depression, and the Reynolds Child Depression Scale. Adolescents with mild to severe levels of mental retardation were studied. Strong correlations between total scores of measures were found. Analyses of variance comparing mentally retarded and intellectually average adolescents differed significantly only on the Bellevue Index of Depression. Finally, the relationship between self-report and informant versions of these measures were correlated, with mixed results. Implications for the use of these scales in assessing depression of mentally retarded adolescents are discussed.
Electrode subset selection methods for an EEG-based P300 brain-computer interface

AbstractPurpose: An electroencephalography (EEG)-based P300 speller is a type of brain-computer interface (BCI) that uses EEG to allow a user to select characters without physical movement. In general, using fewer electrodes for such a system makes it easier to set up and less expensive. This study addresses the question of electrode selection for EEG-based P300 systems. Methods: Data from 13 subjects collected with a 16-electrode cap was analyzed. The optimal subsets of electrodes of sizes 1–15 were calculated for each subject and for the group as a whole. The methods of exhaustive search, forward selection, and backward elimination were then compared to each other and to these optimal subsets. Results: The results show that, while none of the methods consistently picked the best-performing electrode subsets, all methods were able to find small electrode subsets that provided acceptable accuracy both for individuals and for the whole group. The computationally intensive exhaustive search method provided ...
The Latino Parents-Learning About College (LaP-LAC) Program: Educational Empowerment of Latino Families Through Psychoeducational Group Work

Parental involvement is crucial to facilitating a child's high school success and enhancing their post-secondary opportunities. Unfortunately, the ability for Latina/o parents and guardians to engage in parental involvement is hindered by a general lack of familiarity with U.S. educational systems and post-secondary options. With these barriers in mind, the Latino Parents-Learning About College (LaP-LAC) program was developed. The LaP-LAC is a psychoeducational group work experience wherein Latina/o parents with high school-aged children learn to understand the high school curriculum and become more familiar with post-secondary options (including financial aid), in an effort to empower themselves and their families.
Christian Leadership and Religiosity Reexamined: The Evidence from College Student Leaders.

This article assesses the impact of religiosity on Christian leadership orientations. The theoretical model is taken from the study of Shee, Ji, and Boyatt (2002), which presupposes that quest religiosity is inversely related to the structured, human resource, political, and symbolic leadership frames, while intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity are positively tied with them. The analysis is based on the 116 college student leaders in 12 Protestant colleges and universities. According to the data, the patterns of linkage between religious orientations and leadership frames lend partial support for the hypothesis. Intrinsic religiosity tends to foster structural and symbolic leadership, but quest religiosity promotes political leadership. The human resource leadership has turned out to be independent from religiosity, and extrinsic religiosity is found to have little to do with Christian leadership orientations.
REGIONALIZED SHEAR-VELOCITY MODELS FOR THE UPPER MANTLE INFERRED FROM SURFACE-WAVE DISPERSION DATA

Regionalized shear-velocity models of the upper mantle were inferred from phase and group velocities of mantle Love and Rayleigh waves. Im-portant conclusions are: (1) Major shear-velocity differences among the dif-ferent tectonic regions exist at depths less than 300km. (2) Shear velocities in the upper mantle are markedly higher for the shield areas and lower for the tectonic areas than for the oceanic areas. The velocity difference between the shield and tectonic models is approximately 10% at depths less than 100 km, decreasing gradually to 5% at a depth of 200km. (3) The shield data do not require a pronounced low-velocity channel in the upper mantle, as does the oceanic model, but only a slight low-velocity channel if the Sn velocity is 4.6km/sec. (4) The tectonic data do not necessarily require the presence of a high-velocity lid just beneath the M-discontinuity. (5) Unlike the other two regions, the oceanic data clearly require a pronounced low-velocity channel. (6) The dispersion of Love and Rayleigh waves for the tectonic regions can be explained more easily by different shear-velocity structures rather than by a single isotropic-layered structure. The shear velocities inferred from Love waves are higher by 0.2km/sec than those inferred from Rayleigh waves, the velocity differences being concentrated at depths from 150 to 300km. This discrepancy suggests anisotropy or an equivalent laminar-melting structure, or elliptical magma pockets. The phase-velocity data were taken from Kanamori's paper. The group velocities were recently determined by Hamada for moderate-size earthquakes recorded at LASA (Large Aperture Seismic Array in Montana) and at a deep mine observatory in Ogdensburg New Jersey.
Description and Vorticity Analysis of 50-Day Oscillations in the Western Tropical Region of the CME Model

Abstract The WOCE Community Modeling Effort (CME) general circulation model of the North Atlantic was used to investigate the behavior, nature, and dynamics of 50-day oscillations seen in the meridional component of velocity between 5° and 11°N, 35° and 55°W. Oscillations of the meridional component of velocity, with a period of about 50 days, appear as the seasonal meander pattern of the North Equatorial Countercurrent starts to break down in December. They appear first near 35° and are advected westward. They have a westward phase velocity of about O.1 m s−1, wavelength of about 6000 km, and a very slow eastward group velocity. Their period, phase speed and wavelength agree with recent observations. Calculation of the leading terms from the full vorticity equation following a model decomposition in the propagation region showed that the oscillations were first and second mode baroclinic Rossby waves. Repetition of the vorticity analysis on an undecomposed snapshot during the period of retroflection reve...
Enhanced light extraction through nano-textured GaN interfaces via supercritical angle scattering

A novel theoretical approach combining scattering theory with supercritical angle transmission is introduced for treating light incidence on nanotextured surfaces. The theory is used to evaluate enhanced light extraction from interfaces with sub-wavelength feature sizes, where the ray tracing approach breaks down. A unified analytic formula covering the transition from periodic to random surface texturing is obtained. The results will be compared with experimental enhanced light extraction results from GaN textured interfaces. The extraction efficiency is studied as a function of the average feature size and the rms deviation from the average values. It is argued that enhanced extraction occurs due to both supercritical transmission for single wave incidence, and the quick randomization of the incident wave-vector directions via internal scattering.
The illusion of transparency and chromatic subjective contours

Subjective contours can be produced that include an illusion of edge and an extension of color throughout the area of the illusion. The phenomenological appearance is of a transparent colored shape in front of the background. Two explanations of this illusion are proposed. The first is that there is an assimilation of color analogous to brightness assimilation. The second is a variant of the stratification of depth theory of subjective contours. In it, the pattern elements lead to the illusion of a surface in front of the pattern elements. We thus predicted that an illusion of transparency would enhance the subjective contour, Metelli’s model of transparency was used to quantify our prediction, and it was found that the possibility of transparency was a powerful predictor of the chromatic subjective contour.
Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema associated with hydrochlorothiazide therapy.

We describe a patient with the sadden onset of pulmonary edema on two separate occasions immediately after the ingestion of hydrochlorothiazide. Although this adverse reaction to hydrochlorothiazide has been reported previously in six patients, the cause of the pulmonary sensitivity remains obscure. A noncardiogenic etiology has been suggested, but prior cases have failed to document cardiopulmonary hemodynamic measurements. A Swan-Ganz balloon flotation catheter demonstrated cardiopulmonary pressures in our patient consistent with a noncardiac origin of the pulmonary edema.
An accurate determination of the HeAr van der Waals potential

Abstract A new van der Waals potential for HeAr is constructed from a systematic analysis of differential cross section scattering data. The significant discrepancies between this potential and those based on similar experiments in other laboratories are shown to be due primarily to biases present in the mathematical parameterizations used previously. The new potential is valid for interatomic separations between 2.4 A and 6.5 A, and provides an excellent description of all available HeAr data, including transport and virial coefficients. This potential, which has a well depth of 1.78 meV, is parameterization-independent and accurate to 10%.
Cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation of enzyme secretion from mouse pancreatic acini.

When dispersed acini from mouse pancreas are first incubated with cholecystokinin octapeptide, washed and then reincubated with no additions there is significant stimulation of amylase secretion during the second incubation (residual stimulation of enzyme secretion). Cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation of enzyme secretion is modified, but not abolished, by reducing the temperature of the first incubation from 37°C to 4°C. Measurement of binding of 125I-labeled cholecystokinin octapeptide indicated that maximal cholecystokinin induced residual stimulation of enzyme secretion occurs when 12–20% of cholecystokinin receptors are occupied by cholecystokinin octapeptide. Moreover, maximal cholecystokinin-induced residual stimulation of amylase secretion is 25% greater than maximal cholecystokinin-induced direct stimulation of amylase secretion. Cholecystokinin tetrapeptide, which causes the same maximal direct stimulation of amylase secretion as does cholecystokinin octapeptide, causes a maximal residual stimulation of enzyme secretion that is only 30% of that caused by a maximally effective concentration of cholecystokinin octapeptide. Adding dibutyryl cyclic GMP to the second incubation can reverse the residual stimulation caused by adding cholecystokinin to the first incubation. The pattern and extent of the dibutyryl cyclic GMP-induced reversal of residual stimulation varies, depending on the temperature and concentration of cholecystokinin octapeptide in the first incubation. The present results are compatible with the hypothesis that mouse pancreatic acini possess two classes of cholecystokinin receptors. One class has a relatively high affinity for cholecystokinin and produces stimulation of enzyme secretion; the other class has a relatively low affinity for cholecystokinin and produces inhibition of enzyme secretion.
Myosin thick filaments and subunit exchange: A stochastic simulation based on the kinetics of assembly

Subunit exchange between groups of myosin filaments at equilibrium in a volume similar to a sarcomere is simulated using Monte Carlo (probabilistic) methods. Five published kinetic parameters (three rate constants and two cooperativity parameters) which govern the assembly of thick filaments from purified myosin at pH 8.0 are used for the computations. Filament length distributions equivalent to those measured experimentally in the electron microscope result. Distinctive patterns of exchange emerge because cooperativity in myosin assembly is not confined to nucleation but functions throughout growth. Fluctuations in filament size, first apparent in the millisecond time domain, mediate exchange which first occurs at the tips of the filaments and then gradually progresses inwards toward the central bare-zone. Exchange rates decreased by an approximate factor of 10 per decade of time: full exchange takes years, 50% takes 28 h, and 10% takes a brief 100 ms. These data represent the fastest possible rates of exchange because synthetic myosin filaments lack the overall stabilizing influence of the copolymerizing proteins of native filaments. Exchange at equilibrium is therefore too slow to explain, for example, the much faster rates recorded in vivo for the complete replacement of one myosin isoform by another. Facilitated exchange where partial or complete filament dissociation is followed by the introduction of new subunits during reassembly offers a means of accelerating exchange. In this context, it is shown that the requisite disassembly and reassembly of myosin thick filaments can be completed in a minimum of a few seconds.
Evaluating social benefits of forestry research programs

In 1979, the Forest Service in the U.S. Department of Agriculture began a serious and continuing evaluation of the impacts of its research programs on society. This effort responded to demanding questions about who benefited and in what ways from forestry research. A hasty inquiry le I both to “Criteria for Deciding about Forestry Research Programs” [3] and to a hindsight evaluation of 81 innovations. This evaluation utilized the well-known tracing technique and identified social benefits. Research administrators quickly realized that innovations might be a useful unit by which to evaluate regional experiment stations. One experiment station is trying to use innovations, really three categories of achievements, as the basis for evaluating its recent contributions to society. In another vein, a concerted effort is underway to adapt to forestry the methodology used in evaluating costs and benefits of agricultural research. The Forest Service also is attempting a novel and unique ex ante evaluation of expected benefits from the current and proposed national programs of research.
Lake-wide Distribution of Dreissena in Lake Michigan, 1999

The Great Lakes Science Center has conducted lake-wide bottom trawl surveys of the fish community in Lake Michigan each fall since 1973. These systematic surveys are performed at depths of 9 to 110 m at each of seven index sites around Lake Michigan. Zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha) populations have expanded to all survey locations and at a level to sufficiently contribute to the bottom trawl catches. The quagga (Dreissena bugensis), recently reported in Lake Michigan, was likely in the catches though not recognized. Dreissena spp. biomass ranged from about 0.6 to 15 kg/ha at the various sites in 1999. Dreissenid mussels were found at depths of 9 to 82 m, with their peak biomass at 27 to 46 m. The colonization of these exotic mussels has ecological implications as well as potential ramifications on the ability to sample fish consistently and effectively with bottom trawls in Lake Michigan.
Gravity - Mare Humorum.

Global tracking coverage of the Apollo 15 subsatellite has provided gravity measurements from 50 km altitudes over the entire Humorum basin. An estimate of surface mass points at 2 degree intervals, which best fit the data reveals a mass distribution having a lesser mass excess for the very central area. When two different profiles were fit using a two disk model it was again found for each profile that the smaller central disk decreased the central mass by approximately 30%. The mass distribution per unit area however for the major portion of the mascon is still consistent with the other mascons (Crisium, Nectaris and Serenitatis) of approximately 800-900 kg/sq cm. The surface mass point solution seems to correlate somewhat with the dark areas on Whitaker's IR-UV map.
Observation of Low-Contrast All-Optical Switching in Silicon Nitride Microdisks Based on the Zeno Effect

Low-contrast all-optical Zeno switching has been demonstrated in a Silicon Nitride microdisk resonator surrounded by hot Rubidium vapor. The device is based on the suppression of the cavity field buildup due to non-degenerate two-photon absorption.
SecVisor: a tiny hypervisor to provide lifetime kernel code integrity for commodity OSes

We propose SecVisor, a tiny hypervisor that ensures code integrity for commodity OS kernels. In particular, SecVisor ensures that only user-approved code can execute in kernel mode over the entire system lifetime. This protects the kernel against code injection attacks, such as kernel rootkits. SecVisor can achieve this propertyeven against an attacker who controls everything but the CPU, the memory controller, and system memory chips. Further, SecVisor can even defend against attackers with knowledge of zero-day kernel exploits.Our goal is to make SecVisor amenable to formal verificationand manual audit, thereby making it possible to rule out known classes of vulnerabilities. To this end, SecVisor offers small code size and small external interface. We rely on memory virtualization to build SecVisor and implement two versions, one using software memory virtualization and the other using CPU-supported memory virtualization. The code sizes of the runtime portions of these versions are 1739 and 1112 lines, respectively. The size of the external interface for both versions of SecVisor is 2 hypercalls. It is easy to port OS kernels to SecVisor. We port the Linux kernel version 2.6.20 by adding 12 lines and deleting 81 lines, out of a total of approximately 4.3 million lines of code in the kernel.
Conference Scene: 2013 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium: meeting highlights

The Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium is an annual meeting geared toward physicians and researchers interested in the prevention, detection and treatment of gastrointestinal malignancies including medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, radiologists, gastroenterologists, pathologists and translational-oriented laboratory scientists.
Exact Equivalence of Instrumental Variable Estimators in an Error Component Structural System

The paper establishes an equivalence result in the context of an m-equation error component structural system, whose disturbances have the usual three-component structure, and whose equations feature explanatory variables of the form z i ,z t and z it ; the latter vary (respectively) only over individuals, only over time, and over both. Under the stochastic specification assumed, it is shown that the alternative instrumental variables (IV) estimators commonly used in the special cases of this system are all equivalent (numerically identical); the result is a generalization of the equivalences established previously for the special cases. In the single equation (m = 1) context, the equivalence requires that the IV set contain variables of the form z t and/or z t , and further, in numbers determined by the ranks of (respectively) the individuals-mean and time-mean matrices of the instruments. If such an IV set is common to all equations, the equivalence also holds for the system under joint estimation. The result is used to recommend a couple of estimators for use in panel data, on grounds of computational simplicity.
Allergic Reactions to ACTH

1.Sensitization to ACTH is becoming more frequent; symptoms may include urticaria, angio-edema, convulsions, shock and death. 2.Eight reactions are reported including three with cerebral manifestations and one with shock. 3.Convulsions may be due to either an allergy or a predisposition to epilepsy. We were unable to determine which of the two was present in our three patients. 4.Our reactions were probably due to ACTH itself, rather than to any contaminating antigen. 5.ACTH remains a valuable drug, but should be used only when indicated. Once a patient has reacted to it, he should not receive it again.
2-Anthryltriazolyl-containing multidentate ligands: zinc-coordination mediated photophysical processes and potential in live-cell imaging applications.

1,2,3-Triazol-4-yl (triazolyl)-containing tetradentate ligand 1 undergoes fluorescence enhancement upon binding to zinc ion (Zn2+) in both organic (acetonitrile) and aqueous solutions. A 1:1 complex of 1 with a trigonal bipyramidal Zn2+ was characterized by X-ray crystallography. The cyclic voltammogram (CV) of 1 suggests that an intramolecular photoinduced electron transfer (PET) process is thermodynamically feasible which would quench the fluorescence of the 2-anthryltriazolyl fluorophore. On the basis of the X-ray and CV data, it was initially postulated that the 1:1 binding between Zn2+ and ligand 1 shuts down the PET quenching pathway of the free ligand, which leads to the fluorescence enhancement of 1. However, the nuance of the interaction between 1 and Zn2+ was revealed by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) and 1H NMR titration experiments. A two-step binding process was observed which proceeds through an intermediate species of 2:1 (ligand/Zn2+) stoichiometry. Upon close examination of the fl...
On Geopolitics: Spaces and Places

The study of international relations sits at the convergence of human inquiry that crosses both time and space. The aim here is to elaborate on the spatial context of international relations, to contrast it to the temporal context, and to indicate broadly the continuing importance of the geopolitical spatial context to the study of international relations. I briefly demonstrate how this relationship is based not on an earlier approach based on geographic determinism, but rather possibilism —the possibilities presented by the spatial, geographic, and geopolitical context. In elaborating on space and place, I return to the central research focus of my career: the dynamism and importance of the spatial context for understanding international relations, along with the need to take both time and space into account, the need to appreciate both a locational view and the perceptual/symbolic/constructed view of space and place, and to do so within an increasingly globalized, interdependent, and transnational world system.
A scalable Lagrange multiplier based domain decomposition method for time-dependent problems

We present a new efficient and scalable domain decomposition method for solving implicitly linear and non-linear time-dependent problems in computational mechanics. The method is derived by adding a coarse problem to the recently proposed transient FETI substructuring algorithm in order to propagate the error globally and accelerate convergence. It is proved that in the limit for large time steps, the new method converges toward the FETI algorithm for time-independent problems. Computational results confirm that the optimal convergence properties of the time-independent FETI method are preserved in the time-dependent case. We employ an iterative scheme for solving efficiently the coarse problem on massively parallel processors, and demonstrate the effective scalability of the new transient FETI method with the large-scale finite element dynamic analysis on the Paragon XP/S and IBM SP2 systems of several diffraction grating finite element structural models. We also show that this new domain decomposition method outperforms the popular direct skyline solver. The coarse problem presented herein is applicable and beneficial to a large class of Lagrange multiplier based substructuring algorithms for time-dependent problems, including the fictitious domain decomposition method.
Dynamics of Si self-interstitial clustering using the fast-diffusing I3 cluster

Abstract Recent ab initio molecular-dynamics simulations have shown that the di-interstitial (I2) and the stable tri-interstitial (I3a) clusters in Si are highly mobile. In these complexes, the two (or three) self-interstitials share a single bond-centered site, a feature which greatly facilitates exchange processes and is responsible for the rapid diffusion. In this contribution, we consider the possibility that the precipitation of self-interstitials results from the clustering of I3 ‘units’ rather than isolated Is. We study the interactions I3+I3→I6 and I6+I3→I9 by bringing an I3 toward either another I3 or I6 along various crystalline directions in 216 host atoms supercells. The calculations show that these reactions occur at a substantial gain in energy and that the stacking along some directions is energetically preferred over others. The I6+I2→I8 reaction leads to a very stable cluster. The results suggest that precipitation mechanisms involving rapidly moving self-interstitial clusters could play an important role in the formation of extended defects.
Effect of growth geometry on the structure and phase orientation of Al3NiAl In situ composite

Ingots of Al-6wt.%Ni were grown as AlAl3Ni composites in complex geometries. The specimens were examined to determine their microstructural morphology and crystallography. Specimen shape and solidification direction did not affect the growth direction of the aluminium matrix phase and did not impair the coupled and aligned growth. Whiskers tended to grow at their initial direction of nucleation even if this did not coincide with the prevailing heat flow pattern.
Soil Microbial Biomass Relationships with Organic Matter Fractions in a Nebraska Corn Field Mapped using Apparent Electrical Conductivity

Soils exhibit spatial variability in their properties. One approach for delineating field-scale variability involves mapping the variation in apparent soil electrical conductivity (ECa). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the physical and chemical soil characteristics that define ECa classification and the association of specific soil microbiological communities with these soil properties. In May 2003, ECa was measured in a field in Buffalo County, Nebraska, and processed to create four ECa zones based on ranges of horizontal and vertical ECa measurements using unsupervised classification. Soil properties (0–90 cm) that showed higher correlations with vertical ECa included total C (r 5 0.87), clay (r 5 0.83), total dissolved solids (r 5 0.68), and depth of topsoil (r 5 0.70). These properties influence soil water availability in this field. Soil microbial groups were correlated with different soil C fractions in the 0- to 15-cm depth and were similar across ECa zones. Bacterial (r 5 0.85) and actinomycetes (r 5 0.71) biomarker concentrations were more highly correlated with fine particulate organic matter (POM) than coarse POM (bacteria r 5 0.69 and actinomycetes r 5 0.48). In contrast, fungal (r 5 0.77) and mycorrhizal (r 5 0.48) biomarker concentrations were correlated only with coarse POM. Given current knowledge of the spatial distribution of POM and aggregates, we hypothesize that microorganisms are also spatially distributed and that fungal groups are closely associated with coarse POM early in the growing season.